Glide down the aisle in traditional wedding shoes

When it comes to bridal accessories, wedding shoes are one of the most important. For those looking for vintage styles, there are plenty to choose from since traditional wedding shoes have changed over time depending on the style trends of the day. For instance, in the 1920s styles ranged from sparkling pumps to low heel Mary Janes, in the 1930s strappy styles were the rage, in the 1940s brides sported open-toed, chunky-heeled shoes that matched the dress, and in the 1950s ivory satin shoes were popular. Think of your shoes as the finishing touch to complete your wedding day look. It might even mean adding color. That’s right, wedding shoes don’t have to be white.

How to choose the perfect wedding shoes

Today, you can find vintage wedding shoe styles or go with one of the popular designer shoes available. The traditional rule of thumb is to have your shoes complement your dress, but while style is important, comfort is equally important because the bride is on her feet most of the special day. We’re talking about 15 hours or more. And don’t forget the father/daughter dance! You certainly don’t want your feet killing you for that memorable moment. With this in mind, once you find the perfect shoes, be sure to wear them so they are broken in before your wedding day.

 

Things to think about when choosing heel height

If you decide on a shoe with a high heel, how high is too high? The answer to this question rests with the bride. The real question is how high can you walk in gracefully? You want to glide down the aisle, not look like you’re trying to balance on stilts. And think about the rest of the environment you’ll be walking through. Wedding photos in the garden, cobblestone walkways, walking on a boardwalk with cracks – all these kinds of things should be taken into consideration when choosing your shoes.

One more thing to think about when considering the height of wedding shoes, is how tall it will make you. Some brides try not to appear taller than the groom. If this matters to a couple, it is one more thing that will influence the height of the shoes worn.

If you decide to go with tradition, a rule of etiquette when it comes to wedding shoes, is that the bride does not go barefoot, unless maybe she is on the beach or playing the shoe game at the wedding reception. So it’s a good idea to have a pretty pare of flats for backup in case your feet really start to hurt from wearing heels all day.

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Rose gold engagement ring making comeback

Back at the turn of the 19^th century, rose gold engagement rings were a popular choice among couples ready to tie the knot. Today that popularity is experiencing a resurgence for a number of reasons.

What is rose bold?

Rose gold is a blend of yellow gold and copper. The more copper in the blend, the rosier the hue. In the same regard, the higher karat the lighter the shade will be because it contains more pure gold. In the end, how deep the blush comes down to ratios and personal preference.

In some cases, 18k rose gold rings will contain silver or palladium along with the gold and copper, while lesser karat rings might contain some silver or zinc. For those who have allergies to consider it is important to talk to your jeweler regarding the actual makeup of the ring you are considering.

 

Advantages of rose gold engagement rings

One reason people fancy rose gold is its romantic vintage look, but beyond that, this precious gold offers practical advantages. For instance, it makes an attractive choice for people with nickel allergies which can be experienced with white gold and is more durable than yellow gold.

Aside from these physical advantages rose gold is also an affordable choice that compliments all skin tones.

Rose gold engagement rings provide a classy-looking ring that’s versatile and yet distinct. Today, you can find them available in vintage or contemporary designs. 

 

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History of wedding cake toppers

If I say wedding cake topper, what do you picture? It might be a miniature bride and groom, wedding bells or some other similar ornamentation with a wedding theme. While the history of wedding cakes dates back to the Roman Empire, it was nothing like wedding cakes as we know them today. Instead they were unsweetened loaves of bread which were crumbled over the bride for good luck. And wedding cake toppers as we know them haven't been around all that long either. They became a growing trend with middle class and affluent American families before the American Civil War. By the 1890s, they were quite common.

Those original wedding cake toppers weren't anything extravagant. Cakes were decorated with things like flowers, bells, or other small objects related to the bride and groom. Often these toppers were handmade by a family member or a professional wedding cake baker using frosting, icing, or non-edible materials like plaster of Paris.

Wedding cake toppers popular after World War I

Decorative cake toppers grew more popular after World War I. It was in the Roaring 20s that High Society in the U.S. adopted the custom of using figurines of the bride and groom atop the wedding cake. Popularity of this tradition grew quickly after Emily Post, American etiquette expert, mentioned them in her 1922 best seller that said, "wedding cake is an essential of every wedding reception," and went on to comment on the placement of the bride and groom figurines in the description of a beautifully decorated cake. In the early 1900s wedding cake toppers were made from glass, paper, or wood until they started being commercially made.

First commercially made wedding cake toppers

Along with this, American retailers like Sears & Roebuck started to market and sell cake toppers showcasing a bride and groom. By 1924 you could find an assortment of two-inch tall bride and groom toppers made from wax and featuring differences like groom without a hat or wearing a top hat. The bride could be purchased without a veil or wearing a cloth veil. By 1927, the Sears catalog had an entire page devoted to wedding cake ornaments.

With their growing popularity, wedding cake toppers started to be mass produced commercially in the U.S., Europe and Asia. They were available in the usual bride and groom side-by-side pose along with a selection of alternative poses. And during or following the War, the groom was sometimes depicted wearing a military uniform. Along with this, groom figurines could also be purchased a wearing police or fireman uniform, too.

Sparkling Love Cake Topper

Aside from bride and groom figurines, today we have toppers like cupids, hearts, love birds and sometimes even a framed picture of the couple. The tradition of adding a decorative ornament topper to the wedding cake has been joined with the tradition of removing and saving the memento as well as freezing the top layer of the cake to be eaten by the bride and groom on their first anniversary.

 
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Photo credits: Vintage Wedding Cake Topper, Fancy Flowers, futuremrsbeede

Why brides carried a bouquet

We've seen the surprising origins of many wedding traditions on this site, and the origins of the bridal bouquet is no different. This is another ancient tradition that can be traced back to Rome. At that time, brides carried or wore flower garlands because they believed flowers signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility.

Original purposes of the bridal bouquet

Like many wedding traditions, the origin of the bridal bouquet tradition can be traced back to ancient Rome. For them, like I said, it signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility. By the Middle Ages bouquets of strong-smelling herbs and spices were carried by the bride for their magical effects to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and sickness. 

Today, the bouquet represents happiness and satisfaction in marriage and the wedding flowers making up the bouquet are thought to have their own special meanings.

In the Middle Ages, the wedding bouquet also became a way to distract female guests who were eager to tear off a piece of the wedding dress for good luck. The bride tossed the flowers to the wedding guests who believed it would be be a talisman for good luck for the one who caught it. And so why while they were distracted as they scrambled to get their hands on the bouquet, the bride ran away with her dress in one piece. Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that is still practiced today! 

 

 

Vintage wedding bouquet ideas for the modern bride

• Consider wearing a flower garland like the ancient Romans who believed flowers signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility.
• Make up a bouquet of your favorite wild flowers, herbs and aromatic spices.
  

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