Hmm, a strange choice, maybe. But at Illustries Wedding #1 a large gathering of friends from Germany, along with guests from France and of course, the Welsh contingent, got us to thinking about traditions from other countries that might make a quirky twist.
'On the Continent' (doesn't that sound a bit seventies?), a whole host of different wedding traditions exist. In Germany, it is traditional to wear the wedding ring on the right hand, for dill and salt to be placed in the bride's shoe by her mother and for fir boughs to be laid across the newlywed couple's path to symbolise luck, hope and fertility.
In France, a square of silk is held over the couple's head as they receive their final blessing, and the silk is kept to wrap their children for their baptism. Roads to the church are often 'closed' with ribbon that the bride must cut (for a fee!), or even blocked with briars that the groom must clear to demonstrate his determination.
Back here in Wales, the traditional love spoon is carved by the suitor and given to his intended as they begin courting, and in times past the bride was disguised as a granny for the evening party, with much hilarity in her discovery.
Our own traditions can sound really strange if you consider them heard by a stranger (sixpence in the shoe, the giving away of the bride, keeping the top tier of the cake) but often there is a degree of similarity: the bride paying her way is something that happened to one of our couples in South Wales (and the local children who were blocking her path balked at the £2 offered, preferring notes!).
We love the French and German tradition of the wedding guests following the car of the bride and groom honking their horns all the way - easy to get your mates to replicate, and bound to gather some smiles and good luck waves as you head for your reception. Including some fir in the floral arrangements, carrying some silk or keeping the veil to add later to christening outfits all add to the story you're telling on your day or the plans you're making for the future.
And as we all love a little jewellery, adding an eternity ring to your right hand rather than left could signify to the whole world that you're married - whichever way you look at it!
At Illustries, we're all about memories: remembering, celebrating and enjoying all those special times that can pass too quickly. We think memories deserve to be shared, and so we're sharing. Here, in our blog, we are creating a Library of Days. Our own as we build our business, and yours as you celebrate weddings, births, big life events - you name it, we'll celebrate it!
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Monday, 6 June 2011
Brand new memories...
Illustries is so lucky this week - six-week old twins are visiting, and we've loads of new memories to make! Little Billy and Stanley are providing inspiration (along with fab smiles and lovely cuddles) for a new range of baby products that we hope to develop over the next year. We're concentrating on weddings right now, but hey, we're guessing our brides and grooms may well be mums and dads in the not too distant future, and as we watch the twins grow, we're thinking that, like us, families will want to capture every moment! Watch this space for more later in the year...
F is for Favours
Do you or don't you? Well the uber stylish and successful Mark Niemierko (follow his tweets @markniemierko) tweeted this week that in his opinion, if you're on a budget, guests would prefer you spent your cash on another drink. Having somewhat 'lush' tendencies ourselves, we would tend to agree, but maybe there's a middle ground that let's you pretty up your tables without breaking the bank?
Maybe a cupcake at each setting, in place of having one great big cake (but as we've already said, we love cake so we'd still probably do both)? Mrs Illustries#1 got her mum in law to make Scottish 'tablet' that was bagged up and distributed, and friends also baked shortbread and welsh cakes to fill any decorative gaps. One of our clients happened to find some choccies wrapped in her perfect pistachio colour, which looked great dotted among crisp white tablecloths and napkins and cost about a tenner in total. Another left each guest a paper bag containing a '10p mix up' (that makes us feel old!), which suited her fun and relaxed feeling, and our most recent customers gave out punting tokens - only really a possibility if you're celebrating in a boathouse, as they did.
We know we're not breaking new ground here but we just thought that Mr Niemierko was on to something (hardly surprising, he is one of the UK's top event planners!). Our favourite idea? A delicious and prettily served cocktail that reflects your theme or colour, killing two birds with one stone!
Maybe a cupcake at each setting, in place of having one great big cake (but as we've already said, we love cake so we'd still probably do both)? Mrs Illustries#1 got her mum in law to make Scottish 'tablet' that was bagged up and distributed, and friends also baked shortbread and welsh cakes to fill any decorative gaps. One of our clients happened to find some choccies wrapped in her perfect pistachio colour, which looked great dotted among crisp white tablecloths and napkins and cost about a tenner in total. Another left each guest a paper bag containing a '10p mix up' (that makes us feel old!), which suited her fun and relaxed feeling, and our most recent customers gave out punting tokens - only really a possibility if you're celebrating in a boathouse, as they did.
We know we're not breaking new ground here but we just thought that Mr Niemierko was on to something (hardly surprising, he is one of the UK's top event planners!). Our favourite idea? A delicious and prettily served cocktail that reflects your theme or colour, killing two birds with one stone!
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