Wedding Blog
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Wedding Customs and Superstitions
Wedding Customs and Superstitions
By Amy Croffey
Since it's Friday the 13th today, tradition says it’s bad luck to get married, so we put together some more Irish wedding traditions for couples. Some of you may stick religiously to these superstitions, others won’t bat an eyelid at them, and many might follow them ‘just in case’, whatever you decide, here are the customs that we believe are either most noteworthy or bizarre:
Blue - Wearing something blue is considered to represent purity and fidelity.
Bonfires – In some parts of the west of Ireland, neighbours light bonfires outside their homes to wish the bride and groom good luck on their wedding day. Neighbours and friends will stand at the fire and wave to the couple as they pass to their reception.
Cat – If you feed a cat out of an old shoe, your wedding day will be a happy one.
Confetti - Throwing rice or confetti as the couple leaves the church is meant to bestow fertility on them.
Dress - It is unlucky to try on your whole outfit (dress, shoes, veil, the lot!) and look in a full length mirror before your wedding day, but if you leave off a shoe or a hairpin you can fend off the bad luck. Phew!
Earrings - The earrings you wear on your wedding day will bring you luck and happiness for evermore.
Groom - The groom should pay everything with an odd sum of money on his wedding day, or else bad luck ensues.
Rain - If it rains on the wedding day, the bride will cry all of her married life.
Ring - If the bride has to assist the groom when he is putting the ring on her finger it means he will be ruled by her in the future. (Get him a smaller ring ladies!)
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe - The something old should be from a happily married woman, the borrowed should be an object of gold and the sixpence should be worn in the heel of the left shoe as a symbol of wealth.
Sun - It is believed that if the sun shines on the bride on her wedding day, it will bring good luck to the couple and their children will be beautiful.
Surnames - It is unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers.
Veil - It's good luck to get a happily married woman to put your veil on, but bad luck to put it on yourself.
If you are anything like us, you’ll probably take many of these customs with a pinch of salt, so instead of using these customs, make your own for your wedding day.
We got most of these superstitions from the ladies on the WOL Forums, if you know of anymore wedding customs, superstitions or traditions from Ireland, or anywhere around the world, leave us a comment below!
Shoe image by Studio 33 all other images by Elizabeth Messina.
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Colour Palette: Yellow & Grey
Grey and yellow is a wedding colour theme that you'll be seeing a lot more of in 2012! It's fresh, modern and chic and is particularly perfect for a spring and summer wedding. This palette works well with almost any location and is easy to achieve using variations of yellows, greys and silvers.
| Bow tie: Handmade by Emy on Etsy €28 | Dress with brooches: Jose Villa | Bunting: Stitch in Netka on Etsy €26 | Shoe: Louboutins | Cake and macaroon images: Jose Villa | Dress: M&S | Couple in a field: Leila Brewster | Grey bridesmaid: Jennifer Eileen | Necklace: Monsoon €39 |
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First Look Wedding Photos
By Amy Croffey
It’s an age old tradition that the bride and groom should not set eyes on each other before the wedding because it will result in tremendous bad luck - of course. But many couples, mostly in America, have put aside this superstition and have opted instead for the ‘first look’ photo.
This option gives the couple time before the ceremony, fuss and hullabaloo, to meet and spend some quality time together. It’s also a great chance to get some really beautiful images of the bride and groom and their reactions to each other.
Completing a ‘first look’ shoot will enable the couple to get most of the wedding images out of the way before their day begins meaning they can spend more time enjoying the wedding and their guests.
An umbrella and a flat cap – wedding fabulous – by Clayton Austin Photography
A beautiful aerial view of a first look meeting by Love is a Big Deal Photography
We love this quirky take on the first look image between a father and daughter by Bend the Light Photography
Another cute take on this trend is for the bride and/ or groom to wear a blindfold by Bethany Belle Photography.
Other options include concealing the bride or groom behind a door or a curtain. They can choose to either reveal themselves afterwards or not, but it really makes for some great images. Image by D Coleman Photography
We also just simply adore the images of the bride or groom waiting patiently for their other halves. Excitement, nervousness, eagerness and love exude from this photo by W. Scott Chester Photography.
If you’re a bride, who has always dreamt of an ‘Aisle Reveal’ (the minute the groom gets to see his beautiful bride from the top of the altar) then worry not because this tradition is even getting bigger with many couples hiring a second photographer to capture the reaction of both the bride and the groom.
However you plan to see your true love first the first time on your wedding it’s going to be beautiful, no matter what.
Here is what the ladies on the WeddingsOnline Forums think about the 'First Look' craze!
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You get Vaseline*! Win the Vaseline Essential Moisturiser Collection
As we head into January we may be feeling a little battered after the winter months. We find ourselves this week making promises to run three miles every morning before work, or to put a halt to the snacking, or to swap our morning coffee for prune juice. Which is all well and good, and we'll be all the better for it (even just 'til we pack it in in two weeks time), but while we're cleansing, toning and strengthening the inside, we might well think about the outside. My mother always nags me about taking better care of my skin (or I'll regret it, she says, menacingly) and so I've decided to take heed and start developing a little moisturiser habit for myself, and I think with money in mind, I'll be hitting the high street for my fix.
One lucky lady won't need to venture outside to get hers however as this week we have the Vaseline Essential Collection to give away. The essential range includes: Essential Moisture, Aloe Fresh and Cocoa Radiant. Aloe Fresh is the lightest-feeling body lotion of the three, it smells like cucumber and summer and leaves skin feeling fresh and revitalised. Essential Moisture, containing nourishing oat extract, leaves skin feeling soft and non greasy and is perfect for last minute moisturising before leaving the house. Cocoa Radiant is the perfect winter moisturiser. It has a rich texture and leaves skin with a radiant, luxurious glow and smells yummy!
To win this collection just answer the following question:
What top piece of beauty advice did your mother (or aunty or big sister) give you?
Leave your answer in a comment under this blog post, using your WeddingsOnline USER NAME. And sure, wouldn't ya like us on Facebook (or follow us on Twitter) while your around?!
T&Cs: Competition is open to residents of Ireland only. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. You must be a registered WeddingsOnline user to enter. Competition ends at 2pm Friday 13th January. Winner will be chosen at random and that decision is final. No cash alternative.
*We can't get this out of our heads
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Bronze Age -Metallic Wedding Inspiration
Take a trip back to the Bronze Age and create a metallic bronze and gold leaf palette for your wedding decor.
Metallic provides the perfect amount of glamour and edge to a very classic style, but as with most bold colour, prints, or fabrics, don't overdo it! Treat your metallics like you would animal prints; a little goes a long way. Also, as with animal prints, it's okay to mix two or three colours. Try a palette of gold, silver and bronze (a nod to this year's Olympics, if you are the sporty type?!), using off white or cream as your anchor.
Credits: Gold Bauble Chandelier by JeanPelle.com via Crafties | Bride image by Jasmine Star | Vintage Initials Invitation by Finer Details | Champagne Glasses image via StyleMePretty | Table Setting by Little Flower Shop | Cake image via OneWed | Eye Palette by Bobbi Brown | Shoes by Badgely Mischka, image by Tec Petaja | Brooch Bouquet via The Wedding Party Studio | Skirt, Asos.com | Metallic Cake image via Belle the Magazine |
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Top Five Backless Wedding Dresses for 2012!
If you're looking for a wedding dress that's a bit different, a bit wow, a bit out there and very on-trend for 2012, consider a backless gown! Perfect for the bride who wants a show-stopper and who is not afraid of showing off some skin.
If it all seems a bit daunting, try a dress with sleeves or with a lace back for some extra cover. Whatever style you choose, you are sure to turn heads in the glamourous gown! Compiled by Amy Croffey
Claire Pettibone available from Myrtle Ivory
Jenny Packham available from Memories - The Bridal Boutique in Dublin and Cork
Jim Hjelm available from La boda bridal, Tracy Bridal, Marie McElheron Bridal Designer
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*A WOL Christmas Wish*
Happy Holidays to all our Wollies!
2011 was a great year for us, like everyone else we had our ups and downs, but they were mainly ups thanks to you!
Here’s hoping that 2012 will be filled with happiness, laughter, prosperity and most importantly and aptly, love for you all.
Best wishes,
The WeddingsOnline Team x
Image: Emily Johnson Anderson
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All I want for Christmas is you....
I just want you for my own
More than you could ever know
Make my wish come true
All I want for Christmas is you
Image by Sloan Photography -
Winter Wedding Food -The Best Winter Warmer Cocktails, Canapes and Edible Favours
Mini Winter Pies
Clockwise top left: Createdby-diane.com | BBCfood | BBCgoodfoodme | Ardent Photography via TheSweetestOccassionCompiled by Karen Birney
A cute way to greet your guests at your reception venue during the winter months is with a cup of tea and a mini pie. Go for mini mince pies decorated with a little heart or a star to generate a genuine Christmas feel, or maybe have some mini blackberry pies for something a bit sweeter. Pile them up on a cake stand and provide little bowls of fresh cream for the guests to help themselves. The homemade, rustic look of these mini bites creates instant warmth and an informal feel to your reception and will have your guests in a super mood!
If you want to go for something a little more formal but still in-keeping with the winter warmer theme, serve canapés of mini savoury pies such as spinach and goat's cheese for the vegetarians, or ham and mushroom for the meat eaters.
Winter Warmers
Clockwise l-r: Martha Stewart Weddings | Drink Inventor | via RailEurope.comThere’s nothing better than a hot drink on a cold day, whether sweet, spicy or somewhere in between. Hot chocolate is a favourite amongst young and old on a Yuletide, and will bring an instant smile to everyone’s face. If you choose to serve the drink as a pick-me-up either after the ceremony or as a dessert, add a little more bite to it with a sugared doughnut garnish. Hot Toddies are a traditional way of beating the cold (both types!) and would be a lovely option for older guests at the reception. For people who would prefer something a little smoother, think about serving some beautifully balmy buttered-spiced cider.
Edible Favours
Clockwise from top left: CutestFood.com | RuffledBlog.com | Firefly Creative Design | Photo by Carly Taylor via ProjectWedding.comWho doesn’t love treats you can eat?! These favours aren’t only a great way to show your appreciation of your guest’s time and presence, they are practical too! Hot chocolate favours are relatively easy to make yourself; all you need is some cocoa powder, marshmallows, some chocolate shavings, some plastic wrapping, a cute ribbon and a tag! Bride and groom cake pops or toffee apples are another yummy favour and will look very cute on each place setting.
Chocolate Apple Station
Photos by Katherine Elizabeth Photography via GreenWeddingShoesThis is a sweet and fun idea for a smaller wedding (adults only around the hot pots!), or maybe even winter hen party.
Create a little station with some melting hot chocolate and bowls of assorted nuts, marshmallows, hundreds and thousands etc to decorate.
A Winter Toast with a Difference!
Birdsong Photography via PolkadotBrides.com
These hot chocolate toasting mugs are a very fun winter alternative to a champagne toast, and would make great keepsakes for years to come!Related Content
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Beverley Butterfly Ball 2011
By Rory McDonald of WeddingsOnline.ie
It’s hard to believe that another year has passed since our beloved Beverley O’Sullivan was tragically taken from us. The Beverley Butterfly Ball is an opportunity for those who love her to express their love, loss and gratitude for a life cut far too short. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the amazing charity work that is organised by her mother Bernadine and father Owen. Special thanks also to her brother Wayne and her partner Steve (who almost lost his life in the same tragic accident) for their hard graft in helping out.
Special thanks too to Doug Murray (AKA Electric Eddie) who MCed for the night – simply the best!
The night itself was excellent with Ed O’Leary (aka The Swing Singer) and his dulcet tones entertaining all those attending during the drinks reception. As dinner was served all the fun stuff regarding spot prizes, awards for sterling work in climbing four peaks in four days and/or cycling an obscene amount of miles (Malin Head to Mizen Head) in four days (all in the name of fundraising for charities close to Bev’s heart) was very ably officiated by Owen, Beverley’s dad. We were also treated to a very touching slideshow of images of Beverley (with her family, friends and various loved ones) which I know brought a tear to many an eye. The slideshow also showed images of the hospital equipment that was purchased from last year’s fundraising to support the hospital in India where Beverley passed away.
The music for the evening started with The All Star Marching Band (who Beverley and Wayne, her brother used to play with) playing a numbers of songs, especially Beverley’s favourite: I Gotta Feeling by The Black Eyed Peas. The feeling was spot on as The Love Band entertained everyone with their larger than life sound and front man Will Dowling who actually got down (from the stage) on one knee to propose to his girlfriend – thank God she said YES!! The baton was very ably taken up by 20th Century Gold with their distinctively funky sound who kept the dance floor hopping! Nikki Kavanagh and Joanna Charles both did outstanding vocal cameos too.
The organisers of the Butterfly Ball would like to especially thank the following:
One4all Ireland | Westlife | FBD Hotel | Connolly & Moore | Dvine, Drogheda | BioFresh Skin Care | BubbleGum Hair | Cadburys | Toni & Guy Dundrum | Toni & Guy Sandyford | Simplicity Beauty Salon | More Than Make Up | Dance AMAD | Mark Murphy | Glencar House Hotel | Peter Mark Hair | Image Inc. | Ultimate Hair and Beauty | Compu B | Triona Curran | Iris Kellett | Siobhán Beggs | Candlelight Weddings | Charles Camping | DAN Productions and Beverley Butterfly Foundation
To keep up to date with what’s happening for the next year in fundraising efforts please check Facebook
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Win L'Oreal's Curl Contour Range
To get us over humpday and nudge us ever closer to the Christmas holidays, we've decided to have a little blog competition here on WeddingsOnline.ie!
We're giving away the L'Oreal Curl Contour Range, including shampoo, a nourishing mask and enhancement spray to one lucky lady this week, and all you have to do is tell us:
Which is your favourite real wedding in the WeddingsOnline.ie Real Wedding Section?
Email your answer, and your WeddingsOnline username to competitionATweddingsonlineDOTie (Please put 'Blog competition' in the subject line.)
For more on L'Oreal Curl Contour Range click here
T&Cs: Competition is open to residents of Ireland only. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. You must be a registered WeddingsOnline user to enter. Competition ends at 2pm Wednesday 14th December. Winner will be chosen at random and that decision is final. No cash alternative.
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Have Yourself a Merry Vintage Wedding...
Wonderful winter weddings are all the rage this time of year, so to make yours stand out from the crowd try something a little different like a vintage winter theme! The best thing is this wedding look is chic and beautiful and you can never, ever go wrong with chic and beautiful. Compiled by Amy Croffey.
Wedding sign - Confetti.co.uk | Table setting by Jenny Haas Photo | Shoes in the snow by Camilla Photography | Shoe clips - B Poetic at Etsy | Miss Dior Perfume by Christian Dior | Earrings - Confetti.co.uk | Sequin dress - River Island | Corset - Agent Provocateur | Nude shoes - Office | Speech image by Studio 33 Weddings | Nail varnish – Chanel | Wedding dress by Monique Lhullier | Wreath - Debenhams | Banner – The Ruffled Word at Etsy | Bride with gift by Camilla Photography | Tulle dress by Modcloth |
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WIN! Your Wedding Dress Dry Cleaned Anywhere in Ireland!
NATIONWIDE Bridal Gown Cleaning ServiceDrycleanIT are launching their new Nationwide Bridal Gown Cleaning Service this week on WeddingsOnline.ie! To celebrate, we have a great (and very practical) prize to give to one lucky Wollie.
One lucky winner will have their wedding dress collected by our courier, cleaned and boxed in the DrycleanIT Preservation Box and returned by courier!
To enter, simply answer the following question by leaving a comment using YOUR WEDDINGSONLINE USERNAME underneath this post
QUESTION: Would you consider receiving a voucher to have your wedding dress cleaned & stored in a preservation box a nice wedding gift?
{A bit about the new DrycleanIT Service}Brides anywhere in Ireland can now have their wedding dress collected by our courier either from home or even directly from the wedding venue and delivered back to her home cleaned and boxed for when she returns from her honeymoon.
Our Bridal Gown Cleaning Manager will contact you at four stages throughout the process:
1. At the initial enquiry to discuss the process and address any queries you may have.
2. At the inspection process when your dress arrives and is being booked in
3. After the cleaning process and prior to storing in our preservation box
4. Finally to Arrange deliveryEach Preservation Box contains:
Tags and ribbons
Shoes and accessories box
Acid-free certificate envelope
Acid-free archive tissue paper
A collection of record sheets and chartsOur commitment to quality is exemplified by becoming the first and only dry cleaning company in Ireland to achieve registration to ISO 9001:2008 by NSAI
Find DrycleanIT on Facebook
T&Cs: Competition is open to residents of Ireland only. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. You must be a WeddingsOnline user to enter. Competition ends at 2pm Friday 2nd December. Winner will be chosen at random and that decision is final. No cash alternative.
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Twilight Wedding Dress Replica Out Now!
Belleza Bridal announced yesterday that it will be an exclusive stockists of the Alfred Angelo replica of the dress worn by Bella when she marries love interest Edward in this year's Twilight: Breaking Dawn. The original, designed by Carolina Hererra was designed to "reflect the personality and style of the bride." Herrera told Vogue.co.uk, "Bella's dress is romantic and filled with a timeless sophistication, very similar to the character. In a way, this dress served as a symbol of the character's coming of age and introduction into womanhood."
The Alfred Angelo replica is made from satin sheath and lace applique, and the full-length sleeves, v-neck and classic silhouette create a timeless style while the cut-out illusion back and button detail adds a little sensuality to the gown.
To make an appointment to try on the dress, click here.
{Twilight Wedding Inspiration}
Clockwise from top left: Christina Brosnan | Braedon Photography | We are the Mastersons Make-up by Glamour by Dawn, glamourbydawn.com | DecoModWalls at Etsy.com | Photo by We are the Mastersons, bouquet by The French Touch | Hair image via WantthatWedding.co.uk -
We love: Coloured Stone Engagement Rings
Emerald, ruby, amethyst... We're in love with colour stone engagement rings...
Clockwise from top left: Alchemy Jewellery | Weldons Jewellers | PerfectRing.ie | Weldons Jewellers
Clockwise from top left: Voltaire Diamonds | Voltaire Diamonds | E-Jewels | E-Jewels
Show off your engagement ring on our forums!
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