Wedding vows can be particularly meaningful when you write them yourself, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. But not if you start here! Our wedding vow writing tips, template and examples will help you organize your thoughts and express what’s really in your heart.
Part 1: The Declaration of Love
Make a simple statement about who s/he is to you. For example:
- “Aisha, you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever met.”
- “Matt, you are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
- “Sam, you are my very best friend.”
Say a few things about why s/he’s so wonderful. Things like:
- “You are kind and caring, and one smile from you brightens my whole day.”
- “You are dependable, yet full of surprises, and you are beautiful inside and out.”
- “You make me laugh, you make me think, you make me pancakes, and you make me happy.”
Now say you love him/her.
- “I am completely and totally in love with you.”
- “You stole my heart, and I want you to keep it forever.”
- “I love you so much, and I can’t believe how lucky I am to be standing here with you today.”
Part 2: The Promises
Make promises about what you will do for your partner. Think about the ways love shows itself, day in and day out…through support, trust, words, actions, gifts, time and attention. If you are religious, you’ll probably also want to include language about your faith. Here are some examples:
- “In front of God and our friends and family, I promise to stand by you and to stand up for you, to laugh with you and never laugh at you, and to do everything I can to make you happy.”
- “I pledge to accept you as you are, to respect you as an equal and to encourage your dreams and passions.”
- “I promise to be loving, patient and faithful. I will be the very best husband I can be to you and the very best father I can be to Jacob and Taylor.”
Now think about some of the things you will do with your partner.
- “With you, I’ll create a peaceful, happy home and a loving family.”
- “I will grow old with you—and never stop growing with you.”
- “I’ll be your partner on all of life’s adventures.”
Promise to be there in bad times as well as good…
- “When you’re sad, I’ll comfort you, and when you’re happy, I’ll share your joy…”
- “Through hard times and good times, through sickness and health, I’ll always be at your side…”
- “I will love you through sunshine and storms…”
For a very, very long time.
- “…for all the days of my life.”
- “…as long as we both shall live.”
- “…for all eternity.”
Wedding Vow Writing Tips
- It’s a good idea to start writing your vows early. You’re likely to become more distracted as you both get closer to the big day. Do what lots of professional writers do: compose a quick rough draft early on, without worrying whether it’s good or bad. Then you’ll have plenty of time to change and revise it to make it perfect.
- Most people who write their own wedding vows choose to read them to make sure they get it right. Your vows can be on a typed note card or written in a small journal and tucked into a pocket, carried along with a bouquet or carried by an attendant until you need them. Even if you choose to recite your vows from memory, you or one of your attendants should have a copy of them handy in case nerves get the better of you—and if that happens, everyone will understand!
- If you decide to say traditional wedding vows, a simple way to add a personal touch is to write your own declarations of love (see part 1 of the wedding vow template) to say before reciting the traditional vows.
After you have a rough draft of your vows following this template, you may decide to combine, add or subtract some things. The important thing is to have wedding vows that are meaningful to you both and that will suit your relationship and the future you’ll build together
38 Love Quotes for Your Wedding Vows:
Remember: These quotes should be used for inspiration or a creative intro. Don’t let the words of someone else overshadow your own.
“I can conquer the world with one hand, as long as you’re holding the other.” —Unknown
“It’s so amazing when someone comes to your life and you expect nothing out of it, but suddenly, there right in front of you, is everything you ever need.” —Unknown
“And I’d choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I’d find you and I’d choose you.”—The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
“The Buddhists say if you meet somebody and your hands shake, your knees go weak, that’s not the one. When you meet your ‘soul mate’ you’ll feel calm. No anxiety, no agitation.”—Monica Drake
“There comes a time when you meet someone and you just want to make them smile for the rest of your life.” —Unknown
“He’s more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.”—Emily Bronte
“I didn’t fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way. I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things that we’d choose anyway.”—The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White
“Wherever is your heart I call home.”—Brandi Carlile
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, so when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness; and then we call it love.”—Dr. Seuss
“A relationship means giving the best of yourself to someone that truly deserves it.” —Unknown
“Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that truer friend in his wife.”—Franz Schubert
“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.”—Oscar Wilde
“I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness and to have the patience that love demands, to speak when words are needed and to share the silence when they are not, to agree to disagree on red velvet cake, and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home.”—The Vow
“I vow to fiercely love you in all your forms, now and forever. I promise to never forget that this is a once in a lifetime love. And to always know in the deepest part of my soul that no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find our way back to each other.”—The Vow
“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more. That plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds.”—The Notebook
“I love you. I am who I am because of you. You are every reason, every hope, every dream I’ve ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, every day we are together is the greatest day of my life.”—The Notebook
“A perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other.”—Unknown
“I can’t promise to solve all your problems, but I can promise you won’t have to face them alone.” —Unknown
“I saw that you were perfect and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.”—Angelita Lim
“There will be dozens of people who will take your breath away, but the one who reminds you to breathe is the one you should keep.” —Unknown
“Love is not an affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.”—C.S. Lewis
“To love a person is to see all of their magic, and to remind them of it when they have forgotten.” —Unknown
“Because of you, I can feel myself slowly but surely becoming the me I have always dreamed of being.”—Tyler Knott Gregson
“When you meet the one who changes the way your heart beats, dance with them to that rhythm for as long as the song lasts.”—Kirk Diedrich
“The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.”—Julia Child
“I have seen the best of you and the worst of you, and I choose both.”—Sarah Kay
“I will love with urgency, but not with haste.”—Mumford & Sons
“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to leave without you.”—Winne the Pooh, A.A. Milne
“Love is a promise; love is a souvenir. Once given never forgotten, never let it disappear.”—John Lennon
“Love; it will not betray you. Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free.”—Mumford & Sons
13 Tips for Writing Original Wedding Vows:
1. Settle on a format and tone with your fiancé.
You don’t want to follow 2 minutes of jokes from your man with 5 minutes of tear-jerking poetry. Discuss the overall tone you want your words to have, as well as a length you both can handle.
2. Reflect on your relationship.
Before you pick up that pen, look back on your relationship. What brought you to this moment? When did you know they were ‘the one?’ When did you first start falling in love? What memories stand out? A bit of reflection can lead to a lot of writing.
3. Determine your definition of “love” and “marriage.”
Everyone has a different image when they picture the perfect marriage. How do you see it? What will your spouse do for you and what will you do for your spouse? Think about the relationships you admire and how you can use them to influence your own. Remember that this is your promise—there’s no wrong answer.
4. Call out the best in them.
If you’re not sure where to start, why not with compliments? Tell them why you love them, what makes them special, and the qualities they posess that make ‘forever’ possible.
5. Think in terms of promises.
Be honest with them—what can you promise them or at least say you’ll strive for? That may be standing by them through thick and thin, remembering to make their coffee in the morning or never to play the song they hate, or to love them even when you may not like them.
6. Leave out any embarrassing, TMI details.
Remember that you’ll be in front of a crowd—don’t say anything you’ll regret. Leave those TMI details for later.
7. Don’t let quotes and poems overpower your own meaningful words.
I put these 38 quotes in here for a reason, but don’t recite them for 3 minutes. Find one or two that represent your own amazing love and use them as a starting point. Your words will mean far more to your partner than someone else’s.
8. Keep it short and sweet.
2-3 minutes is good length to go for. If you figure out how to say it all in just a few words, that’s fine too.
9. Remember the letter.
Most couples give each other a wedding gift along with a hand-written letter. If your vows get too lengthy, add some of those wonderful words to your letter. It’s also the place for those TMI details you can’t help but share.
10. Give yourself time.
A lot of people like to start writing the night before (or even the day of), but if you’re nervous I recommend giving yourself a little more time.
11. Practice.
Give yourself some time to practice them too! Say them out loud, please.
12. Read them to each other beforehand.
This is a tip I like to stress. If you’re concerned you may ugly-cry or get extremely nervous, why not share your promises before the big day? It’ll be just as meaningful, but without all the pressure.
13. Save a copy.
You’ll thank me later.
Songs for Weddings
Dance Songs
You’ve been announced as husband and wife, finished the traditional dances and heard the speeches from your loved ones. It’s now time to get your groove on and dance the night away!You are about to start a new life with your new husband or wife. But don’t forget the people who have always been there for you! Here are some special dance songs to share with your family and close friends.
- I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas
- Locked Out of Heaven by Bruno Mars
- Love On Top by Beyonce
- Let’s Get It Started by Black Eyed Peas
- Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson
- Timber (feat. Ke$ha)by Pitbull
- Happy by Pharrell Williams
- Wake Me Up by Avicii
- We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) by Rihanna
- Moves Like Jagger by Maroon 5
- Let’s Groove by Earth Wind and Fire
- Dynamite by Taio Cruz
- For Once in My Life by Stevie Wonder
- I Wanna Dance With Somebody by Whitney Houston
- Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
- Dancing Queen by ABBA
- Suit & Tie (feat. Jay Z) by Justin Timberlake
- Can’t Feel My Face by The Weeknd
- Rather Be (feat. Jess Glynne) by Clean Bandit
- Hands to Myself by Selena Gomez
- Shut Up and Dance by Walk the Moon
- Focus by Ariana Grande
- Sorry by Justin Bieber
- Cake by the Ocean by DNCE
- My House by Flo Rida
- WAVING GOODBYE –Sia
- sia – Unstoppable
Love Songs
- I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
- I’m Yours by Jason Mraz
- I’ll Be by Edwin McCain
- Marry You by Bruno Mars
- L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole
- Your Song by Elton John
- Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars
- Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli
- All You Need Is Love by The Beatles
- At Last by Etta James
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight by Elton John
- Everything by Michael Buble
- Treasure by Bruno Mars
- Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen
- Dream a Little Dream of Me by The Mamas and the Papas
- Save the Last Dance For Me by Michael Buble
- Endless Love by Diana Ross
- Ellie Goulding – Still Falling For You
- Maître Gims & Sia – Je Te Pardonne (I Forgive You)
Ceremonial Songs
Today’s the day! Everything’s ready to go and you’re finally ready to take that walk down the aisle. Here is some ceremonial music to accompany you as you take your next steps towards your new married life.
- Canon In D by Pachelbel
- Ariso by David B. Hooten and The Kiev Symphony
- Bridal March by Wagner
- A Thousand Years (Instrumental) By Christina Perri
- Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve
- What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
- Con Te Partiro (Instrumental) by Patriro
- Trumpet Voluntary by Franz Richter Jonathan Hallson
- Allegro Maestoso
- All You Need Is Love (Instrumental) by The Beatles
- This Years Love by David Gray
- Somewhere Only We Know (Instrumental) by Keane
- Marry Me (Instrumental) by Train
- The Luckiest (Piano Instrumental) by Train
- Here Comes the Sun (Instrumental) by The Beatles
- Can You Feel the Love Tonight? (Instrumental) by Elton John
- Ave Maria, by Schubert
- Wanted (Instrumental by Hunter Hayes
- Make You Feel My Love (Instrumental) by Adele
- My Love – Sia
Special Dance Songs
You’ve been announced as husband and wife, finished the traditional dances and heard the speeches from your loved ones. It’s now time to get your groove on and dance the night away!
You are about to start a new life with your new husband or wife. But don’t forget the people who have always been there for you! Here are some special dance songs to share with your family and close friends.
- Daughters by John Mayer
- I Loved Her First by Heartland
- The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra
- I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
- With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles
- My Girl by Temptations
- God Only Knows by The Beach Boys
- A Song for Mama by Boyz2men
- My Wish by The Rascal Flatts
- What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong
- Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey
- Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson
- We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris
- When You Need Me by Bruce Springsteen
- I Hope You Dance Lee Ann Womback
- Child of Mine by Carole King
- Dancing Queen by ABBA
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
- Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
- Because You Loved Me by Celine Dion
12-Month Wedding Planning Checklist
You’ve said yes to the big question, now what? If you’re starting to become overwhelmed with the thought of planning your big day, sit down, take a deep breath and look over this 12-month planning guide. You’ll see that planning a wedding is simply a matter of getting organized. You can do it!
11-12 Months Before the Wedding
- Officially announce your engagement.
- Set a time and date for the wedding.
- Decide style of ceremony (size, setting, formality, etc.)
- Contact wedding a officiate.
- Arrange for your families to meet if they haven’t met before.
- Develop a budget and decide who will pay for what.
- Begin compiling your guest list.
- Visit and reserve your reception site.
9-10 Months Before the Wedding
- Order your wedding gown and determine who will make any necessary alterations.
- Choose your wedding party.
- Decide on a color scheme (consider the reception site).
- Meet with potential wedding professionals for your ceremony & reception. Interview local videographers, photographers, florists, DJs & Musicians, caterers, and bakeries. Be sure to get a contract that states wedding date, time, and location for each vendor, as well as the schedule for payments.
- Scout out accommodations for out-of-town guests.
7-8 Months Before the Wedding
- Start shopping for wedding rings.
- Decide on honeymoon plans and take care of any special travel requirements such as passports or visas.
- Decide on and order attendants gowns.
- Order invitations and other stationery needs.
1. Beautiful Wedding Invitations by Carlson Crafts
2 Perfect Wedding Invitations by Checkerboard
3. Thank you cards & Gratuity Envelopes - Register for wedding gifts at select stores and online outlets. Don’t forget to register for shower and engagement party gifts as well!
5-6 Months Before the Wedding
- Let your out-of-town guests know the date of your wedding so that they reserve the date and make any necessary travel plans.
Find Save-the-Date cards & magnets at - Complete guest list.
- Shop for and taste test the wedding cake.
- Select and reserve attire for men in the wedding.
- Determine marriage license requirements for the state in which you are getting married. (If in the US, contact the county clerks office; if abroad, the wedding coordinator will have this information.)
3-4 Months Before the Wedding
- Finalize the menu with your caterer.
- Order wine, champagne, liquor, etc., if not included in the caterers service.
- Finalize flowers, including those needed for the reception decorations.
- Mail out information about hotels and city attractions to your out-of-town guests so they can make their plans.
- Order wedding favors.
- Order wedding rings to allow time for engraving.
- Begin working on vows, especially if you are writing your own.
2 Months Before Wedding
- Finalize and book honeymoon.
- Mail out invitations.
- Do hair/make-up dry run, complete with your veil or headpiece.
- Book wedding day beauty appointments.
- Complete name change paperwork for bank accounts, insurance, etc.
- Finalize music play list.
- Finalize order of service and write the wedding program.
- Touch base with your florist, caterer, and DJ to confirm date and times, etc. Get their cell phone number if you don’t already have them.
- Book rehearsal dinner.
- Order wedding cake, if not ordered already.
1 Month Before
- Order any rental items needed such as chairs, tents, lighting, if not included at wedding/reception sites.
- Purchase bridesmaid gifts.
- Purchase groomsmen gifts.
- Schedule final fitting for wedding gown. Remember to bring wedding shoes, veil, and proper lingerie needed.
- Purchase your accessories: guest book and pen set, ring pillow, flower girl baskets, unity candle, etc.
- Arrange for transportation needs for wedding party and out-of-town guests for the rehearsal and wedding day. Be sure to give the driver the addresses and schedules for all who will need transportation.
2-3 Weeks Before
- Get marriage license. Call ahead to make sure you know what is required to bring.
- Organize any accessories needed such as ring pillow, flower girl basket, garter, and “something old, new, borrowed, and blue.”
- Contact guests who haven’t sent in RSVPs so that you can give the caterer a final headcount.
- Pick up wedding rings and check engraving before leaving the store. Store in a safe place!
- Confirm honeymoon hotel, airline reservations, and wedding night reservations, if not leaving until the next day.
1 Week Before
- Pack for honeymoon.
- Host attendants party and give out gifts along with a thoughtful thank you note to each bridesmaid.
- Make final payments to vendors. Put gratuities in envelopes and arrange to have a trusted friend distribute the envelopes on the big day.
1 Day Before
- Take a long walk or schedule a massage to reduce stress. Gather your thoughts and mentally prepare yourself!
- Greet out-of-town guests.
- Make some time for each other to exchange gifts and a congratulatory kiss (or several)!
- Attend rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
- Get in bed at a reasonable hour so that you’ll look and feel your best for your wedding.
Wedding Day
- Awake early and eat a good breakfast.
- Go to beauty appointments.
- Arrive at wedding site early enough to dress and to visit with bridesmaids.
- Allow enough time for photography.
- Relax, smile, and enjoy your well-organized day!PS: Don’t forget the romantic goodies for your wedding night and honeymoon!
- Maids Made Beautiful Kimara Ahnert’s Makeup Tips for Bridesmaids As a bridesmaid, you want to look your best, but you don’t want to outshine the bride. Kimara Ahnert, bridal makeup artist extraordinaire, has some simple makeup tips that will have you fresh faced and aisle ready in no time. On Matching Dress to Makeup o Choose eye shadow colors that compliment the dress, not that necessarily match the dress. As a rule, accessories should match while beautiful makeup compliments. If your dress is purple, choose makeup that has blue based undertones. For champagne a colored dress, pair yellow based undertones together such as bronze, gold, copper and pewter. Sun Too Much? o Don’t over tan or over bronze pre wedding. A sun kissed look is fresh looking, a baked look is not and doesn’t compliment the rest of the bridal party in photos. Ode to Oil Free o Wear an oil free matte foundation for long lasting coverage set by a powder to keep makeup looking flawless and lasting for hours. Party Prep o Don’t party too much the night before at the rehearsal dinner. Makeup always looks better on skin that is not tired and puffy from alcohol after a late night. Keep Up with Touch Ups o Always keep blush and lip color with you in your purse for reapplying throughout the event. Many brides don’t touch up and makeup ends up looking faded by the time the reception start
Updated Makeup Tips from Professional Makeup Artist, Kimara Ahnert
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| The Wedding Emergency Kit
Weddings are always full of surprises. Most of them are pleasant; however, the strangest things have a way of happening when you are the least prepared. Pack these items in a carry-on bag labeled ? Wedding Emergency Kit? and keep it handy on your wedding day. You never know what disaster you?ll be averting!
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- How to Write a Wedding Thank-You Note Wedding gifts and thank-you notes go hand in hand. Not sending out a letter showing your gratitude for the gifts you received at your weeding is tacky and inconsiderate. Send personalized thank-you notes to all of your gift-bearing wedding guests. This is your chance to let them know how much you appreciate their thoughtful presents. Instructions: Step 1 Consider ordering formal note cards with your married name or monogram on them. These cost about $150 and up for 50 cards, depending on the quality of paper and number of details you include. Order these notes at the same time that you order your invitations. Step 2 You can also opt for preprinted thank-you notes from a card or stationery store. These are much less expensive, and there are lots of styles to choose from. Expect to pay $5 to $10 for eight cards. Step 3 Be sure to purchase plenty of extra cards. You may receive more gifts than you expected. Step 4 Handwrite each note. Step 5 Mention each gift and tell the giver how you will use the item, if possible. Step 6 Refer to any special effort the person went to for you, such as traveling a long distance to attend the wedding or giving a special toast. Step 7 Consider adding a line telling invited guests who were unable to attend the wedding how sorry you were that they couldn’t be there with you. Step 8 Send separate notes for shower and wedding gifts. Even if you received two gifts from the same person within a short period of time, each one deserves its own acknowledgment. Step 9 Be timely. According to etiquette guru Amy Vanderbilt, a thank-you note should be written within two to three weeks of receiving a gift – six to eight weeks at the very most. Tips: · Use collectors’ stamps from the post office for creative flair. · If possible, include a photograph of you taken with the person who gave the gift, at your wedding. People will enjoy this gesture. · Send thank-you notes to all of your wedding vendors to show how much you appreciated their efforts. Also send notes to your wedding party to thank them for taking part in your big day. · Even if you thanked guests in person, you are still expected to send out a formal note.
6 Key Things to Consider When Planning Your Wedding Menu
Here are 6 things for you to consider when planning the menu for your wedding:
- Who are your guests and what kind of food do they like?
We start by asking – what do you like to eat? What are some of your favorite restaurants? The answers I get can be anywhere from “I love your prepared salads!” to “I hate olives!” It’s your wedding, so you want to have food you like and that is meaningful to you and your fiance. Did you go out for flatbread on your first date? Maybe we should have that as a passed appetizer or dinner selections. However, one important thing to remember is that you are also hosts, so you want to provide food that your guests like and that make them feel cared for. Some questions to consider; Are many of your guests “out of towners” that are looking for the “Vermont Experience”? Are many of your guests bringing young children? Will there be a plethora of your husband-to-be’s rugby teammates at the wedding desiring double portions? Are your parents picky eaters? Are many of your friends vegan or gluten free? ALL are important for us to know! - What is your ideal timeline for the reception?
From experience, I can tell you that timelines always get pushed back during a reception. And the tighter the timeline for everything that you want to fit in (photos, cocktail hour, dinner courses, toasts, etc.), the harder it is to stay on the timeline. We carefully discuss with you the timeline, the desired flow, and make sure that we hit what is most important to you. Are you trying to get outside for a strict 6:45pm sunset toast in which we need to figure out a way to usher guests out from dinner? We’ve got you covered! Your Sugar snap event manager is there to guide you and your guests on a journey throughout the evening, striving to hit the timeline you have set.
We are always flexible, however the most important thing to keep in mind is the menu as it relates to your timeline. For example, striving for a Prime Rib plated dinner to go out at 6pm is great, but the fact of the matter is that deadline NEEDS to be hit to uphold the quality of food! Where as, pushing back a cake cutting is less important.
- Understand the five main service styles and decide what fits your reception the best.
You may choose to have a plated meal in which servers bring the meal to the tables; a buffet meal in which guests stand in line and serve themselves; a family style meal in which bowls of food are on each table; a heavy appetizer cocktail party; or a meal of stations, in which guests rove around themed food tables. All of these service styles have their pros and cons. It really comes down to what is best for you, your guests, the timeline and the space you have chosen.
The common question is “What is the most expensive”? And for that, there is not one true answer. While plated requires more labor and rentals onsite, we are able to pin down the amount of food. Whereas at a buffet, the amount and type of food taken from the buffet time is hard to determine so you need to order more. Sugar snap is happy to discuss each of these service styles and how it relates to your evening.
- Align your priorities with your budget.
There are many decisions to make when planning your budget. And since most people have a budget for their wedding, understanding your priorities is key. If plate and glassware rentals aren’t high on your list of priorities, let us show you some of the great compostable bamboo plates we can get. If the cut of meat isn’t important but you want to make sure it is local and delicious, we can show you some great options. Do you want to keep the food simple and cost effective so that your guests can drink at an open bar all night, we can do that! Let us know your thoughts and your feelings so that we can help you have the wedding you have dreamed of. - Pay attention to the season.
You may love heirloom tomatoes, but if your wedding is in May, asparagus is a more seasonal option. By using local, seasonal products, the menu can really reflect the time and place of your wedding. Additionally, you can feel great knowing that you are going to be providing your guests the most delicious, local and fresh seasonal products available! - Consider the setting and venue.
Is your reception formal or more rustic? Will it be in a museum or in a renovated barn? The style of the reception and location should be reflected in the menu. Also, the kitchen equipment that is available (either onsite or rented) will determine what we can cook onsite.
These are just some of the many considerations to think about when planning your wedding! Let our event staff guide you through this planning process!
Put a Modern Twist on Wedding Traditions
| Tradition: The Proposal History: Formal contract between families. Often times the groom would send a group of friends or servants to state his intentions. The group would not continue on the journey if on the way they saw a monk, a nun, or a blind man. These were thought to be omens that the marriage would be doomed. If, however, they saw a nanny goat, a pigeon, or wolves, the union would be blessed with a lifetime of good fortune.Modern Twist: Today, most couples become engaged as a matter of mutual agreement that, thankfully, has nothing to do with the sighting of omens. However, some couples still pay homage to the tradition by having the groom announce the engagement to the families after the bride-to-be has already accepted the proposal. Tradition: Diamond Engagement Ring Modern Twist: Today, the diamond engagement ring is a symbol of the commitment made between two people and of their intention to become husband and wife. It should be noted that an engagement ring is not always a diamond. Today’s rings can be of any stone the couple finds attractive. Tradition: The Bridal Shower Modern Twist: Today, showers come in all styles. It isn’t unusual for a bride to have a lingerie shower, a stock the bar shower, a kitchen shower, etc. The style of shower can range from traditional all female affairs to large parties or barbecues that include both men and women. Tradition: Bridal Party Modern Twist: Today’s bridal party usually consists of very close friends and family who have a special connection to the couple. It is not unusual for a bride to have a special male friend be an usher or a groom’s sister to be an attendant. Modern brides thank their wedding party with small gifts of appreciation and friendship. Wedding party gifts are available at Modern Twist: Today, the act of “giving away the bride” is used to show support the union. Many brides today chose to have both parents escort her down the aisle, or they choose to walk unassisted to symbolize their independence. Tradition: The Veil Modern Twist: In this country it is unusual for couples to get married without having spent a great deal of time together. Today, the veil is a beautiful accessory that symbolizes modesty and purity. Tradition: Wedding Dress Modern Twist: Today, brides wear wedding gowns of all colors. It has truly become a matter of personal preference. However, the most popular choices are white and ivory. Tradition: Something Old, Something New Modern Twist: Today, many brides still follow this tradition by incorporating treasured family heirlooms into their ceremonies for the borrowed or old; garters are often at least in part blue, while the wedding attire or jewelry can be the new. Many brides put a penny in their shoe, as sixpences are not very common! Keepsake sixpences are available Tradition: Kissing the Bride Modern Twist: Today, the kissing of the bride signifies that the marriage ceremony is complete and that the couple is now husband and wife. Tradition: The Groom’s Cake Modern Twist: Today, often the groom’s cake is still a rich, dark cake that is decorated to symbolize the groom’s favorite sport’s team or hobby. However, unlike in the days of old, the cake is usually consumed at the reception. Keepsake keep cake boxes and cake favor boxes are available Tradition: Wedding Favors Modern Twist: Today wedding favors are given as a memento of the beginning of the marriage. They can range from personalized candies to engraved frames to bookmarks to centerpieces. Couples still give favors to symbolically pass on the luck! A large selection of wedding favors can be found Tradition: Tossing of the Garter Modern Twist: Today, the groom removes the garter and tosses to a group of single men. The one who catches it is believed to be the next to get married. An updated version, involves the garter being auctioned off with the proceeds going to the couple for their honeymoon! Beautiful keepsake and tossing garters are available at Tradition: Tossing of the Bouquet Modern Twist: Today the bride tosses her bouquet to a gathering of single women. It is still believed that whoever catches the bouquet is the next to marry. Many brides choose to have their bridal bouquets preserved, and thus have a “disposable” bouquet ready to toss. Another modern twist on this tradition is dedicating the bouquet to someone special. The DJ can help you make this a very special part of your wedding. Tradition: Jumping of the Broom Tradition: Bachelor Party Modern Twist: While not held the night before the wedding, bachelor parties are still thrown and have been the setting for some pretty wild times! Though not always scenes of complete debauchery, they represent the last hurrah for the groom before he settles down to responsible married life. Brides will often have their own Bachelorette Party too! Tradition: Honeymoon Modern Twist: Today the honeymoon is a vacation (not necessarily a month long!) for the newly married couple that usually immediately follows the wedding. It is a time for the couple to spend lots of time alone following the hectic planning of the wedding. Many couples choose very special places to commemorate their marriage. Use our local vendor directory to help find a travel agent or destination for your honeymoon. Tradition: Changing the Bride’s Surname Modern Twist: Thankfully, women are no longer viewed as property. Today’s brides can choose the name they wish to use. More and more, brides are opting to keep their own names, either for professional or personal reasons. It is even common for today’s brides (and grooms) to develop new names from a combination of both names! Tradition: Throwing of Birdseed Modern Twist: Today’s newlyweds are toasted in much the same way. However, today’s wedding guests use birdseed, balloons, bubbles, the ringing of bells or the releasing of doves to shower the couple with good wishes. |
Jinx 