Outdoor weddings are quite popular amongst couples who are looking to tie the knot during the warmer months of the year. Naturally, there are a number of different ways you can go about throwing this type of event. If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors while simultaneously giving your reception a posh feel, then a classic Canadian garden wedding can be a beautiful choice. Take a moment to review these tips and see how easy it is to put together a reception that you will adore.
Select a Garden Location
The most important step when planning a garden wedding is selecting the right venue. There are some phenomenal options across Canada that work wonderfully for outdoor events. The VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, is ideal for couples who want to wed amidst rare and beautiful flowers. Casa Loma in Toronto is another wonderful choice for garden weddings because the castle-like appearance of the venue lends itself perfectly to the aesthetic of a classy event. Another great spot to consider in Toronto is Graydon Hall Manor, which boasts a breathtaking garden.
Think About the Exact Date
After you have decided on the venue, it is a good idea to think about the exact date you plan on getting married. The time of year your event will be will greatly impact the aesthetic of your wedding. For example, throwing a garden wedding in the earlier part of spring means you will be surrounded by the first colorful blossoms that have burst from the ground and the branches. Do your research and see what flowers are most common during the time you plan on getting married. This can help you incorporate the right colors into your event’s decor.
Get Creative With Attire
While there are many reasons to consider throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding, one of the most fun is that it offers the chance to get creative with what guests will wear. At a traditional garden wedding, you are likely to see people wear more colors and patterns than at an indoor event. At more polished affairs, it is common for women and men to don large hats that block the sun and enhance their outfits. Take a look at example images on sites like Pinterest to get a better feel for how creative you can get with clothing.
Plan Ahead for Garden Problems
Though there are plenty of perks that come with an outdoor wedding, there are also a number of downsides to take into consideration. For one, gardens tend to attract a variety of pests. Guests will have to deal with mosquitoes, bees, and all manner of flying nuisances. Make their lives a bit easier by offering eco-friendly bug spray as a “welcome to the wedding” gift. Another point to keep in mind is the weather. If the temperature will be high, be sure to offer water and hand fans. You must also have a contingency plan in the event of rain.
Incorporate Unique Traditions
Another way to make the most of a garden wedding is by incorporating traditions that you would not have considered at other venues. If the venue permits, see if it is possible for you and your partner to plant something together. Whether you plant seeds for a specific flower or a sapling tree, the idea is that you can return to the location in the future and see how what you planted has grown alongside your relationship. This tradition also allows you and your partner to become a part of the history of the venue.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of nature on your big day. As long as you take your time to plan out the details, you will have no trouble throwing a colorful and enjoyable outdoor experience.
A dear friend is preparing to tie the knot and has asked you to be an usher for the wedding. You may or may not have been to past weddings where there were ushers. You might think you know what you’re to do, having attended a church service before. But maybe you still have questions. Do you perform the same duties as a doorperson for a funeral or some other ceremony? What is the expected commitment level? Are you just a second-tier bridesmaid or groomsman? Here are some things to know about being an usher.
Usher Taking It Seriously
First, you should recognize that serving as an usher is serious business. It’s not an afterthought role casually asked of you by the happy couple. Your friend or family member wants to honor your relationship and has asked you to be a formal participant in this momentous occasion. You provide support to the couple and help relieve some of the pressure by performing your role. Acknowledge the privilege of being asked to serve, and let your loved one know if you’re able to participate as soon as possible.
Understanding Your Duties
After you’ve accepted your role as an usher, you’ll need to know what’s expected of you. You should ask your friends or a wedding planner about your duties, other details such as attire, and other obligations for the big day and surrounding events. Typically, these attendants are responsible for the following:
Greeting Guests: You will likely be the first person many wedding attendees see. Your attitude and how you present yourself can set the tone, so be friendly and look sharp.
Escorting Attendees: Ushers are almost always responsible for escorting people to their seats. You’ll need to know if people are supposed to sit on a certain side of the aisle. You may be asked to escort some very important people to reserved seating, like parents or grandparents of the spouses-to-be. Be mindful that some guests move at a slower pace or need extra support in finding their seat.
Passing Out Programs: While some ceremonies have programs available outside for guests to take, you may be responsible for handing these out when people enter the venue. Pay special attention here, as there might only be one program per group instead of per person.
Opening Doors: Sometimes ushers are expected to open and close the doors to the chapel, hall, or sanctuary at various parts of the ceremony, especially for a bride’s processional and recessional.
Depending on the details, you may be asked to seat late arrivals, direct people to an overflow room or assist with parking. For other events such as the rehearsal dinner or reception, there may be additional duties according to the needs or wants of the couple.
Dressing the Part
Attire requirements are typically expected of people who stand beside the couple at the altar, such as a best man or maid of honor. While there may not be formal rules for the ushers, you should find out if the couple has any expectations. Consider coordinating what you wear with the other ushers so that nobody looks conspicuous or draws attention away from the happy couple. If your friends are going with a more casual look, you should probably avoid something too formal or fussy. It’s better to ask questions than make assumptions.
Being invited to witness the union of loved ones is an honor. Being asked to be a part of the ceremony is an even greater honor. Consider it a privilege that you were asked to participate in someone’s special day as an usher. Not only are you a member of the wedding party, but you also play an important part in how guests will perceive the ceremony. Get in there and be the best usher you can be!
Picking the members of your wedding party is a big moment in the process of planning your nuptials. While selecting the friends and family who will serve as groomsmen and bridesmaids, there are a few points that can be important to keep in mind during the decision. For one, you want to think over the many mistakes couples have made in the past when dealing with this important task. Look over these common wedding party flubs and gain some insight into how to move through this process unscathed.
Introduce Everyone Immediately
More often than not, a wedding party is going to consist of people who are very important to you and your partner. However, this does not mean that the people you select will know each other. One of the best ways to get matters off on the right foot is by introducing everyone in the group immediately. You can do this by bringing the crew together under one roof for a preliminary meeting, or if a physical hang isn’t possible, create a group message for digital communication purposes.
Wedding Members Early Commitment
Anyone who has acted as a bridesmaid before knows that taking on the role can often prove to be incredibly expensive. If you want the members of your wedding party to feel comfortable from the start, you need to disclose all costs as early as possible. The sooner the group knows approximately how much money you will need them to spend on your wedding, the less likely it is that there will be upset feelings or confusion down the line.
Don’t Forget To Delegate To Your Members
Though the members of your wedding party are going to help you by taking on a variety of tasks during the planning of your nuptials, you’ll need to get the ball rolling. Essentially, it will be useful for you to delegate the biggest and most pressing of items on your planning checklist. This will eliminate any confusion over who is responsible for what, giving the members of your party a clear idea of your expectations and where you require the most help.
Consider the Clothing
Ugly bridesmaid dresses are a trope of the wedding world. Though you might want some control over how the members of the party look, picking exact outfits for the group is likely not the best way to go. In fact, you may see the best results by giving the group a general idea of what you’d like and allowing them the freedom of picking their outfits on their own. Simply provide guidelines for color and style, and it can make a world of difference in how your group feels about what they have to wear.
Keep in Contact With Your Members
Another common mistake couples make when it comes to their wedding parties is forgetting to keep in contact with the crew as the weeks roll on. There might be a good chunk of time between when you ask people to be in the party and the first event they will need to attend. In order to guarantee everyone is on the same page at all times, be sure to connect with the crew whenever possible. Even a simple text can go a long way when it comes to making people feel included, heard, and prepared.
Say Thanks
Finally, don’t forget to show your appreciation. Couples place a lot of demands on the members of the wedding party. If you’re asking friends and family to jump through hoops to bring your big day to life, you’d best have a token of gratitude and a word of thanks ready for them. A little bit of recognition will go a long way.
The way you treat the members of your wedding party will have a profound impact on the success of your big day. Think about the common mistakes couples have made in this regard, and learn how you can best avoid these pitfalls as you put together the details of your wedding.
Marriage ceremonies are special occasions for family and friends to gather to celebrate a couple’s union. Even though a couple could go to the courthouse to formalize their union, a wedding ceremony provides an opportunity for friends to join with you and participate in related events such as the rehearsal dinner, reception and more. For a bride or groom, a sibling or bestie is often an easy choice for a maid of honor or best man. But for someone with many close friends, having all of them in your wedding party might not be feasible. Here are some other ways to formally involve your dearest friends.
Friends As Formal Witnesses
In Canada, two formal witnesses are required to make things official. Consider asking friends to serve as the official witnesses to your marriage. They can be acknowledged in the program. You can also include them in document signing as a part of the ceremony. It’s impossible to get married without completing this step, so think about this idea for two of your most special loved ones.
Ushers
Traditionally, once all groomsmen roles are filled, additional male loved ones may be asked to serve as ushers for the ceremony. Ushers do more than just pass out programs and show celebrants to their seats. They can be made a formal part of the program by assigning them the responsibility of seating VIPs such as the mothers of the bride and groom. There’s no rule that says the ushers have to be men or that they have to be affiliated with the groom.
Ceremony Readers
Perhaps you know someone who is really good at public speaking. Maybe one of your friends has a beautiful voice and would be honored to sing. Adding these loved ones to the wedding program to read scripture, offer a speech, or perform a selection is a great way to include them in the ceremony, especially when your wedding party is full.
Reception Emcee
Do you know someone who has the gift of gab? Suppose you or your partner has a close friend who is completely comfortable with a microphone and knows how to connect with audiences. This loved one could be a great emcee for your reception. They can keep the event moving while knowing how and when to inject humor with quick wit and clever anecdotal asides about you and your partner. Emceeing a reception ceremony is no small task, so this person would be fulfilling an important role.
Miscellaneous Roles
Wedding events contain many moving parts, and there are other roles that special people can be asked or invited to fulfill on your big day:
Wedding Planner: If one of your dear friends is an event planner or offers vendor services such as catering, patronizing their business is a great way to include them in the festivities.
DJ Services: Do you want the reception to have a party vibe? Hiring a friend to be the reception deejay is a good way to have that person contribute.
Photographer: There’s a good chance that you have a friend who does photography. Consider hiring them to document the day with official photos as well as candid shots during the ceremony and reception.
If you’re contracting with friends to provide services for your nuptials, it’s important that you formally acknowledge them in some way. This not only shows appreciation for their contributions, but it also advertises their services.
Celebrating with family and friends is one of the things that a couple-to-be can anticipate about a wedding. Inviting loved ones to be an official part of the ceremony and other events is one way to express your love and appreciation. Everyone can’t be in the wedding party, so consider these tips for involving your nearest and dearest.
COVID-19 has certainly changed Canadians’ lives. Many now focus on simplicity and economy in areas, including planning their weddings. They’re ditching elaborate details for elegant, minimalist, and less expensive alternatives. If you want gorgeous wedding flowers with less cost, time, and hassle, keep reading. Some great tips offer more streamlined approaches for achieving your wedding-day vision.
Perfect as a Pair
Several factors can impact the price of your wedding flowers. But simpler orders are often less expensive and easier for your florist to work with. That’s why The Knot’s Lauren Kay suggests sticking with only two kinds of flowers. As she explains, your florist spends less when buying in bulk. And that can translate to bigger savings for you. Try choosing blooms in similar shapes, sizes, and colors – this helps your florist achieve a unified look for your arrangements.
Simple Yet Elegant
Another great suggestion comes from personal finance expert Jennifer Calonia: Choose simpler arrangements. In her MyWalletJoy blog post, she mentions that your florist can create a sophisticated look without the need for huge and elaborate arrangements. A few stems in a glass bottle, for instance, can elevate any table décor. And your florist can craft them to match your event’s style. Olivia Muenter shows some rustic, boho, and traditional flower/bottle centerpieces in a September 2020 Brides article.
Mixing and MatchingFlowers
Must all your flower arrangements match? Absolutely not, according to Calonia. Simple and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uniform or boring. Some great examples include varying tall and short centerpieces and using candles in some arrangements. This approach gives your florist more creative leeway, but it can also cut your total costs.
Year-Round Flower Favorites
Couples often focus seasonally when designing their weddings. That said, it’s worth considering some flower varieties that are available the entire year. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway lists several excellent options – gardenias, garden roses, orchids, and gladiolas, to name a few. If you must reschedule your big day, your florist can still get these blooming beauties.
If you’re concerned about cost, you needn’t worry. While gardenias and orchids are expensive, other varieties fall in low- to mid-range price tiers. As a compromise, you can pair a pricier stem with a less costly one. Talk to your florist for suggestions.
Callaway also mentions carnations in her list. They’re a polarizing choice for many thanks to their reputation as a “cheap filler flower.” But they don’t have to be, as Taysha Murtaugh points out in a Country Living piece. They’re hardy, available in many shades, and can create chic arrangements when clustered together. If you’re needing inspiration, check out some exquisite bouquets in this January 2021 Brides writeup.
From Ceremony to Reception
Creative couples are also repurposing their wedding ceremony flowers for their receptions. Martha Stewart Weddings explains how this can work. You’ll need a smart plan and cooperation with your florist or event planner to pull it off. Some ceremony arrangements can double as décor on the welcome or buffet tables. Large arrangements can sit near the head table to add some drama. Some ceremony chair décor can be shifted to reception chairs with a few modifications. To aid in your planning, take a look at Wedding Wire Canada’s guide to reception flowers by Alice Prendergast.
Weddings are joyful and memorable events, but their planning requires time and attention to detail. Maybe you’re a cost-conscious couple or rescheduling a postponed celebration. Perhaps you don’t have the time or energy to mind all the complicated minutiae. Fortunately, some simpler approaches can make it easier to choose your flower arrangements. From carefully curated choices to repurposed arrangements, you can accomplish an elegant, stylish, and cohesive look for your big day.
Like many other wedding rituals, the wine box ceremony signifies the cooperation and collaboration needed for a successful marriage.
Weddings are memorable events, and we naturally want physical keepsakes to remind us of the happiness we experienced. Traditions such as saving the wedding cake’s upper tier have filled that purpose, but the wine box ceremony is a new kind of commemorating custom. You’re probably not alone if you’ve never heard of wine box ceremonies, but learning about this fascinating practice may inspire you to include it in your celebration.
What Is A Wine Box Ceremony?
Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast detailed the wine box ceremony in a May 2019 article. Contrary to what you may think, you aren’t cracking open a box of wine to serve your guests. The wine box is a wooden container that contains your drink of choice plus keepsakes such as love letters or printed text of the wedding vows. Martha Stewart Weddings mentions it as a type of unity ritual similar to the unity candle or sand ceremony since you’re both placing contents inside the box and sealing it together.
The wine box can behave a little like a wedding time capsule as described in a Wedding Ideas piece. One major difference is that the wine box is filled and sealed during the ceremony, while the time capsule can contain items collected from both the ceremony and reception.
Choosing Your Vintage
Brides writer Jaimie Mackey offers some useful tips for picking the perfect bottle for your wine box ceremony. Many couples integrate this ritual if they’re tying the knot in a vineyard, so they choose a vintage from that location’s offerings. If you’re marrying somewhere else, you can ask a local wine shop for advice. Martha Stewart Weddings’ Alyssa Brown suggests that you can select a wine bottled during the same year you’re getting married.
Wine Folly instructs readers to evaluate the ability of a wine to age using three important factors: structure, balance, and the company that produces it. Look for vintages with moderately high acidity and sweetness level, moderate tannin levels, and low volatile acidity. As for alcohol by volume, Wine Folly suggests choosing varieties with either lower balanced or high alcohol levels. All these attributes should be in balance with each other, but don’t forget to look at the wine’s producer. Start with companies that have solid track records for making well-aging wines.
How To Pick Your Box
You have a lot of possibilities when selecting your wine box, so it’s wise to keep an open mind. Some commercial retailers supply pre-made boxes in a wide range of designs, so it’s easy to find the color, size, and details you want. If either of you is skilled at woodworking, you could make and personalize your box. Many options also exist for box linings, lid styles, and engraving. Keep in mind that boxes with locking lids can be closed and sealed during your ceremony, while those that need nailing should be sealed after the wedding’s over. The key is to find a box and design that you both love.
Incorporating the Wine Box Ceremony
Like other unity rituals, the wine box ceremony typically takes place after vows are exchanged. Brides’ Jaimie Mackey recommends displaying the box and the wine on a table within the ceremony space, along with any contents you want to seal inside. Your officiant can play a helpful role by explaining what’s about to happen, the significance of the ceremony, and how long you plan to wait before opening the box.
Like many other wedding rituals, the wine box ceremony has a meaning of its own. Selecting the wine, choosing the box, picking its contents, and then sealing it together all signify the cooperation and collaboration needed for a successful marriage. Care and thought during each step can ensure a successful ceremony and beautiful memories to savor together.
A Croquembouche can be a unique wedding cake option.
With the number of French contributions to our culture, you probably won’t be surprised to find a croquembouche at a Canadian wedding. However, you might not be familiar with the history, details and preparation behind these fascinating pastry desserts. Whether you’ve adopted a French theme for your festivities or just want a different type of wedding cake for your reception, this delightful tower of goodness might be just right for your crowd.
Origins in 19th Century France
While much of Canada was still under British rule, a young Parisian baker began crafting a pastry creation that would become his enduring legacy. In January 2017, the U.S. media network National Public Radio website published a piece on legendary French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, the famed inventor of the croquembouche. Born to an impoverished family around 1783 or 1784, he was presumably orphaned by social turmoil resulting from the French revolution. Carême began working in a Paris kitchen at the age of eight, and by the time he was 15 years old, he’d landed a position as an apprentice to top-rated pastry chef Sylvain Bailly.
As Carême honed his craft during his late teen years, Bailly regularly displayed Carême’s stunningly elaborate pastries in his bakery shop window. By the late 1700s, this young sensation had fashioned a tower of small, round cream puffs called “choux” festooned with spun sugar. A recipe for this dessert, which he called a croquembouche, was published in his 1815 cookbook “Le Pâtissier royal parisien.” Meanwhile, Carême continued to rise to culinary stardom, designing lavish, beautiful sweets for the likes of Napoleon, Russia’s Czar Alexander I and prince regent George IV of England.
The Croquembouche in the Modern World
While there are many modern variations on this delicious pastry, they still follow the same basic format: a tall mountain of cream puffs covered in spun sugar and other wonderful edibles. You’ll probably have no difficulty finding bakers in any province to supply one for your special day, and it’s an appropriate wedding cake for many types of wedding themes. Wedding Bells Magazine showcased a French vintage matrimonial affair in a 2012 piece on its website, adding that the couple chose a croquembouche to add a delicate grandeur to their festivities.
If you think that such a spectacular wedding cake should get its own entrance and fanfare, you’re absolutely right. In fact, contributor Kim Petyt on The Good Life France blog revealed that a croquembouche is usually not presented until dessert time. With the lights dimmed and celebratory music playing, guests typically begin chanting “Le gateau! Le gateau!” as the star of the hour is brought out to the dining hall while decorated in small, sizzling fireworks. Once the display is over, the staff serves each guest three or four of the sweet, creamy choux to enjoy.
Flavorful Possibilities Abound
In both exterior decorative touches and inner fillings, the croquembouche presents a wide variety of lovely flavors. Traditionally, each choux contains vanilla-bourbon crème in the center. Nevertheless, bakeries offer several popular filling choices which can include favorites such as caramel and chocolate, or less common tastes like rose, pistachio or orange blossom. Besides spun sugar or pastel-tinted icing, a croquembouche wedding cake can be decked out in sugared almonds, chocolate, candied ribbons or even edible flowers.
A Delicious Wedding Cake Idea for Your Nuptial Affair
The croquembouche is a distinctive and delightful wedding cake that offers a complex combination of aesthetics, French culture and flavor. Its name appropriately translates to “crunch in the mouth,” and your guests will enjoy the taste and texture of this now-classic sweet treat. Add to that the customary celebratory fanfare with which it’s presented during your festivities, and your croquembouche will certainly be a memorable part of your wedding day.
Understanding the traditions from other cultures is important to building relationships with those outside of your own community. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed four Sikhs to his cabinet this November, he brought their culture to the forefront. Sikhs have been misunderstood for generations, not just here but around the world, including in their own country. Indian wedding traditions show an importance of family. Learn more about the heritage, in case you ever get invited to a wedding.
How Long Does the Ceremony Last?
An Indian wedding ceremony traditionally lasts three days. This does not mean that guests are expected to attend each part of the ceremony. Day one is typically for the bridal party and close relatives. The priest performs a ceremony known as the ganesh pooja. Day two is the mehndi ceremony, where the bride and female friends and relatives have henna patterns placed on their hands and feet. The bride is not expected to do any housework until the henna fades away. In the evening on day two, the wedding guests are invited to a sangeet, which is the introduction of families, a meal, and dancing or other performances.
On day three, the main ceremony takes place. In India, the groom might arrive on a decorated elephant or horse, but in today’s world, the groom would probably choose a luxury vehicle. Floral garlands are exchanged as part of the ceremony. In some parts of India, family members carry the bride and groom while they attempt to place these garlands on each other.
This main ceremony can take three hours. The bride’s parents give her to the groom, and the bride’s father requests that the groom accepts his daughter as an equal partner. The priest is there to lead the ceremony and ask for prayers, but traditionally he only facilitates the wedding. The groom ties a sacred thread around the bride’s neck, which is a symbol of his promise to take care of her. He places vermillion on her forehead, a symbol which welcomes her as his partner.
The bride and groom take seven steps with each other to confirm their eternal friendship. It is symbolic of the friendship they need for a relationship and that they will take part equally in the good and bad times of their marriage. The wedding may take place around a fire, which is representative of the fire god, Agni, one of the witnesses to the wedding. Circling the fire seven times is symbolic of the goals of the marriage, including prosperity, sensual gratification, and moral duties.
What to Wear and Bring
Indian wedding ceremonies are bright and colorful. The family often dresses very colorfully, in traditional saris and lenghas. Don’t be afraid to wear jewel-tones and your fancy jewelry. For women who wish to emulate their hosts, a shawl can mimic the look of a sari while complementing most dresses. Most invitations will specify no gifts at the wedding. Send gifts to the home of the bride or groom. There’s too much happening at the reception and ceremony for the family to be concerned about managing gifts.
The Reception
Following the third-day ceremony is a wild party with lots of food and dancing. Today, most receptions will include both traditional and contemporary music and dances. The bhangra is a folk dance from Punjab, and most people pick up the moves quickly.
Food at the reception varies based on the families’ preferences. Curries and naan, a flatbread, are common, as are samosas, which are a pastry filled with meats or vegetables. There may be a large dessert display including cake, ice cream, and other decorated sweets.
Indian weddings are all about the family and the joining of a couple for life. It’s a grand festival to bring not just two people together, but their families.
Farms not only can provide fresh food and flowers for a wedding, but also a beautiful rustic backdrop
If you are a wedding officiant chances are greater than ever that the couple might ask you to perform a wedding that is environmentally friendly. The unique philosophy of the Universal Life Church (ULC) often places their officiants at the center of the wedding preparations, instead of simply being a participant. Many ULC couples embrace a green lifestyle and want leave as small a carbon footprint as possible.
So what does one do if you are presented with such a request? Here are a few pointers:
* It’s more than recycling – everything connected with the wedding is either made of recycled materials, or recycled afterwards, or both. But the important thing to do for the environment is to get the message of sustainability across. So the green wedding must not only demonstrate recycling, but also demonstrate its message in a fun and original way. Don’t tell – show!
* Go to the food! Perform a wedding ceremony out in nature – perhaps on a scenic organic farm or even a vineyard, if you’re in wine country. These days there are many organic community food co-operatives who have beautiful gardens. Having your wedding ceremony in such a setting will minimize the fossil fuels needed to bring in food, especially if it could be a vegetarian wedding, since many ULC members are vegetarian anyway.
* Show the lifestyle of the farm laborers: Since community food co-op members perform the farm work themselves, they are not ‘laborers’ in the strict sense, but farmer-owners of the enterprise. But even on an organic farm – why not invite some of the people who produce the food to participate in a small dedication ceremony? For instance, the wedding officiant could briefly ask for a blessing on the hands that helped grow the food. This will give extra meaning (and taste!) to the food.
* Don’t destroy in order to decorate: There are so many beautiful things in nature – so why truck in flowers (or even fly them in from Holland)? Find local wildflowers, if they’re in season. There’s sure to be somebody in the wedding party and their families who knows how to make something beautiful out of what’s available. After all, that’s the very heart of sustainability!
* Wear and use things that have not been produced specially for the occasion. Using a hand-made pottery dinner service is low-footprint and a beautiful example of how to use the earth without putting back intoxicants into it afterwards. Wearing grandma’s wedding dress doesn’t only cut out the prodigious waste involved in wedding dresses, but is also a symbol of the continuity of our families on this earth. Come to think of it; the very wastefulness of a modern wedding is what bothers many green-minded couples – and, to be honest, the officiants who perform their weddings.
Finally, let’s take the massive “I” out of our green wedding and go back to the time when the entire village rejoiced because a couple – and potentially new children! – was being added to the community. This is how we move closer to the earth: By celebrating our humanity joyously and peacefully in the arms of Mother Earth. And this is how you can have a wedding ceremony that still stands out in the couple’s minds – and those of their friends – long after many others have been forgotten.
Outdoor weddings are quite popular amongst couples who are looking to tie the knot during the warmer months of the year. Naturally, there are a number of different ways you can go about throwing this type of event. If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of the outdoors while simultaneously giving your reception a posh feel, then a classic Canadian garden wedding can be a beautiful choice. Take a moment to review these tips and see how easy it is to put together a reception that you will adore.
Select a Garden Location
The most important step when planning a garden wedding is selecting the right venue. There are some phenomenal options across Canada that work wonderfully for outdoor events. The VanDusen Botanical Gardens in Vancouver, British Columbia, is ideal for couples who want to wed amidst rare and beautiful flowers. Casa Loma in Toronto is another wonderful choice for garden weddings because the castle-like appearance of the venue lends itself perfectly to the aesthetic of a classy event. Another great spot to consider in Toronto is Graydon Hall Manor, which boasts a breathtaking garden.
Think About the Exact Date
After you have decided on the venue, it is a good idea to think about the exact date you plan on getting married. The time of year your event will be will greatly impact the aesthetic of your wedding. For example, throwing a garden wedding in the earlier part of spring means you will be surrounded by the first colorful blossoms that have burst from the ground and the branches. Do your research and see what flowers are most common during the time you plan on getting married. This can help you incorporate the right colors into your event’s decor.
Get Creative With Attire
While there are many reasons to consider throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding, one of the most fun is that it offers the chance to get creative with what guests will wear. At a traditional garden wedding, you are likely to see people wear more colors and patterns than at an indoor event. At more polished affairs, it is common for women and men to don large hats that block the sun and enhance their outfits. Take a look at example images on sites like Pinterest to get a better feel for how creative you can get with clothing.
Plan Ahead for Garden Problems
Though there are plenty of perks that come with an outdoor wedding, there are also a number of downsides to take into consideration. For one, gardens tend to attract a variety of pests. Guests will have to deal with mosquitoes, bees, and all manner of flying nuisances. Make their lives a bit easier by offering eco-friendly bug spray as a “welcome to the wedding” gift. Another point to keep in mind is the weather. If the temperature will be high, be sure to offer water and hand fans. You must also have a contingency plan in the event of rain.
Incorporate Unique Traditions
Another way to make the most of a garden wedding is by incorporating traditions that you would not have considered at other venues. If the venue permits, see if it is possible for you and your partner to plant something together. Whether you plant seeds for a specific flower or a sapling tree, the idea is that you can return to the location in the future and see how what you planted has grown alongside your relationship. This tradition also allows you and your partner to become a part of the history of the venue.
Enjoy the Outdoors
Throwing a classic Canadian garden wedding is a wonderful way to enjoy the beauty of nature on your big day. As long as you take your time to plan out the details, you will have no trouble throwing a colorful and enjoyable outdoor experience.
A dear friend is preparing to tie the knot and has asked you to be an usher for the wedding. You may or may not have been to past weddings where there were ushers. You might think you know what you’re to do, having attended a church service before. But maybe you still have questions. Do you perform the same duties as a doorperson for a funeral or some other ceremony? What is the expected commitment level? Are you just a second-tier bridesmaid or groomsman? Here are some things to know about being an usher.
Usher Taking It Seriously
First, you should recognize that serving as an usher is serious business. It’s not an afterthought role casually asked of you by the happy couple. Your friend or family member wants to honor your relationship and has asked you to be a formal participant in this momentous occasion. You provide support to the couple and help relieve some of the pressure by performing your role. Acknowledge the privilege of being asked to serve, and let your loved one know if you’re able to participate as soon as possible.
Understanding Your Duties
After you’ve accepted your role as an usher, you’ll need to know what’s expected of you. You should ask your friends or a wedding planner about your duties, other details such as attire, and other obligations for the big day and surrounding events. Typically, these attendants are responsible for the following:
Greeting Guests: You will likely be the first person many wedding attendees see. Your attitude and how you present yourself can set the tone, so be friendly and look sharp.
Escorting Attendees: Ushers are almost always responsible for escorting people to their seats. You’ll need to know if people are supposed to sit on a certain side of the aisle. You may be asked to escort some very important people to reserved seating, like parents or grandparents of the spouses-to-be. Be mindful that some guests move at a slower pace or need extra support in finding their seat.
Passing Out Programs: While some ceremonies have programs available outside for guests to take, you may be responsible for handing these out when people enter the venue. Pay special attention here, as there might only be one program per group instead of per person.
Opening Doors: Sometimes ushers are expected to open and close the doors to the chapel, hall, or sanctuary at various parts of the ceremony, especially for a bride’s processional and recessional.
Depending on the details, you may be asked to seat late arrivals, direct people to an overflow room or assist with parking. For other events such as the rehearsal dinner or reception, there may be additional duties according to the needs or wants of the couple.
Dressing the Part
Attire requirements are typically expected of people who stand beside the couple at the altar, such as a best man or maid of honor. While there may not be formal rules for the ushers, you should find out if the couple has any expectations. Consider coordinating what you wear with the other ushers so that nobody looks conspicuous or draws attention away from the happy couple. If your friends are going with a more casual look, you should probably avoid something too formal or fussy. It’s better to ask questions than make assumptions.
Being invited to witness the union of loved ones is an honor. Being asked to be a part of the ceremony is an even greater honor. Consider it a privilege that you were asked to participate in someone’s special day as an usher. Not only are you a member of the wedding party, but you also play an important part in how guests will perceive the ceremony. Get in there and be the best usher you can be!
Picking the members of your wedding party is a big moment in the process of planning your nuptials. While selecting the friends and family who will serve as groomsmen and bridesmaids, there are a few points that can be important to keep in mind during the decision. For one, you want to think over the many mistakes couples have made in the past when dealing with this important task. Look over these common wedding party flubs and gain some insight into how to move through this process unscathed.
Introduce Everyone Immediately
More often than not, a wedding party is going to consist of people who are very important to you and your partner. However, this does not mean that the people you select will know each other. One of the best ways to get matters off on the right foot is by introducing everyone in the group immediately. You can do this by bringing the crew together under one roof for a preliminary meeting, or if a physical hang isn’t possible, create a group message for digital communication purposes.
Wedding Members Early Commitment
Anyone who has acted as a bridesmaid before knows that taking on the role can often prove to be incredibly expensive. If you want the members of your wedding party to feel comfortable from the start, you need to disclose all costs as early as possible. The sooner the group knows approximately how much money you will need them to spend on your wedding, the less likely it is that there will be upset feelings or confusion down the line.
Don’t Forget To Delegate To Your Members
Though the members of your wedding party are going to help you by taking on a variety of tasks during the planning of your nuptials, you’ll need to get the ball rolling. Essentially, it will be useful for you to delegate the biggest and most pressing of items on your planning checklist. This will eliminate any confusion over who is responsible for what, giving the members of your party a clear idea of your expectations and where you require the most help.
Consider the Clothing
Ugly bridesmaid dresses are a trope of the wedding world. Though you might want some control over how the members of the party look, picking exact outfits for the group is likely not the best way to go. In fact, you may see the best results by giving the group a general idea of what you’d like and allowing them the freedom of picking their outfits on their own. Simply provide guidelines for color and style, and it can make a world of difference in how your group feels about what they have to wear.
Keep in Contact With Your Members
Another common mistake couples make when it comes to their wedding parties is forgetting to keep in contact with the crew as the weeks roll on. There might be a good chunk of time between when you ask people to be in the party and the first event they will need to attend. In order to guarantee everyone is on the same page at all times, be sure to connect with the crew whenever possible. Even a simple text can go a long way when it comes to making people feel included, heard, and prepared.
Say Thanks
Finally, don’t forget to show your appreciation. Couples place a lot of demands on the members of the wedding party. If you’re asking friends and family to jump through hoops to bring your big day to life, you’d best have a token of gratitude and a word of thanks ready for them. A little bit of recognition will go a long way.
The way you treat the members of your wedding party will have a profound impact on the success of your big day. Think about the common mistakes couples have made in this regard, and learn how you can best avoid these pitfalls as you put together the details of your wedding.
Marriage ceremonies are special occasions for family and friends to gather to celebrate a couple’s union. Even though a couple could go to the courthouse to formalize their union, a wedding ceremony provides an opportunity for friends to join with you and participate in related events such as the rehearsal dinner, reception and more. For a bride or groom, a sibling or bestie is often an easy choice for a maid of honor or best man. But for someone with many close friends, having all of them in your wedding party might not be feasible. Here are some other ways to formally involve your dearest friends.
Friends As Formal Witnesses
In Canada, two formal witnesses are required to make things official. Consider asking friends to serve as the official witnesses to your marriage. They can be acknowledged in the program. You can also include them in document signing as a part of the ceremony. It’s impossible to get married without completing this step, so think about this idea for two of your most special loved ones.
Ushers
Traditionally, once all groomsmen roles are filled, additional male loved ones may be asked to serve as ushers for the ceremony. Ushers do more than just pass out programs and show celebrants to their seats. They can be made a formal part of the program by assigning them the responsibility of seating VIPs such as the mothers of the bride and groom. There’s no rule that says the ushers have to be men or that they have to be affiliated with the groom.
Ceremony Readers
Perhaps you know someone who is really good at public speaking. Maybe one of your friends has a beautiful voice and would be honored to sing. Adding these loved ones to the wedding program to read scripture, offer a speech, or perform a selection is a great way to include them in the ceremony, especially when your wedding party is full.
Reception Emcee
Do you know someone who has the gift of gab? Suppose you or your partner has a close friend who is completely comfortable with a microphone and knows how to connect with audiences. This loved one could be a great emcee for your reception. They can keep the event moving while knowing how and when to inject humor with quick wit and clever anecdotal asides about you and your partner. Emceeing a reception ceremony is no small task, so this person would be fulfilling an important role.
Miscellaneous Roles
Wedding events contain many moving parts, and there are other roles that special people can be asked or invited to fulfill on your big day:
Wedding Planner: If one of your dear friends is an event planner or offers vendor services such as catering, patronizing their business is a great way to include them in the festivities.
DJ Services: Do you want the reception to have a party vibe? Hiring a friend to be the reception deejay is a good way to have that person contribute.
Photographer: There’s a good chance that you have a friend who does photography. Consider hiring them to document the day with official photos as well as candid shots during the ceremony and reception.
If you’re contracting with friends to provide services for your nuptials, it’s important that you formally acknowledge them in some way. This not only shows appreciation for their contributions, but it also advertises their services.
Celebrating with family and friends is one of the things that a couple-to-be can anticipate about a wedding. Inviting loved ones to be an official part of the ceremony and other events is one way to express your love and appreciation. Everyone can’t be in the wedding party, so consider these tips for involving your nearest and dearest.
COVID-19 has certainly changed Canadians’ lives. Many now focus on simplicity and economy in areas, including planning their weddings. They’re ditching elaborate details for elegant, minimalist, and less expensive alternatives. If you want gorgeous wedding flowers with less cost, time, and hassle, keep reading. Some great tips offer more streamlined approaches for achieving your wedding-day vision.
Perfect as a Pair
Several factors can impact the price of your wedding flowers. But simpler orders are often less expensive and easier for your florist to work with. That’s why The Knot’s Lauren Kay suggests sticking with only two kinds of flowers. As she explains, your florist spends less when buying in bulk. And that can translate to bigger savings for you. Try choosing blooms in similar shapes, sizes, and colors – this helps your florist achieve a unified look for your arrangements.
Simple Yet Elegant
Another great suggestion comes from personal finance expert Jennifer Calonia: Choose simpler arrangements. In her MyWalletJoy blog post, she mentions that your florist can create a sophisticated look without the need for huge and elaborate arrangements. A few stems in a glass bottle, for instance, can elevate any table décor. And your florist can craft them to match your event’s style. Olivia Muenter shows some rustic, boho, and traditional flower/bottle centerpieces in a September 2020 Brides article.
Mixing and MatchingFlowers
Must all your flower arrangements match? Absolutely not, according to Calonia. Simple and inexpensive doesn’t have to mean uniform or boring. Some great examples include varying tall and short centerpieces and using candles in some arrangements. This approach gives your florist more creative leeway, but it can also cut your total costs.
Year-Round Flower Favorites
Couples often focus seasonally when designing their weddings. That said, it’s worth considering some flower varieties that are available the entire year. The Spruce’s Nina Callaway lists several excellent options – gardenias, garden roses, orchids, and gladiolas, to name a few. If you must reschedule your big day, your florist can still get these blooming beauties.
If you’re concerned about cost, you needn’t worry. While gardenias and orchids are expensive, other varieties fall in low- to mid-range price tiers. As a compromise, you can pair a pricier stem with a less costly one. Talk to your florist for suggestions.
Callaway also mentions carnations in her list. They’re a polarizing choice for many thanks to their reputation as a “cheap filler flower.” But they don’t have to be, as Taysha Murtaugh points out in a Country Living piece. They’re hardy, available in many shades, and can create chic arrangements when clustered together. If you’re needing inspiration, check out some exquisite bouquets in this January 2021 Brides writeup.
From Ceremony to Reception
Creative couples are also repurposing their wedding ceremony flowers for their receptions. Martha Stewart Weddings explains how this can work. You’ll need a smart plan and cooperation with your florist or event planner to pull it off. Some ceremony arrangements can double as décor on the welcome or buffet tables. Large arrangements can sit near the head table to add some drama. Some ceremony chair décor can be shifted to reception chairs with a few modifications. To aid in your planning, take a look at Wedding Wire Canada’s guide to reception flowers by Alice Prendergast.
Weddings are joyful and memorable events, but their planning requires time and attention to detail. Maybe you’re a cost-conscious couple or rescheduling a postponed celebration. Perhaps you don’t have the time or energy to mind all the complicated minutiae. Fortunately, some simpler approaches can make it easier to choose your flower arrangements. From carefully curated choices to repurposed arrangements, you can accomplish an elegant, stylish, and cohesive look for your big day.
Like many other wedding rituals, the wine box ceremony signifies the cooperation and collaboration needed for a successful marriage.
Weddings are memorable events, and we naturally want physical keepsakes to remind us of the happiness we experienced. Traditions such as saving the wedding cake’s upper tier have filled that purpose, but the wine box ceremony is a new kind of commemorating custom. You’re probably not alone if you’ve never heard of wine box ceremonies, but learning about this fascinating practice may inspire you to include it in your celebration.
What Is A Wine Box Ceremony?
Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast detailed the wine box ceremony in a May 2019 article. Contrary to what you may think, you aren’t cracking open a box of wine to serve your guests. The wine box is a wooden container that contains your drink of choice plus keepsakes such as love letters or printed text of the wedding vows. Martha Stewart Weddings mentions it as a type of unity ritual similar to the unity candle or sand ceremony since you’re both placing contents inside the box and sealing it together.
The wine box can behave a little like a wedding time capsule as described in a Wedding Ideas piece. One major difference is that the wine box is filled and sealed during the ceremony, while the time capsule can contain items collected from both the ceremony and reception.
Choosing Your Vintage
Brides writer Jaimie Mackey offers some useful tips for picking the perfect bottle for your wine box ceremony. Many couples integrate this ritual if they’re tying the knot in a vineyard, so they choose a vintage from that location’s offerings. If you’re marrying somewhere else, you can ask a local wine shop for advice. Martha Stewart Weddings’ Alyssa Brown suggests that you can select a wine bottled during the same year you’re getting married.
Wine Folly instructs readers to evaluate the ability of a wine to age using three important factors: structure, balance, and the company that produces it. Look for vintages with moderately high acidity and sweetness level, moderate tannin levels, and low volatile acidity. As for alcohol by volume, Wine Folly suggests choosing varieties with either lower balanced or high alcohol levels. All these attributes should be in balance with each other, but don’t forget to look at the wine’s producer. Start with companies that have solid track records for making well-aging wines.
How To Pick Your Box
You have a lot of possibilities when selecting your wine box, so it’s wise to keep an open mind. Some commercial retailers supply pre-made boxes in a wide range of designs, so it’s easy to find the color, size, and details you want. If either of you is skilled at woodworking, you could make and personalize your box. Many options also exist for box linings, lid styles, and engraving. Keep in mind that boxes with locking lids can be closed and sealed during your ceremony, while those that need nailing should be sealed after the wedding’s over. The key is to find a box and design that you both love.
Incorporating the Wine Box Ceremony
Like other unity rituals, the wine box ceremony typically takes place after vows are exchanged. Brides’ Jaimie Mackey recommends displaying the box and the wine on a table within the ceremony space, along with any contents you want to seal inside. Your officiant can play a helpful role by explaining what’s about to happen, the significance of the ceremony, and how long you plan to wait before opening the box.
Like many other wedding rituals, the wine box ceremony has a meaning of its own. Selecting the wine, choosing the box, picking its contents, and then sealing it together all signify the cooperation and collaboration needed for a successful marriage. Care and thought during each step can ensure a successful ceremony and beautiful memories to savor together.
A Croquembouche can be a unique wedding cake option.
With the number of French contributions to our culture, you probably won’t be surprised to find a croquembouche at a Canadian wedding. However, you might not be familiar with the history, details and preparation behind these fascinating pastry desserts. Whether you’ve adopted a French theme for your festivities or just want a different type of wedding cake for your reception, this delightful tower of goodness might be just right for your crowd.
Origins in 19th Century France
While much of Canada was still under British rule, a young Parisian baker began crafting a pastry creation that would become his enduring legacy. In January 2017, the U.S. media network National Public Radio website published a piece on legendary French chef Marie-Antoine Carême, the famed inventor of the croquembouche. Born to an impoverished family around 1783 or 1784, he was presumably orphaned by social turmoil resulting from the French revolution. Carême began working in a Paris kitchen at the age of eight, and by the time he was 15 years old, he’d landed a position as an apprentice to top-rated pastry chef Sylvain Bailly.
As Carême honed his craft during his late teen years, Bailly regularly displayed Carême’s stunningly elaborate pastries in his bakery shop window. By the late 1700s, this young sensation had fashioned a tower of small, round cream puffs called “choux” festooned with spun sugar. A recipe for this dessert, which he called a croquembouche, was published in his 1815 cookbook “Le Pâtissier royal parisien.” Meanwhile, Carême continued to rise to culinary stardom, designing lavish, beautiful sweets for the likes of Napoleon, Russia’s Czar Alexander I and prince regent George IV of England.
The Croquembouche in the Modern World
While there are many modern variations on this delicious pastry, they still follow the same basic format: a tall mountain of cream puffs covered in spun sugar and other wonderful edibles. You’ll probably have no difficulty finding bakers in any province to supply one for your special day, and it’s an appropriate wedding cake for many types of wedding themes. Wedding Bells Magazine showcased a French vintage matrimonial affair in a 2012 piece on its website, adding that the couple chose a croquembouche to add a delicate grandeur to their festivities.
If you think that such a spectacular wedding cake should get its own entrance and fanfare, you’re absolutely right. In fact, contributor Kim Petyt on The Good Life France blog revealed that a croquembouche is usually not presented until dessert time. With the lights dimmed and celebratory music playing, guests typically begin chanting “Le gateau! Le gateau!” as the star of the hour is brought out to the dining hall while decorated in small, sizzling fireworks. Once the display is over, the staff serves each guest three or four of the sweet, creamy choux to enjoy.
Flavorful Possibilities Abound
In both exterior decorative touches and inner fillings, the croquembouche presents a wide variety of lovely flavors. Traditionally, each choux contains vanilla-bourbon crème in the center. Nevertheless, bakeries offer several popular filling choices which can include favorites such as caramel and chocolate, or less common tastes like rose, pistachio or orange blossom. Besides spun sugar or pastel-tinted icing, a croquembouche wedding cake can be decked out in sugared almonds, chocolate, candied ribbons or even edible flowers.
A Delicious Wedding Cake Idea for Your Nuptial Affair
The croquembouche is a distinctive and delightful wedding cake that offers a complex combination of aesthetics, French culture and flavor. Its name appropriately translates to “crunch in the mouth,” and your guests will enjoy the taste and texture of this now-classic sweet treat. Add to that the customary celebratory fanfare with which it’s presented during your festivities, and your croquembouche will certainly be a memorable part of your wedding day.
Understanding the traditions from other cultures is important to building relationships with those outside of your own community. When Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appointed four Sikhs to his cabinet this November, he brought their culture to the forefront. Sikhs have been misunderstood for generations, not just here but around the world, including in their own country. Indian wedding traditions show an importance of family. Learn more about the heritage, in case you ever get invited to a wedding.
How Long Does the Ceremony Last?
An Indian wedding ceremony traditionally lasts three days. This does not mean that guests are expected to attend each part of the ceremony. Day one is typically for the bridal party and close relatives. The priest performs a ceremony known as the ganesh pooja. Day two is the mehndi ceremony, where the bride and female friends and relatives have henna patterns placed on their hands and feet. The bride is not expected to do any housework until the henna fades away. In the evening on day two, the wedding guests are invited to a sangeet, which is the introduction of families, a meal, and dancing or other performances.
On day three, the main ceremony takes place. In India, the groom might arrive on a decorated elephant or horse, but in today’s world, the groom would probably choose a luxury vehicle. Floral garlands are exchanged as part of the ceremony. In some parts of India, family members carry the bride and groom while they attempt to place these garlands on each other.
This main ceremony can take three hours. The bride’s parents give her to the groom, and the bride’s father requests that the groom accepts his daughter as an equal partner. The priest is there to lead the ceremony and ask for prayers, but traditionally he only facilitates the wedding. The groom ties a sacred thread around the bride’s neck, which is a symbol of his promise to take care of her. He places vermillion on her forehead, a symbol which welcomes her as his partner.
The bride and groom take seven steps with each other to confirm their eternal friendship. It is symbolic of the friendship they need for a relationship and that they will take part equally in the good and bad times of their marriage. The wedding may take place around a fire, which is representative of the fire god, Agni, one of the witnesses to the wedding. Circling the fire seven times is symbolic of the goals of the marriage, including prosperity, sensual gratification, and moral duties.
What to Wear and Bring
Indian wedding ceremonies are bright and colorful. The family often dresses very colorfully, in traditional saris and lenghas. Don’t be afraid to wear jewel-tones and your fancy jewelry. For women who wish to emulate their hosts, a shawl can mimic the look of a sari while complementing most dresses. Most invitations will specify no gifts at the wedding. Send gifts to the home of the bride or groom. There’s too much happening at the reception and ceremony for the family to be concerned about managing gifts.
The Reception
Following the third-day ceremony is a wild party with lots of food and dancing. Today, most receptions will include both traditional and contemporary music and dances. The bhangra is a folk dance from Punjab, and most people pick up the moves quickly.
Food at the reception varies based on the families’ preferences. Curries and naan, a flatbread, are common, as are samosas, which are a pastry filled with meats or vegetables. There may be a large dessert display including cake, ice cream, and other decorated sweets.
Indian weddings are all about the family and the joining of a couple for life. It’s a grand festival to bring not just two people together, but their families.
Farms not only can provide fresh food and flowers for a wedding, but also a beautiful rustic backdrop
If you are a wedding officiant chances are greater than ever that the couple might ask you to perform a wedding that is environmentally friendly. The unique philosophy of the Universal Life Church (ULC) often places their officiants at the center of the wedding preparations, instead of simply being a participant. Many ULC couples embrace a green lifestyle and want leave as small a carbon footprint as possible.
So what does one do if you are presented with such a request? Here are a few pointers:
* It’s more than recycling – everything connected with the wedding is either made of recycled materials, or recycled afterwards, or both. But the important thing to do for the environment is to get the message of sustainability across. So the green wedding must not only demonstrate recycling, but also demonstrate its message in a fun and original way. Don’t tell – show!
* Go to the food! Perform a wedding ceremony out in nature – perhaps on a scenic organic farm or even a vineyard, if you’re in wine country. These days there are many organic community food co-operatives who have beautiful gardens. Having your wedding ceremony in such a setting will minimize the fossil fuels needed to bring in food, especially if it could be a vegetarian wedding, since many ULC members are vegetarian anyway.
* Show the lifestyle of the farm laborers: Since community food co-op members perform the farm work themselves, they are not ‘laborers’ in the strict sense, but farmer-owners of the enterprise. But even on an organic farm – why not invite some of the people who produce the food to participate in a small dedication ceremony? For instance, the wedding officiant could briefly ask for a blessing on the hands that helped grow the food. This will give extra meaning (and taste!) to the food.
* Don’t destroy in order to decorate: There are so many beautiful things in nature – so why truck in flowers (or even fly them in from Holland)? Find local wildflowers, if they’re in season. There’s sure to be somebody in the wedding party and their families who knows how to make something beautiful out of what’s available. After all, that’s the very heart of sustainability!
* Wear and use things that have not been produced specially for the occasion. Using a hand-made pottery dinner service is low-footprint and a beautiful example of how to use the earth without putting back intoxicants into it afterwards. Wearing grandma’s wedding dress doesn’t only cut out the prodigious waste involved in wedding dresses, but is also a symbol of the continuity of our families on this earth. Come to think of it; the very wastefulness of a modern wedding is what bothers many green-minded couples – and, to be honest, the officiants who perform their weddings.
Finally, let’s take the massive “I” out of our green wedding and go back to the time when the entire village rejoiced because a couple – and potentially new children! – was being added to the community. This is how we move closer to the earth: By celebrating our humanity joyously and peacefully in the arms of Mother Earth. And this is how you can have a wedding ceremony that still stands out in the couple’s minds – and those of their friends – long after many others have been forgotten.
