England + Italy = PERFECTION

Andy and Silvia's wedding at the New Forest's Rhinefield House was a sumptuous blend of Italian style, the very best of English architecture and the fabulous wedding traditions of both countries. Andy and his family are English and Silvia and her family are Italian and the combination made for a fantastic wedding.

Unlike most English weddings, during Silvia's bridal prep, she was tended to not just by her mother...but her father too. The language of the bride's prep room was very fast and expressive Italian. We had no idea what was being said but it was gorgeous to listen to with such expressive rising and falling cadences and such emotional articulations.

At first it seemed odd, not hiding the bride's father away until his daughter was dressed...but in this Italian speaking prep room it seemed completely natural.

When it was time for Silvia's father to walk her to the ceremony room, he took her by the arm and led her down the gorgeous Rhinefield carved wooden staircase with tapestries on the walls

...and then led her up the aisle of Rhinefield's Great Hall to find her groom.

A sizeable proportion of Andy and Silvia's guests were non-english speaking Italians...

...but despite the proceedings being conducted in english, everybody seemed to know what was going on...

...especially when it came to the occasional stolen kiss by the newly weds.

When it came to the speeches, Silvia's brother did a wonderful job of translating so all the guests could enjoy...

...the touching moments...

...the jokes...

...the laughter...

...the thanks...

...and the joy.

After the bustle of their wedding breakfast, there were some tender moments on the wood-panelled staircase....

...the magnificence of which really showed Silvia's wedding dress at its best.

Most of the day you would never have known that there were so many guests who couldn't speak english because all the guests got on so well and so easily. It was a lovely day at an amazing venue with lots of laughter and joy. 

We wish Andy and Silvia all the very very best for their married life together.

by Steve Dunster

Beach Balls Up The Aisle and Street Dancing Wedding

It is absolutely fabulous when a bride and groom make their special day their own. Some couples do so by conforming to tradition...some by doing the complete opposite...but Mike and Karen did both!

Their ceremony was a wonderfully traditional church wedding until, part way through the sermon, the bride and groom both stood up, grabbed a microphone each and announced to their startled congregation that this was their wedding, that it was going to be fun and that the fun was starting NOW!

Moments later Mike had grabbed two beach balls...

... and the vicar was presented with a Red Card, a Yellow Card and a whistle.

After quickly explaining the rules of the game, the whole congregation was involved in a highly competitive ball game which was fun and animated and totally energised their guests.

It energised their photographers as well, we've never before had to shoot a bride making a diving save!

Once the game was over and some semblance of order fell back upon the congregation...it became clear that the game was not just for fun...but was actually a parable for married life. A truly inspired piece of wedding planning.

After their church ceremony it was on to Victoria House, Netley for their Reception.

Victoria House is a lovely venue, as impressive inside as it is outside. Victorian architecture at its best on the outside. Cool modern decor on the inside.

The grounds of Victoria House are spectacular...

...but night was drawing in and we could only catch the last moments of daylight once the rain had stopped.

After the traditional cutting of the wedding cake, it was time to divert drastically from tradition again.

Without announcement, the groom had changed into street dance clothes and delighted his guests with his totally awesome moves.

Then he was joined by his totally cool wife...who had also changed.

Together their routine brought the house down with huge cheers and applause from their guests.

Then it was time for some night portraits of the boys in their traditional Scottish dress...

...including a special with the groom and his Best Man...

...and of course one with the groom and his wonderful bride outside their venue at night...at the end of a truly extraordinary wedding which they had totally made their own.

by Steve Dunster

Who would win? Brides versus Doctor Who

I don't mean that brides are the new enemy of The Doctor...despite any superficial visual similarities they may have to the Daleks...i.e. the long skirt to the floor and smooth motion across the floor.

What I mean is that traditionally brides know how to keep secrets and know the power of a well managed reveal.

Brides keep their wedding dress hidden from all but their chosen inner circle of friends and family. The first time their wedding dress is seen is on her wedding day, together with her expensive hair and  amazing makeup. She is seen for the first time with the whole ensemble and her bridal party in her chosen venue. 

We're great Doctor Who fans and like so many others, we can't wait to see Peter Capaldi as the new Doctor.

When I say, we "can't wait"...actually I mean I wish the new series started this Saturday...but it can't and we shall have to wait until the Autumn.

When the BBC released the promo shot of Peter in his new Doctor Who outfit, it was for sure an interesting glimpse into what we might see in the Autumn.

But would it have been more memorable, more special, to have seen him for the first time in his first episode with everything that goes to make Doctor Who what it is...the script, the action, the humour, the tension, the music, the acting, the lighting, the charm....not just a still of a costume.

I remember watching drip fed promo making-of trailers and documentaries of a much awaited James Bond film. When I eventually watched the film, all the drip fed promos had spoilt it for me...they had some how taken away the magic that normally makes a James Bond movie so compelling. I knew what was coming, I knew how it was done.

And this is where, in our opinion, brides get it right. They keep the magic locked away until they reveal it at exactly the right moment and in the right place...on her wedding day.

In this respect brides beat Doctor Who, every time...at every wedding.

#toptip if you're using #pinterest: many brides use Pinterest nowadays for inspiration and it's a great idea. Our tip though is that you create a "private" board for your best pins for your wedding. Otherwise, if it's public your guests just need to look at your wedding board and they may see some things you'd rather have kept a secret until the big day.

Steve Dunster

Wedding Tips: Why Your First Dance Matters

When I say your First Dance matters I don't mean you need to go to a lot of bother to learn elaborate dance steps, in fact far from it. 

What I mean is that something magical often happens in a bride and groom's First Dance as a married couple and when it can make for some fabulous wedding photographs...perfect to place at the end of your wedding album.

A bride and groom have spent the day making public promises to each other, exchanging rings, being the centre of attention and looking fantastic. So when the lights dim and a bride and groom take to the dance floor, holding each other whilst their favourite song is played...it is little wonder that magic happens.

Some couples prefer not to do a First Dance together because they don't feel very confident dancing but it's not about the dancing, it's about the magic.

When a bride and groom experience the magic of the First Dance they love it, it's probably the most intimate moment they'll have had all day. 

But it's not just the bride and groom who love that magical moment, your guests love it too...and of course we've already spoken of the amazing photographs that can be captured.

If you want to learn some proper dance moves or even take dance lessons then that's fine, it's your day and you should live it with no regrets as far as is practicable. 

But if you do, you may well be concentrating more on the dance steps than your togetherness...but that's okay because as soon as the dance is finished, you'll probably look into each other's eyes and hug...and the magic happens.

If you feel you can't dance and don't want to learn, it's absolutely fine. Hug each other in the middle of the dance floor, look into each other's eyes, slowly move from one foot to another, slowly rotate to the music and enjoy each other's company...and the magic will happen.

If you really don't want to do a First Dance, then that's fine too, it's your wedding...but at least you should know it's not about the dancing, it's about the magic. 

You'll love it, your guests will love it and your photographs will look fabulous at the end of your wedding album...with this knowledge you can make an informed decision as to whether doing a First Dance at your wedding is right for you.

You shouldn't do it just because it's tradition but it is such a lovely moment it is easy to see why it has become part of the wedding tradition.

by Steve Dunster

8 December 2013

Wedding Traditions: The Best Man

Many hundreds of years ago if a man decided who he wished to marry but he did not have the approval of her Father then he would try and kidnap her.  This ‘tradition’ allegedly has its roots with the Germanic Goths.  Their custom was to marry someone from their own community but when the girls were lacking in numbers the men would try and kidnap someone from a neighbouring village or town.  This task was not easily carried out by just one man so the batchelor would bring along someone to help him - the best man for the job.

When kidnapping a bride they would sweep her up and carry her off and this led to the tradition of a bride being carried across the threshold of the couple’s new home.

The ‘Best Man’ would then have to stay with the groom during the ceremony keeping a watchful eye out for the girl’s family in case they tried to get her back.  He would then be required to stand on guard duty outside their new home.

There are records that document that arsenals of weapons would be hidden under the altars of churches to be used should the girl’s family come armed to recapture her.

Throughout the marriage ceremony, and on leaving the church, the bride stands and walks on the left of the groom. A groom would place his captured bride to his left so that he had his right hand free to defend and protect her.

Thankfully the task of a Best Man is not so dangerous nowadays and all he has to do is make sure the groom gets to the ceremony in time and look after the rings.

by Jacqui Dunster

Sources: BridalWhimsy.com for Brideandgroom.com

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art1706.asp

Wedding Traditions: Father Giving His Daughter Away

There are several theories behind the tradition of Dad walking his daughter down the aisle to her Groom.

One such theory is that the coloured veils that the girls used to wear were so thick they couldn’t always see where they were going so Dad used to have to walk alongside to guide them.

However, hundreds of years ago daughters were considered to be the property of their Father and if a man wished to marry her he had to pay a price to the girl’s family.

It used to be that once the Father approved of the union then he would be transferring ‘ownership’ of his daughter to her new husband.

Nowadays the Priest or Celebrant asks who is giving the bride away to be married, effectively asking if he is giving his approval for the marriage, and its usually the Father who replies and hands over his daughter’s hand in marriage. 

Some women are not able to go by this tradition, sometimes due to the Father no longer being around, and choose to walk down the aisle alongside another member of their family such as their mother or a sibling or even walk down by themselves.

by Jacqui Dunster

Sources:   http://uk.answers.yahoo.com;  brideandgroom.com;  

Jennie DellaMonica, Yahoo! Contributor Network, Mar 2, 2007

Wedding Traditions: Wedding Rings

To many ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, Eternity can be represented with a circle - it has no beginning or end - just a hole in the middle which was considered to be a gateway.

It was believed that to present a ring to a woman was to declare immortal and never-ending love.

The Romans adopted this idea but with their own variation - the ring would be offered as a symbol of ownership not love.  Their rings were eventually made of iron (symbolising strength and permanence) and known as “Anulus Pronubus” and they would declare a woman as theirs by giving one of these rings. 

Allegedly, in the prehistoric age, before the ceremony, the groom would wrap grass around his bride’s wrists and ankles in order to stop her soul escaping.  Once they were married he would then tie this grass to one of her fingers.

But it doesn’t really matter which of the many explanations you choose to believe - the exchanging of rings is probably one of the oldest traditions of marriage.

Christians didn’t use rings in their marriage ceremonies until around 860 AD.  These rings were usually engraved with two linked hands, doves or lyres but by 13th Century the Church decided that they needed to be much simpler in design and so they became plain bands of metal.

Wedding rings have been worn on different fingers and thumbs and even different hands throughout various stages in our history but most religions have eventually settled on the third finger of the left hand.  Some believe this is because the majority of the world is right-handed and the ring is less likely to be damaged if worn on the left hand and also, apart from the little fingers, the third finger is not used very often.

The Romans, who were believed to be the first to engrave their rings, had other ideas about the wearing of the wedding ring.  They allegedly believed that there was a vein which ran from the third finger which was connected directly to the heart and they called it the ‘Vena Amoris’ or ‘Vein of Love’.  Scientists have since shown this to be totally untrue but people still like to believe in this myth as the reason behind why we wear the wedding ring on the third finger.

A more plausible theory however is the ritual that the Christians go through to placing the ring on the third finger.  The priest would hold the ring and touch the thumb, index finger and middle finger whilst reciting “In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” and then the ring finger whilst he uttered “Amen” thereby sealing the marriage.

In many European countries though the ring is worn on the third finger of the right hand and in line with Jewish traditions the ring is placed on the bride’s index finger by her groom.

by Jacqui Dunster

Sources:  Wedding Shoppe Blogger: Meghan J, December 22, 2009; www.todayifoundout.com