Did you ever wonder why do the things we do at weddings? I certainly do, so here’s a little education for all you brides and grooms out there. Enjoy!

The Toast – This comes from the Greek and Roman way to honor their guests: floating a piece of toast in the wine to reduce the acidity.

Wedding Favors – Traditional in Greece, guests would receive sugarcoated almonds packaged in odd numbers to symbolize the newlywed couple would stay undivided.

Throwing Rice – In Asia, throwing rice signifies prosperity and good luck. Other cultures believe it brings fertility since rice is a “life-giving” seed.

The Invitations – In the middle ages, weddings were announced by the town crier. Later, when more people could read, invitations were sent by horseback. Since the outer envelope would often be damaged en route, the inner envelope served as the formal envelope. Today, many couples choose to do away with the inner envelope since it means extra waste and heavier envelopes.

The Wedding Cake – In Rome, the end of the wedding was marked with a piece of barley cake being broken over the bride’s head, a symbol of fertility. Yummy edible sugary cakes began showing up during the seventeenth century.

The Bouquet – In ancient times, it was believed that a bouquet of herbs and garlic could ward off evil spirits.

credit: The Knot

You may have heard these terms before and have no idea what they mean. Really, the only time you really hear these phrases is when you’re planning a wedding, so you’re not expected to actually know what they mean. Here’s a little glossary of some words that you may not know the meanings of:

At Home Cards: These are small cards giving the newlywed’s address after the marriage. They are sometimes included with the invitation or announcements or provided at the reception. They can also be included with the thank you note.

Within the ribbon cards: aka Pew cards. If you would like to be sure certain people are seated near the front, you may use a ribbon on the pew or seats to indicate reserved seating. If the ushers won’t know who’s seated in that area, you may enclose with your wedding invitations small cards with the words “Within the ribbon” which the guest will present to the ushers.

Kalogram: A type of monogram in which the entire name is used rather than the initials. (See example below).

Escort Cards: place cards

Here’s an example of a Kalogram:

A Vegas wedding can be fabulous, especially if you plan it well. Take it from me, a girl who not only got married in Vegas, but who was proudly walked down the aisle by Elvis himself. It was simply fabulous.

So, if you’re going to jet off to Sin City to get hitched, here are a few pointers:

• The busiest wedding months in Vegas are April, May, June, September and October.
• No blood tests are required for a Nevada marriage license. The fee is $55 cash. For more info on the marriage license, go to www.accessclarkcounty.com.
• Keep this in mind – from June to September the temperatures commonly reach the triple digits. Yuck.
• Holidays and holiday weekends are in high demand for conventions and wedding receptions. Book early to get your space.
• Take advantage of the many private rooms in some of Vegas’ best restaurants and clubs off-hours.

Have fun!

Credit: Bride and Bloom

Here’s what’s new at the Paperie!

Gasp!

I love these. Click on image for more info.

Here’s more finance stuff…this seems to be a popular subject!

Things to consider when joining your finances:

Create a budget that you both can live with.

Work together to plan your financial future. Don’t leave it up to your spouse. Set savings goals.

Determine how you want to handle your banking – is a joint account right for you?

If necessary, change your name on all important legal documents

Update beneficiaries on investments, savings accounts, insurance policies, pensions, 401K’s and IRA’s.

Organize all important and legal documents and keep in a safe place.

Reconsider your insurance needs – you may qualify for discounted rates by merging all policies with a single provider.

Inform employers of your new married status and make changes to benefits plans if applicable.

Decide if you want to file joint or separate tax returns.

Phew!

Stumped on what to say for your vows? Keep it simple and fill in the blanks below:

__________________ (Name), you are _____________________ (my truest companion/my dearest love/my perfect match/my best friend). Today I take you to be my _____________________ (husband/wife/life partner). I promise that I will be _______________ (forever faithful/loyal/supportive/with you/beside you) in everything you do. I vow to ___________________ (honor you/cherish you/love you/) ____________________(so long as we both shall live/for the rest of our lives/until the end of time).

Credit: Brides Magazine March 2009

If you’ve never heard of Freecycle, you’ve got to visit the site today. Freecycle is a grassroots, nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It’s all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer and membership is totally free. I’ve been freecycling for years and love it. I get rid of a lot of stuff that I no longer need yet would hate to put in the trash. Example: My niece’s clothes which she outgrew. Tons of cute stuff from the Gap, Limited Too, etc. Freecycled it all to a young single mom who needed it badly.

“Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.”

These photos were sent to me by an event planner friend of mine. Very cute! Be sure to click on each pic for a larger view.

I just love this. It makes me laugh every single time.
Bridal Shows!

Here’s another riot:
Women and Jewelry