Archive for May 2nd, 2012

What’s the significance of candy-coated almonds? Find out this and more charming traditions from around the globe.

• India: Hindu weddings include a ritual called saptapadi, a religious rite that traditionally involves the bride and groom taking seven steps around a ceremonial fire. The steps go hand in hand with seven vows, representing nourishment, strength and health, spirituality, happiness, progeny, longevity, and friendship and fidelity. Under Hindu law, the marriage is not legal until the saptapadi is complete.
• Mexico: It’s customary for the groom to give the bride 13 gold coins, trece monedas de oro, to represent his commitment, trust, and confidence in her. Her acceptance means that she receives his trust and confidence unconditionally, with total dedication and prudence. The coins are then blessed by the priest during the ceremony.
• Italy: Food figures big in an Italian wedding―even before the reception begins. At the end of the ceremony, candy-coated almonds, called confetti, meant to represent the sweetness in life, are tied into small bags and tossed to the bride and groom. The bags are also presented to guests as wedding favors.
• Sri Lanka: Buddhist weddings take place on beautifully carved wooden platforms called magul poru.
• Morocco: Before the wedding, a Moroccan bride has her hands and feet painted with henna tattoos to represent good luck, protection, and the transition from unwed woman to wife.
• China: A bride is virtually guaranteed a good hair day for the wedding, since a “good luck woman” (any woman who has a healthy son, husband, or daughter) prepares the bride’s hair for the ceremony. The hair is combed four times.
• Ireland: A bride sews an ornament in the shape of a horseshoe into her dress for good luck, or she may carry a horseshoe in her bouquet.
• Brazil: It’s customary for a bride to be fashionably late to her wedding. This helps ensure that the groom will not see her in her wedding dress before the ceremony begins.
• Kenya: The day after the “real” wedding, Swahili brides are the focus of a ceremony called kupamba. It’s a chance for the bride and other women to show off elaborate dresses and hairstyles.

Dazzle your guests—and your groom—with a gorgeous pin, comb, or headband tucked into your hair.

Dessy Pearl Bridal Tiara

Let your inner princess loose with this pearl-encrusted crown.

Wear your hair up, or do loose waves for a softer romantic look.

Ban.Do Bridal Classic Bow

A sweet solution for the bride who wants to take off her veil at the reception but doesn’t want to sacrifice chicness: a petite ribbon headband

J Crew Crystal Comb

For subtle bling, tuck a crystal comb into the top of a low messy bun.

A simple and classic accessory, the piece can easily be used to dress up any special-occasion outfit post-wedding.

Marie Hayden Beige Romantic Beaded Headband

A beautiful bejeweled headband is the perfect accompaniment to an ivory or off-white dress. Perfect for the bride with a cropped hairstyle.

Jennifer Behr Crystal Wing

Play up a dress with a vintage feel by slipping this 1920s-inspired pin into your hair for a side-swept look. Or slide it into a low bun for sophisticated style.

L. Erickson Crystal Blitz Lock

A more casual bride—or one who has danced the night away—will like this sparkly barrette made to pull medium to thick hair back into a polished pony.

Rounding up your “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” can be surprisingly fun. Usually the “something new” is a no-brainer, thanks to your many wedding purchases. But if you insist, you can use it as an excuse to hit up your groom for a gift. (Tennis bracelet, anyone?) As for the others, try these ideas:

• Why not don wedding bands from both of your grandmothers on your right-hand ring finger?
• Stash an antique British sixpence in your left shoe. (It’s supposed to bring good luck.)
• Ask to borrow a family Bible for the ceremony or an uncle’s luxury car to chauffeur you to the reception.
• Have your initials and wedding date embroidered onto your dress lining in baby blue.
• Paint your toenails in a sparkly and trend-worthy shade of blue.