One common tradition in Canadian weddings is to include young children in the ceremony as a flower girl and ring bearer. Couples often have nieces, nephews, godchildren, or the offspring of close friends, especially those within the age range of three to seven, in these roles. As with other wedding details, careful consideration should be given to who should be in your ceremony. Do you even want young children at your wedding? Here’s what you should know.
Doing What You Want
Some might say that having a flower girl and a male ring bearer is old-fashioned and based on outdated ideas of gender roles. You can have anyone, even older children or adults, in these roles. Anyone can carry flowers or sprinkle petals down the aisle if that’s what you want. Similarly, anybody can carry the rings to the altar. You might even prefer to have someone in the wedding party hold on to the rings until it’s time to place them. It’s your special day, and you can do what you want.
Minding the Children
When it comes to cuteness, it’s hard to compete with a flower girl or ring bearer dressed up and resembling miniature versions of others in the wedding party. But before you get taken by how adorable the flower girl and ring bearer are, think carefully about a child’s temperament. Even the most precocious and well-mannered kids can become moody, shy, or distracted during your ceremony. Some people have the patience to deal with a child’s mercurial moods, but you might not, especially during such an important event. Many couples don’t invite kids to weddings and receptions for these reasons.
Young children may need their parents or other adults they are comfortable with to be close by during the wedding ceremony. Keep this in mind if you need to have a seating chart for the ceremony. Consider reserving seats near the altar or the aisle. Someone may need to quickly remove a child who’s throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown.
Choosing the Children
While your preferences are most important, be mindful of others’ expectations when it comes to a ring bearer or flower girl. Maybe you have a sibling who’s expecting a child to be in your wedding? What about that godchild or your bestie’s firstborn? What about children from your partner’s side of the family? Sometimes including a child is a way to honor the parents, especially if they’re not in the wedding party. It’s important to communicate your intentions early and clearly with those around you. Suppose there is a set of twins with whom you have a close connection. You may consider having multiple ring bearers or flower girls to keep everyone happy.
Being Inclusive
There’s no rule that says the person sprinkling petals must be female. Similarly, your ring bearer doesn’t have to be a boy. Many couples are degenderizing their ceremonies to be more inclusive, especially with respect to trans and nonbinary people. It’s good to honor the personhood of everyone involved, even young children who may be genderfluid or non-binary.
Counting the Costs
In many wedding parties, members are expected to cover the costs of attire and provide support to the couple on and leading up to the big day. Are you expecting the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer to pay for their outfits? Depending on your situation, you may need to budget for the participation of someone else’s child.
Having children at your marriage ceremony is one thing. Involving them as flower children or ring bearers is another. You and your partner should think carefully about whether you want to have youngsters in your wedding and everything that entails. Your union should be a joyous affair for everyone, including kids and their parents.
Engagements rings are a long-held matrimonial tradition. However, it’s worth considering a few key factors before you drop any cash on an engagement ring.
How much do Canadian couples spend on engagement rings? According to a March 2016 Global News article, the average cost for each one is around $4,700. After including the typical event and honeymoon costs, the total price tag for a wedding can reach almost $40,000. Cutting expenses can be challenging for couples who want to tie the knot. That’s why it’s worth considering a few key factors before you drop any cash on an engagement ring.
Behind the Engagement Ring “Rules”
You may have heard of the supposed “rules” for buying engagement rings. Depending on who you ask, the ring should cost either two or three times one’s monthly salary. Statistics Canada’s 2017 figures revealed that the average weekly salary is around $986. That means the typical Canadian earns almost $4,000 per month before deductions. With these figures, following the oft-repeated rule on rings results in a price tag between $8,000 and $12,000.
How did these modern engagement ring purchasing practices develop? Money Under 30’s David Weliver divulges that they originated with a shrewd marketing campaign launched by the London-based diamond company De Beers. He also contends that they aren’t practical for younger couples because of typical debt burdens and lower salaries. To lower costs, he suggests a few alternatives:
Pay for the ring with cash.
Select a family heirloom piece.
Choose gemstones that are less expensive than diamonds.
Pros and Cons of Financing Your Ring
If there’s no room in your budget to purchase an engagement ring in full, you may be tempted to finance it. Your credit history will determine the types of offers you receive along with spending limits and interest rates. Individuals with favorable credit can choose from many options:
Personal loans
Vendor’s credit cards or revolving credit lines
Major credit cards issued by financial institutions
At the same time, you’ll need to think about how this new debt will impact your upcoming marriage. NerdWallet’s Erin El Issa points out that each spouse is liable for individually incurred debts. This is true regardless of whether they originated before or after the wedding. Yet those debts still affect the couple’s overall financial health. A significant debt load can make it difficult to purchase a home together, contribute to a savings account, or plan for retirement.
In another Money Under 30 article, David Weliver offers suggestions for people desiring to purchase engagement rings on credit. While he still warns readers not to buy rings that they cannot afford, he discusses some favorable financing options. Some jewelry retailers may offer 0 percent financing or no interest and payments for a predetermined time period. Weliver strongly suggests reviewing each offer’s terms. With some, you’ll pay a much higher interest rate after the promotional period expires.
Depending on your credit score, you may qualify for cards that come with 0 percent interest on new purchases for up to one year. Be sure you know what your new APR will be. Also, you should assess whether you can pay off the ring before the promotion ends. Purchase your ring from a reliable online jeweler. Buying online could save you a significant amount of money, letting you spend as little as 50 percent of the brick-and-mortar retailer price. Make sure you request a shipment method with tracking and a signature requirement as well as insurance to cover the ring itself.
Choose Your Credit Options Carefully
In the past, society judged a man’s ability to provide for his future wife by the type of engagement ring he gave her. It’s true that some still take notice at an elaborate ring with a decent-sized diamond. Ultimately, you must consider the effects of purchasing one either with cash or credit. After all, part of your goal should be making smart decisions for your joint financial future.
Though diamonds are a girls best friend, there are plenty of other beautiful stones out that are more budget friendly and will surely stand out.
Wedding and engagement rings have a long history, probably from Roman customs where a woman would wear rings attached to small keys, which demonstrated her ownership by her husband. Women were considered property for many years, and we’re fortunate that this has changed. The first rings with diamonds were recorded in the late 1400s. Maximilian I, the King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor, commissioned a diamond ring for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy.
Maximilian is responsible for the diamond engagement ring trend, but it was the Victorians who popularized the ornate designs and beautiful settings that we know today. However, diamonds were largely inaccessible to the masses until De Beers began mining in the late 1800s. The demand for diamonds dropped during the Depression, but De Beers Company fought back by using the movie stars of the time to advertise the diamonds.
Are Diamonds Really a Girl’s Best Friend?
In the 1953 film, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Marilyn Monroe sang:
“The French are glad to die for love.
They delight in fighting duels.
But I prefer a man who lives
And gives expensive jewels.
A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental,
But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
Diamonds might be considered traditional, but not everyone can afford these rare gems. Some people don’t want to support the industry. There are a lot of other gemstones that can be made into beautiful rings. Here are some of the best alternatives.
Alternative Stones
Garnets come in shades of pink and red most commonly, but you can also find them in other colors. Although garnets aren’t as hard as other gems, only a 7.0 on the Mohs scale (a diamond is a 10), you’ll be able to get a bigger gem for a fraction of the cost.
Sapphires are most commonly a blue gem, but you can find them in other hues. The best part is that sapphires are generally one-third of the price of diamonds. You can get a larger stone, but make sure it’s well cut.
Emeralds come in beautiful shades of green, and although they aren’t one of the more popular gems these days, they can look chic and timeless in a ring setting that will last forever.
Pearls are an iconic look, but they do tend to scratch and tarnish easily. You can find very elegant pearls at a good price, but don’t plan on wearing the ring every day to make it last.
Opals can reflect the entire rainbow as they move in the light. No two opals look the same, but they are in the middle of the Mohs scale. Opals don’t stand up to daily wear like a diamond might, but they still make a beautiful ring.
Onyx is generally black in color, but it can come in a variety of colors for fine jewelry. The black stone pairs with anything you wear and it looks timeless and chic.
Sunstones are a very abundant gemstone and come in a variety of shades including peach, red, orange and green. Many are found just south of the border in Oregon.
Amethyst is a pretty, purple gem that is durable but less expensive than diamond. The gem is beautifully paired with gold or silver for a classic look.
One common tradition in Canadian weddings is to include young children in the ceremony as a flower girl and ring bearer. Couples often have nieces, nephews, godchildren, or the offspring of close friends, especially those within the age range of three to seven, in these roles. As with other wedding details, careful consideration should be given to who should be in your ceremony. Do you even want young children at your wedding? Here’s what you should know.
Doing What You Want
Some might say that having a flower girl and a male ring bearer is old-fashioned and based on outdated ideas of gender roles. You can have anyone, even older children or adults, in these roles. Anyone can carry flowers or sprinkle petals down the aisle if that’s what you want. Similarly, anybody can carry the rings to the altar. You might even prefer to have someone in the wedding party hold on to the rings until it’s time to place them. It’s your special day, and you can do what you want.
Minding the Children
When it comes to cuteness, it’s hard to compete with a flower girl or ring bearer dressed up and resembling miniature versions of others in the wedding party. But before you get taken by how adorable the flower girl and ring bearer are, think carefully about a child’s temperament. Even the most precocious and well-mannered kids can become moody, shy, or distracted during your ceremony. Some people have the patience to deal with a child’s mercurial moods, but you might not, especially during such an important event. Many couples don’t invite kids to weddings and receptions for these reasons.
Young children may need their parents or other adults they are comfortable with to be close by during the wedding ceremony. Keep this in mind if you need to have a seating chart for the ceremony. Consider reserving seats near the altar or the aisle. Someone may need to quickly remove a child who’s throwing a tantrum or having a meltdown.
Choosing the Children
While your preferences are most important, be mindful of others’ expectations when it comes to a ring bearer or flower girl. Maybe you have a sibling who’s expecting a child to be in your wedding? What about that godchild or your bestie’s firstborn? What about children from your partner’s side of the family? Sometimes including a child is a way to honor the parents, especially if they’re not in the wedding party. It’s important to communicate your intentions early and clearly with those around you. Suppose there is a set of twins with whom you have a close connection. You may consider having multiple ring bearers or flower girls to keep everyone happy.
Being Inclusive
There’s no rule that says the person sprinkling petals must be female. Similarly, your ring bearer doesn’t have to be a boy. Many couples are degenderizing their ceremonies to be more inclusive, especially with respect to trans and nonbinary people. It’s good to honor the personhood of everyone involved, even young children who may be genderfluid or non-binary.
Counting the Costs
In many wedding parties, members are expected to cover the costs of attire and provide support to the couple on and leading up to the big day. Are you expecting the parents of the flower girl and ring bearer to pay for their outfits? Depending on your situation, you may need to budget for the participation of someone else’s child.
Having children at your marriage ceremony is one thing. Involving them as flower children or ring bearers is another. You and your partner should think carefully about whether you want to have youngsters in your wedding and everything that entails. Your union should be a joyous affair for everyone, including kids and their parents.
Engagements rings are a long-held matrimonial tradition. However, it’s worth considering a few key factors before you drop any cash on an engagement ring.
How much do Canadian couples spend on engagement rings? According to a March 2016 Global News article, the average cost for each one is around $4,700. After including the typical event and honeymoon costs, the total price tag for a wedding can reach almost $40,000. Cutting expenses can be challenging for couples who want to tie the knot. That’s why it’s worth considering a few key factors before you drop any cash on an engagement ring.
Behind the Engagement Ring “Rules”
You may have heard of the supposed “rules” for buying engagement rings. Depending on who you ask, the ring should cost either two or three times one’s monthly salary. Statistics Canada’s 2017 figures revealed that the average weekly salary is around $986. That means the typical Canadian earns almost $4,000 per month before deductions. With these figures, following the oft-repeated rule on rings results in a price tag between $8,000 and $12,000.
How did these modern engagement ring purchasing practices develop? Money Under 30’s David Weliver divulges that they originated with a shrewd marketing campaign launched by the London-based diamond company De Beers. He also contends that they aren’t practical for younger couples because of typical debt burdens and lower salaries. To lower costs, he suggests a few alternatives:
Pay for the ring with cash.
Select a family heirloom piece.
Choose gemstones that are less expensive than diamonds.
Pros and Cons of Financing Your Ring
If there’s no room in your budget to purchase an engagement ring in full, you may be tempted to finance it. Your credit history will determine the types of offers you receive along with spending limits and interest rates. Individuals with favorable credit can choose from many options:
Personal loans
Vendor’s credit cards or revolving credit lines
Major credit cards issued by financial institutions
At the same time, you’ll need to think about how this new debt will impact your upcoming marriage. NerdWallet’s Erin El Issa points out that each spouse is liable for individually incurred debts. This is true regardless of whether they originated before or after the wedding. Yet those debts still affect the couple’s overall financial health. A significant debt load can make it difficult to purchase a home together, contribute to a savings account, or plan for retirement.
In another Money Under 30 article, David Weliver offers suggestions for people desiring to purchase engagement rings on credit. While he still warns readers not to buy rings that they cannot afford, he discusses some favorable financing options. Some jewelry retailers may offer 0 percent financing or no interest and payments for a predetermined time period. Weliver strongly suggests reviewing each offer’s terms. With some, you’ll pay a much higher interest rate after the promotional period expires.
Depending on your credit score, you may qualify for cards that come with 0 percent interest on new purchases for up to one year. Be sure you know what your new APR will be. Also, you should assess whether you can pay off the ring before the promotion ends. Purchase your ring from a reliable online jeweler. Buying online could save you a significant amount of money, letting you spend as little as 50 percent of the brick-and-mortar retailer price. Make sure you request a shipment method with tracking and a signature requirement as well as insurance to cover the ring itself.
Choose Your Credit Options Carefully
In the past, society judged a man’s ability to provide for his future wife by the type of engagement ring he gave her. It’s true that some still take notice at an elaborate ring with a decent-sized diamond. Ultimately, you must consider the effects of purchasing one either with cash or credit. After all, part of your goal should be making smart decisions for your joint financial future.
Though diamonds are a girls best friend, there are plenty of other beautiful stones out that are more budget friendly and will surely stand out.
Wedding and engagement rings have a long history, probably from Roman customs where a woman would wear rings attached to small keys, which demonstrated her ownership by her husband. Women were considered property for many years, and we’re fortunate that this has changed. The first rings with diamonds were recorded in the late 1400s. Maximilian I, the King of the Romans and Holy Roman Emperor, commissioned a diamond ring for his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy.
Maximilian is responsible for the diamond engagement ring trend, but it was the Victorians who popularized the ornate designs and beautiful settings that we know today. However, diamonds were largely inaccessible to the masses until De Beers began mining in the late 1800s. The demand for diamonds dropped during the Depression, but De Beers Company fought back by using the movie stars of the time to advertise the diamonds.
Are Diamonds Really a Girl’s Best Friend?
In the 1953 film, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” Marilyn Monroe sang:
“The French are glad to die for love.
They delight in fighting duels.
But I prefer a man who lives
And gives expensive jewels.
A kiss on the hand
May be quite continental,
But diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”
Diamonds might be considered traditional, but not everyone can afford these rare gems. Some people don’t want to support the industry. There are a lot of other gemstones that can be made into beautiful rings. Here are some of the best alternatives.
Alternative Stones
Garnets come in shades of pink and red most commonly, but you can also find them in other colors. Although garnets aren’t as hard as other gems, only a 7.0 on the Mohs scale (a diamond is a 10), you’ll be able to get a bigger gem for a fraction of the cost.
Sapphires are most commonly a blue gem, but you can find them in other hues. The best part is that sapphires are generally one-third of the price of diamonds. You can get a larger stone, but make sure it’s well cut.
Emeralds come in beautiful shades of green, and although they aren’t one of the more popular gems these days, they can look chic and timeless in a ring setting that will last forever.
Pearls are an iconic look, but they do tend to scratch and tarnish easily. You can find very elegant pearls at a good price, but don’t plan on wearing the ring every day to make it last.
Opals can reflect the entire rainbow as they move in the light. No two opals look the same, but they are in the middle of the Mohs scale. Opals don’t stand up to daily wear like a diamond might, but they still make a beautiful ring.
Onyx is generally black in color, but it can come in a variety of colors for fine jewelry. The black stone pairs with anything you wear and it looks timeless and chic.
Sunstones are a very abundant gemstone and come in a variety of shades including peach, red, orange and green. Many are found just south of the border in Oregon.
Amethyst is a pretty, purple gem that is durable but less expensive than diamond. The gem is beautifully paired with gold or silver for a classic look.
