Barefoot weddings: An ancient Celtic wedding tradition

Celtic wedding traditions like “tying the knot” with handfasting, jumping the broom, having bagpipes play as the bride walks down the aisle, or dressing in a kilt or wearing a jacket or a hat with a Tartan worn over the shoulder are popular Celtic traditions chosen by many modern-day couples for their wedding ceremony, but one less practiced Celtic tradition that can add a fun element to your special day is to make it a barefoot wedding.

Barefoot weddings today

Today, this ancient custom has been adopted for country themed weddings, and in some circles it is considered a “sign of purity” when you enter any religious site barefooted because the removal of shoes is thought to represent a person baring their soul. And of course, beach weddings are often barefoot weddings because it’s easier to walk on sand with bare feet. But what did going shoeless mean to the ancient Celts?

Celtic barefoot weddings

In the ancient Gaelic and Celtic tradition, the bridal party attended the ceremony with bare feet as a sign of simplicity and humility. This was also thought to represent the natural relationship being consecrated at the ceremony -- “natural” was key. Back then, Celtic marriages took place in a natural setting and were held in circles rather than in a church with an aisle, so guests stood in a circle to welcome the bride and the groom. (Circles are the design behind life-giving systems in nature and thought to be symbols of wholeness). And so bare feet making direct contact with the soil was a way of connecting to Mother Earth.

 

Barefoot sandals are a popular choice for brides who want special “footwear” for their barefoot wedding, but before you decide on a barefoot wedding, it is important to note that some people are not fans of bare feet. In fact, some think walking around without shoes as rude, disgusting and unsanitary while others argue that shoes carry the same things as bare feet on their soles. So if you decide to go with a barefoot wedding, make the barefoot element clear on your invitation and maybe even include "why" you're choosing this ancient custom to avoid any problems on your special day.

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Today, the halo style engagement ring is the second most popular engagement ring style (solitaire is first). One reason for this popularity is that for couples on a budget, the halo setting enhances the look of the center diamond making it look bigger with a halo of smaller diamonds circling it. 

 

History of halo engagement rings 

The history of halo engagement rings can be traced back to the Georgian era in Europe (1714-1837). At that time, halo rings were designed with smaller round diamonds or pearls circling the center stone. During the Victorian era (1837-1901) halo rings took on a new look that imitated flowers using colored gemstones as the center stone which made them a popular choice for an engagement ring. This popularity carried over into the 1920s when what we look at as the “classic” diamond halo setting of a larger round diamond surrounded by smaller round diamonds originated during the Art Deco movement.

Rose Gold Halo Engagement Ring

Popular halo engagement ring shapes

Today’s Halo diamond engagement rings are available with a variety of stylish options paired with it classic vintage panache. They can be purchased in a variety of precious metals including halo engagement rings crafted from rose gold and a variety of shapes including the trendy heart-shaped diamond. Other popular shapes include:

Cushion Cut Round Brilliant Cut Diamond

• Vintage round halo ring: The timelessness of vintage round diamond halo rings is still the most popular choice.
• Halo engagement rings princess cut: The second most popular shape is the Princess cut. The face-up shape of the princess cut is square or rectangular. From the side it is comparable to an inverted pyramid with four beveled sides. These rings mingle classic luster and contemporary angles and is a shape found in many vintage halos.
• Cushion cut halo ring: The cushion cut diamond unites a square cut with rounded corners. It gets the name “cushion” because it looks a lot like a pillow and makes a good choice for people who prefer a vintage look to their jewelry.
• Emerald cut halo ring: The emerald cut shape brings emphasis to the clarity of the diamond. It’s has a large table and distinctive step-cut pavilion. The length of this cut compliments the finger.
• Oval diamond halo ring: Oval shaped rings offer sparkle comparable to the round diamond but with a less common profile that brings a certain vintage charm with it and something a little different for brides who want to be unique.

Halo diamond engagement rings have made a beautiful, bold choice throughout history and still are a stylistic choice that makes any carat diamond appear bigger than it really is.

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4 benefits of a prewedding photo shoot

Taking prewedding photos is a growing trend and has become a new wedding tradition in its own right. A prewedding photoshoot, also referred to as an engagement photo shoot, usually takes place three to six months before the wedding. If you’re tossing around the idea and wonder if it is worth the extra cost, look for a photographer that includes it as part of the wedding photographer’s package. Otherwise, an hourly charge usually applies.

4 benefits of a prewedding photo shoot

Before the photoshoot, it best for the couple to sit down with the photographer and share their story. This can include things like how they met, what they like to do, and ideas for locations and outfits that can be worn. The photos can be taken indoors or outdoors. Other than developing ideas for where and when the photo shoot can take place, planning a prewedding photo shoot can actually be beneficial in other ways. Two of these four benefits only apply if you plan to use the same photographer for your wedding.

1. Taking prewedding photos is an ideal way to capture romantic moments between the couple and is a perfect opportunity to create special memories to be cherished in the future.
2. Helps develop a good relationship with your wedding photographer. He/she will get to know you and be in touch with how formal or informal you are and what kind of setting(s) or theme(s) are suitable for your tastes.
3. Also these photo shoots let the bride and groom get familiar with the photographer’s style and help them feel more comfortable working with them.
4. Prewedding photos can be used for save the date magnets and engagement announcements in the newspaper.

Creative Elements for Great Engagement Photo Shoot

Shooting great engagement photos relies on a few things.  

• First, you want the photos to tell the bride and groom’s story.
• Secondly, you want photos to capture more than actions. You want them to capture the emotions.
• Thirdly, choose a backdrop meaningful in some way to the couple. For instance, if the bride and groom enjoy horses, pictures can be taken with an equestrian backdrop and even include a horse or two. Another idea may be something you do together, like baking cookies, or eating a romantic picnic lunch. Or for those planning a vintage themed wedding, a fun photoshoot may include outfits specific to an era and having the photographer include some sepia photos with a backdrop like an old train station or some other historic site. Other ideas include pictures taken in a place special to the couple like where he proposed, where they met, or where they went on their first date.

Whatever concept you plan to go with for your engagement photoshoot, it’s important that both the bride and groom are excited and embrace the idea, because a grumpy or bored participant will not make for good photos.

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What is a Cathedral wedding veil and is it right for you?

If you watched Prince Harry and Meghan Markle get married you saw a perfect example of a cathedral wedding veil making a regal entrance. In this case, it was a 16-foot silk tulle veil. The terms cathedral and tulle do not refer to the style of her veil but to the length and fabric. The length of a cathedral veil is between 108-120" and it extends beyond the train of the wedding gown.

Silver Crystals Scrolled Scallop-Edge Bridal

Embellishing a Cathedral veil

Cathedral veils can remain elegantly simple and unadorned, but with all that fabric you have unlimited options of what you can do to embellish your veil if that's what you prefer. 

 

For instance, Meghan’s veil told a unique story as it included hand embroidered flowers which paid homage to all 53 Commonwealth countries. To make sure the veil remained pristine, those embroidering the flowers were required to wash their hands every 30 minutes. 

 

Probably the most uniquely decorated veil I can think of was the wedding veil worn by Angelina Jolie when she married Brad Pitt. It was embellished with artwork created by her children! 

You may not have someone to hand embroider your wedding veil, but you can find already-embellished cathedral veils with crystals, rhinestones, or sequins, or a cathedral veil with lace, or a two-tier cathedral veil with a blusher accent giving it a romantic vintage look.

Is a Cathedral right for your wedding dress?

While it may seem romantic to picture yourself walking the aisle wearing a cathedral veil, the real question to ask is whether or not such a long veil is really the right length for your dress and overall look? When buying your wedding veil, test various veils when you go for your first dress fitting. Start shopping for your veil early. You want a veil that complements your dress in flow and design. Often, designers offer veils crafted specifically to be paired with their dresses, so that’s a good place to start looking. If you’re sporting a more informal overall look, it will be better to consider a shorter veil that pops with personality and yet stays true to the look you’re after like a bandeau or blusher, while the cathedral veil lends itself to a more formal traditional look.

Cathedral Veil with Blusher

If you want a long veil, but a cathedral bridal veil is too long, try a chapel wedding veil (90 inches) or a floor-length wedding veil (72 inches). If you don’t find the veil you love, you can always have a veil custom made based on your specifications.

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4 wedding traditions in Mexico

Like every culture, wedding traditions in Mexico have evolved over time with a blend of ancient customs from Mayan and Aztec rituals, Spanish customs, as well as the incorporation of modern wedding trends. While things like food, music, wedding dresses, and such elements of weddings vary from one family to another in Mexican tradition, one thing that holds true − the belief that marriage is a pillar of the family. With that said, for today’s post we’ll look and four special wedding traditions popular in Mexico.

Wedding Arras

Wedding arras – 13 gold coins

One unforgettable wedding tradition in Mexico is the giving of 13 gold coins known as wedding arras. The roots of this tradition are actually from a Roman tradition of breaking a silver or gold coin in two and giving half to the bride and the other to the groom. This is to symbolize the finding of middle ground in the marriage union.

In the Mexican wedding tradition, the bride receives the wedding arras from the groom. These 13 gold coins are a symbol of trust – that he trusts his bride with his finances. When the bride accepts, she is essentially promising to live up to that financial trust with careful attention and prudence. This traditional gift is customarily offered in an ornate box or on a gift tray which symbolizes good wishes for prosperity. The 13 gold coins are thought to represent Jesus and his 12 apostles and are presented to the priest at the start of the ceremony to be blessed. He then gives them to the groom, who hands them to the best man who gives them back to the priest near the end of the ceremony. In the end, the coins are given to the groom who then presents them to his new wife.

Unique Mexican Wedding Kit

Godparents serve as sponsors

Another special custom practiced in the Mexican wedding tradition includes Godparents (Los Padrinos) who serve as sponsors for different facets of the wedding including things like flowers, the cake, and even the bride’s dress, plus they contribute to the cost of the wedding ceremony. The role for the godmother (madrina) includes carrying a wine glass for the toast, and other roles for godparents can involve a prayer book, guestbook, an embroidered kneeling pillow, and a large loop of rosary beads known as the wedding lasso which is used for another wedding tradition as the godparents place it on the couple after they exchange vows.

What does the wedding lasso tradition mean?

The wedding lasso tradition represents unity. The godparents place the lasso or lazo around the necks of the couple in an eight-shape configuration which represents infinity and symbolizes the love that binds the couple as they face the shared responsibility of marriage together. It is laid upon the groom’s shoulders fist, and then intertwined to join him to the bride. The lasso is then worn for the remainder of the service, and once it is taken off is presented to the bride as a keepsake that reminds her she has become the mistress of the groom’s heart and home. 

Variations of this tradition can include interlacing orange blossoms with the beads which is thought to represent fertility and happiness. In some families, a double wedding lasso is given by one set of the parents.

Delicious Mexican wedding cookies

One last Mexican wedding tradition worth mentioning are Mexican wedding cookies known as polvorones. The ingredients in these cookies are very similar to Russian teacakes, or Italian wedding cookies and are made using flour, butter, sugar and ground nuts. These cookies are also known as Mexican wedding cake cookies but their origins date back to medieval Arab according to food historians. No matter where they originated, they are a special treat at any wedding.

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