Themed Weddings - A Pirate's Bride

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Ahoy matey! When you were growing up did you enjoy watching old pirate movies like Captain Blood or the Black Swan that showcased a swashbuckling Tyrone Power? I know I did and still do to this day, that's why I decided to come up with some great wedding tips for a pirate themed wedding.

A pirate's wedding can be loads of fun and can incorporate some unique ideas straight out of your imagination. The first thing is to decide where you would like your pirate wedding to be held. A sandy beach, or an elegant home transformed to resemble a pirate's hideout? Perhaps you might be interested in contacting a Hollywood producer about using an old pirate ship from a movie set. You make the decision after all this day is one you have dreamed of all your life. Lights! Camera! Action!

After you have decided on a unique spot for your wedding it's time to bring all the little details that make up a wedding to life. Let's start with some obvious ones like wedding attire.

Since you have decided to become a pirate's bride it's now up to you to dress the part. You might first look at gowns from the pirate's era as a starting point. Well heeled brides wore elaborate gowns that often included a corset or lacing and were patterned from silk or damask with puffy sleeves edged with lace on both cuffs and bodice. You might go back and take a look at the stunning gown Princess Diana wore at her wedding to get a good idea of this particular style. Also the color is entirely up to you. Dress your bridesmaids in a plainer version and add the corset for effect.

Dressing the groom can be alot of fun using the pirate theme. Pirates dressed in bold colors like crimson red or royal purple breeches and muslin shirts enhanced by puffy sleeves and cuffed with dripping lace. Next go for a black belt embellished with a huge gold buckle and knee high black boots for effect. Follow this flamboyant style with a black, tricorn hat adorned with an electrifying red or purple feather and have the groom wear a gold hoop earring and gold necklaces. Last but not least, you might add a black eye patch for a dazzling finish. Have your groomsmen dress as lesser pirates in more somber attire, after all, the groom is the star.

If you really want pirate style, send out invitations made up to look like ransom notes or treasure maps inviting your guests to appear at your wedding. You might also request them to dress in old world attire if they choose.

Now that we've dressed you and your groom and sent out invitations, it's time to dress up your wedding feast. Drape your tables in scarlet cloth and give your guests wine bottle stoppers or letter openers boxed in miniature treasure chests. Finally, let the feast began! Offer your guests pewter plates and cups and let them choose from an assortment of foods that include lobsters, coconut shrimp, fresh salads, tropical fruit, roast chicken and baked bread washed down with an assortment of champagnes, liquers, whiskey and sodas.

After the feast,you might wish to start your honeymoon in the captain's cabin complete with port hole so you can look out at the stars.

I hope I have given you some great ideas to make your pirate themed wedding truly the wedding of your dreams!

Deborah Lewis is the owner of http://loveyourwedding.com/ If you are looking for some truly unique wedding favors and bridesmaids gifts you are going to love our selection, guaranteed.

Themed Wedding Ceremonies with a Roman Flair

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Ancient Roman wedding ceremonies began with the bride renouncing her childhood so that she could properly prepare for her life as wife and mother. To do this, she began by surrendering her childhood toys. The bride's hairstyle was unique only to brides. Her hair was divided into six locks, and was fastened with fillets on the top of her head.

Like today, the Roman bride's wedding attire was worn only once; the most significant piece of clothing being the flame colored, yet transparent, veil which was worn on the crown of her head beneath wreaths of myrtle branches and orange blossoms. The dress consisted of a simple tunic tied with a woolen girdle over which she wore a yellow cloak and matching sandals.

The first part of the wedding ceremony would begin at the house of the bride's parents. When all was in order, her parents would then hand her over to her groom. This led to the pledge; a simple ceremony in which the young couple would grasp hands and recite their commitment to one another. From there they would go to a place of sacrifice where the bride and groom would sacrifice a pig. The matron of honor would then join the bride and groom's hands together.

In Roman wedding ceremonies the best man also acted as the priest and it was his responsibility to present the wedding contract at the appropriate time, and to ensure that the proper number of witnesses signed it.

The Roman version of a reception was actually a part of their wedding ceremonies. After the wedding contract was signed there would be a huge wedding breakfast feast which was traditionally paid for by the groom and, it has been reported, often lasted until nightfall. This is most likely where the early wedding cake, a simple loaf of wheat flour, salt, and water, was used.

At this time gifts were given and the wedding party made ready for the next part of the wedding ceremony - the procession. During this procession the attendants would lead the bride to her new home. This was quite the event. Flute players announced the procession's progress as they moved. Torchbearers lit the way as designated young children led the way. As they went, and especially as they neared the grooms home, well wishers threw walnuts at the party in a gesture of their hope for the new couple's fertility. Meanwhile the groom went on ahead to prepare the way house for the arrival of his new wife.

The bride's arrival at the new home was the climax of the wedding ceremony: Before the groom could carry the bride through the doorway of their new home a white cloth was spread on the ground and covered with leaves and branches. Likewise, it is reported that the bride would first smear fat on the door post and tie a strand of wool to the door posts to mark the home as her domain before the groom would carry the bride across the threshold and into their new house.

It is easy to see that many of our modern day traditions in wedding ceremonies originated with the Romans and the variations could make for a memorable event should anyone choose to base their wedding after the ancient Roman wedding ceremony.

Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Find lots of wedding theme ideas to inspire your wedding planning to new heights at her website http://www.ExcitingWeddingFavors.com.

Themed Weddings - A Pirate's Bride

Image : http://www.flickr.com

Ahoy matey! When you were growing up did you enjoy watching old pirate movies like Captain Blood or the Black Swan that showcased a swashbuckling Tyrone Power? I know I did and still do to this day, that's why I decided to come up with some great wedding tips for a pirate themed wedding.

A pirate's wedding can be loads of fun and can incorporate some unique ideas straight out of your imagination. The first thing is to decide where you would like your pirate wedding to be held. A sandy beach, or an elegant home transformed to resemble a pirate's hideout? Perhaps you might be interested in contacting a Hollywood producer about using an old pirate ship from a movie set. You make the decision after all this day is one you have dreamed of all your life. Lights! Camera! Action!

After you have decided on a unique spot for your wedding it's time to bring all the little details that make up a wedding to life. Let's start with some obvious ones like wedding attire.

Since you have decided to become a pirate's bride it's now up to you to dress the part. You might first look at gowns from the pirate's era as a starting point. Well heeled brides wore elaborate gowns that often included a corset or lacing and were patterned from silk or damask with puffy sleeves edged with lace on both cuffs and bodice. You might go back and take a look at the stunning gown Princess Diana wore at her wedding to get a good idea of this particular style. Also the color is entirely up to you. Dress your bridesmaids in a plainer version and add the corset for effect.

Dressing the groom can be alot of fun using the pirate theme. Pirates dressed in bold colors like crimson red or royal purple breeches and muslin shirts enhanced by puffy sleeves and cuffed with dripping lace. Next go for a black belt embellished with a huge gold buckle and knee high black boots for effect. Follow this flamboyant style with a black, tricorn hat adorned with an electrifying red or purple feather and have the groom wear a gold hoop earring and gold necklaces. Last but not least, you might add a black eye patch for a dazzling finish. Have your groomsmen dress as lesser pirates in more somber attire, after all, the groom is the star.

If you really want pirate style, send out invitations made up to look like ransom notes or treasure maps inviting your guests to appear at your wedding. You might also request them to dress in old world attire if they choose.

Now that we've dressed you and your groom and sent out invitations, it's time to dress up your wedding feast. Drape your tables in scarlet cloth and give your guests wine bottle stoppers or letter openers boxed in miniature treasure chests. Finally, let the feast began! Offer your guests pewter plates and cups and let them choose from an assortment of foods that include lobsters, coconut shrimp, fresh salads, tropical fruit, roast chicken and baked bread washed down with an assortment of champagnes, liquers, whiskey and sodas.

After the feast,you might wish to start your honeymoon in the captain's cabin complete with port hole so you can look out at the stars.

I hope I have given you some great ideas to make your pirate themed wedding truly the wedding of your dreams!

Deborah Lewis is the owner of http://loveyourwedding.com/ If you are looking for some truly unique wedding favors and bridesmaids gifts you are going to love our selection, guaranteed.

Themed Weddings - The Romantic Southern Belle Bride

Image : http://www.flickr.com

There is a unique area in our country where life is genteel, ladies are still called ma'am and where men still hold the car door open for there dates. This area is called the deep south and incorporates several different states, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia and Kentucky.

Southern girls instinctively grow up knowing how to flirt, be a daddy's girl and speaking that slow southern drawl that has men falling all over themselves to gaze into her beautiful eyes. Ask any traditional Southern girl and she knows who Scarlett O"Hara is. Most of us down here cut our teeth on "Gone with the Wind", and that dashing rogue Rhett Butler still gets a thumbs up when it comes to making our hearts skip a beat. Indeed, lots of us Southern girls dream of wearing the full antebellum gowns and sipping chilled champagne as we gaze adoringly up into our groom's eyes.

At a young age many of us decided that we wanted to be a Southern belle bride complete with all the trimmings of our special heritage. The southern belle bride is unique and her trademark is a romantic bell shaped gown made of silk and embellished with lace and pearls. Lots of other little goodies complete this romantic image. If a girl truly has her heart set on being a Southern belle on her wedding day she will usually hold her wedding and reception in a rented old antebellum plantation. Roses, gardenias, magnolia blooms and camillias are the flowers of choice. We love to show off so our wedding favors or are an important tradition that can't be left out. For a romantic belle bride, "Key to my Heart" bottle stoppers, rose or calla lily sachets, silk fans or old fashioned ice cream scoops make adorable and memorable favors for our guests. Bridesmaids dress in romantic dresses and they might be any color, although from my experience in dealing with my fellow Southern brides, pink is still the all time favorite shade. The groom and his best man are garbed in elegant tuxedos that can either be white or black depending on his taste.

The reception is held on the verandah where champagne, iced tea, whiskey and brandy are served to guests and misty eyed relatives of the happy couple. Along with many boisterous toasts, delicious food of the southern tradition is served, roast duck, red velvet cake, pies, shrimp cocktail, steaks and the south's signature food, barbeque, after all we wouldn't have it any other way.

Southern weddings are a wonderful way of showing off some of our finest traditions and cuisine besides being spectacularly beautiful and romantic. If you are a girl who has her heart set on being a southern belle for the day, then go for it. You only have one life to live.

Southern & Victorian Wedding Favors -We offer elegant wedding favors, bridal shower favors, keepsakes, wedding gifts and wedding accessories you are sure to love.