Wedding Day Advice From Veteran Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

As your wedding day draws near, it is only natural to feel some jitters. Did I plan for everything? What did I forget? What if something goes wrong? These are the types of questions that every bride-to-be asks herself at some point. To calm your nerves, check out this helpful wedding day advice from the veteran brides who have been there before you.

Most brides plan their wedding either with the help of a professional coordinator or a wedding organizer book. If you have kept up with your checklists, you can be pretty sure that you will have all of the major parts of your wedding covered. Often though, it is the little things that a first time bride will not be aware of until it is too late. Luckily, you have the assembled wisdom of many previous brides to make sure that your wedding day goes off without a hitch. Here is what they say.

Break in your shoes! Most dressy shoes are made with thin leather soles that can be very slippery. The last thing that you want is to slip on your way down the aisle while wearing a brand-new pair of shoes. Start by scuffing up the soles with sandpaper. (If you forget, drag your feet around the church parking lot before heading down the aisle.) To help the shoes form to your feet and avoid blisters, wear them around the house with a thin pair of socks a few times. Just keep them indoors so that they stay fresh and clean.

Remember to eat! In their nervous excitement, it is all too common for brides to forget to eat on the morning of their weddings. A little food is important, though, to keep your blood sugar steady and to keep you from getting lightheaded. Even if you do not feel hungry, force yourself to eat a cup of yogurt or a few crackers before slipping into your wedding gown and bridal jewelry. Have little sips of water to stay hydrated, but don't overdo it drinking coffee, as it will make you more jittery, and will make you need to pee a lot.

Speaking of that, use the bathroom before getting into your gown. Most wedding gowns have layers of fabric and crinoline that make using the restroom a logistical nightmare. Even brides with slender skirts will find relieving themselves to be a challenge, as your dress can get all wrinkled when it is bunched up around your waist. Drink just enough on your wedding day to stay hydrated, and designate a bridesmaid or two to assist you with your gown, in case you do need to go to the restroom.

When you are standing at the altar, do not lock your knees. It stops the blood from circulating in your legs, and you can end up feeling dizzy or faint. This is a common problem when brides are standing around for their bridal gown fittings as well as during the ceremony itself. During your fittings, you can practice standing still with soft knees.

The final piece of advice that experienced brides say they would like to share with women who are on the verge of getting married is to relax and soak it all in. It is easy to get so caught up in the whirlwind of your wedding day that you forget to take a moment to appreciate what is going on. When you are in your bridal gown, with your beautiful veil, and special jewelry waiting for the limo to the wedding ceremony, sneak off to a quiet room and steal a few minutes by yourself to reflect on the wonderful day. Do this a few times during your reception with your groom as well just to be able to take a breath and enjoy your wedding to the fullest.

Finding the whole process of weddings and all the planning that goes into one fascinating, Laura writes about many of the considerations that brides have to deal with. For beautiful bridal jewelry, take a look at the custom pearl sets at Silverland Jewelry.com.

June Brides

Image : http://www.flickr.com

June is upon us, and that means it is wedding season. In the United States, June is the most popular month for weddings (in case you are curious, the least popular is January). There are a number of reasons why June is so frequently chosen for weddings, ranging from weather to custom to some surprising practicalities.

The weather in June is certainly one of its' most appealing aspects. It is a time of year when it is reliably warm in the North, but not blazingly hot yet in the South. However, the heritage of June weddings is much older than this country, dating back at least to the Romans. The month of June was named for Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage, hearth, and home. It was only natural that a couple would want to start their life together under her protection.

A funny and practical reason for the popularity of June weddings was that back when bathing was infrequent, people took their annual bath in May (yes, I did say annual!). You may wonder why May did not become the leading month for weddings, what with everyone being at their freshest then. May has long been considered to be an unlucky month for marriages, in part because it was the month when the Romans held the Feast of the Dead as well as the Festival of the Goddess of Chastity. Apparently, very few people felt that death or chastity were auspicious omens for their marriages. In fact, there is even an old saying, "Marry in May, rue the day!"

There are many beautiful flowers in bloom in June, with roses being chief among them. Brides have always loved roses, and they come in an incredible array of shapes, sizes, and colors. From the tiniest minature rose to the lushest grand floribunda, there is a rose that is right for almost every taste. They also hold up well in heat and humidity, which makes them a practical choice for a summer wedding. Other wonderful flowers for June bouquets include hydrangea, peonies, lavender, and lisianthus. If you select flowers than are in season, they will be more affordable and more spectacular.

Pearl bridal jewelry has always gone hand in hand with June weddings. For one thing, the pearl is the June birthstone. In addition, there is an ancient belief that if a bride wears pearls on her wedding day, she will shed fewer tears during the marriage. Pearl bridal jewelry has been worn by many famous brides, including Queen Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy, which adds to the appeal. Brides married at any time of the year love pearls for their lustrous glow and soft radiance. Like roses, pearls are available in many shapes, sizes, and colors. There is the classic round white akoya pearl, the gray baroque pearl, and even unique and informal keshi or coin pearls. With so many variations, there is pearl bridal jewelry perfect for every bride's style.

In celebration of the season, offer your guests the freshest seasonal delicacies at your June wedding. Some of the summer's best flavors include ripe berries, asparagus, sweet corn, zucchini, melon, and tomatoes. Dishes should be light and tasty; avoid heavy sauces and creamy soups. Also keep the weather in mind if your reception will be outdoors. Buttercream frosting will melt and run in the heat, but fondant will hold up beautifully. And don't forget to choose a refreshing signature drink, garnished with fresh fruit.

There are many wonderful reasons to have a June wedding. The weather is lovely, the flowers are abundant, and delicious food is in season. Other reasons to choose June for your special day range from the nostalgic (your mother was a June bride) to the sartorial (you have always imagined floating down the aisle in a chiffon gown). Perhaps you simply like the idea of the goddess Juno smiling down on your wedding day, bringing her blessings to your new life as husband and wife.

Briget has many years helping clients select jewelry and accessories. Let us know if you would like her to write on a particular topic. SilverlandJewelry.com provides a wide selection of wedding jewelry. Pearl bridal jewelry is a great choice for wedding jewelry for the bride and also makes great wedding jewelry for the bridesmaids.

Christian Wedding Rings - All About the Symbolic Meaning They Come With

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Wedding rings are a must in any wedding, especially where the Christians are concerned. It is a symbol of unity with, love for and commitment to another person. But do you know that these rings actually have pagan roots?

The history of them is just like the rings themselves: it has no beginning and no end. Without an exact specific time as to when they came about, rings for weddings were first worn by the ancient Romans. These rings, although they were merely called as "finger rings", were used to "tie" or bond people not just with their own social class, but also to their marital partners. Specifically done in the betrothal ceremonies, the groom will give a plain iron finger ring to the bride's family as a symbol of his commitment to financially support the bride. If you are wondering why betrothal ceremonies and not wedding ceremonies, it is because the betrothal is more elaborately celebrated than the wedding.

The belief of the "finger ring" or "betrothal ring" stemmed from a much older time when a man would tie cords around the waist, wrists and ankles to a woman that he has fallen in love with to make sure that she and her soul will be under his control. It was later on that the Christians of Rome adopted the "betrothal ring" and incorporated it in their wedding ceremonies. Isn't it amazing how something so pagan be involved with Christianity?

Christian wedding rings do not differ largely in meaning from the Romans' betrothal rings. Even if nowadays the groom gives and slips on the ring to his bride instead of the bride's family, the act means almost the same: a symbol of his commitment to his wife not just to financially support her but also to love her. Another meaning for such act is that groom and the bride are laying claim of each other. Just like what the pagans were "saying" but only this time, the bride is doing the same thing.

Christian wedding rings have gone beyond the simple iron rings that the Romans had. It used to be that they are either made of gold or silver and are just plain. These days, rings can be made of other materials, too, such as titanium and platinum. They have gone way beyond the simple band since now, they have designs that can be intricate and have stones, such as diamonds and pearls, set on them.

Christian wedding rings have even gone way beyond what is conventional. Lately, tattooed wedding rings have come into practice for some. Although some conservative church leaders have a thing or two to say against it, these rings still say the same thing as the usual rings: commitment and love for another person. You see, no matter what form they take or design they appear in or material they are made out of, rings for weddings are all about the symbolic meaning that they come with.

Diane Winter is an author of articles about relationships and weddings. Try visiting her website at weddingringtips.com to find more helpful tips and advice on any type of wedding and engagement rings including vintage wedding rings.