Out With Tradition, In With Intention
What do we mean when we say we don’t plan with traditions in mind? Traditions tell stories through many generations and sometimes these same traditions don’t hold as much significance as they once did for our ancestors. Sometimes it’s like a game of telephone that we played as kids, the tradition started as one thing for the first person, but by the time it got to us it had become an entirely different thing. Let me give you some examples.
Veils - The greeks used them to ward off evil spirits and the Christians used them to symbolize purity, or at the very least covered the brides faces so grooms couldn’t see who they had married until after the vows.
Now they are used primarily as distinct bridal wear with lots of colors and details being added. It is less common to see a face covering veil these days and to be honest with how much we invested in our makeup and photography, it makes sense. Show off your gorgeous face!
Garters and the garter toss - I know you saw this one coming. Ye old garter toss. The event where we parade our newly wed around and pull an undergarment out from underneath the dress and let our family and friends know that the wedding will be “completed” later. And the origins are even worse. Tossing a garter was merely an agreement for family and friends to quit trying to RIP THE BRIDES DRESS OFF and make the couple consummate IN FRONT OF THEM.
So let me get this straight, we went from needing to do everything to prove a woman’s purity to making her have to take off undergarments in front of her family and friends to prove she would have sex that night?! Y’all this is what I am saying. Research traditions. See what is for you and what isn’t.
So how can we help you figure out what’s right for you when planning an event with us? Well first we can walk you through the details of traditions and help you find ways to adapt and incorporate any you would prefer. Second, we don’t plan with traditions in mind because instead we want to plan with intention. What are events and special moments that make you feel good? What can we include that creates a memory you can cherish and maybe even make your own tradition out of? Creating moments in your ceremony and reception purely out of intention for the love of one another will create a much more impactful and lasting memory.
One of my favorite things becoming more popular recently in place of garter or bouquet tosses is an anniversary dance. This is when all the married couples join the newly weds on the dance floor. The band or DJ then plays a song and slowly eliminates couples by calling out years of marriage and the couple still standing at the very end has been together the longest. Present the bouquet to them as a gift and a reminder of what it’s all about, time spent together with our loved ones.
No matter what, don’t include things that don’t feel good to you or like you are performing. This is YOUR wedding day. So out with tradition and in with intention. Let’s go plan some badass weddings!
