Giving Away the Bride

The father who "gives away" his daughter at her wedding ceremony is following an ancient tradition that has evolved over hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The custom dates back to the time when a daughter was considered property, and the groom had to pay a price to her family before he could be permitted to marry his intended.

Another theory is that it symbolized the transition of authority from the bride's father to her husband as she moved from the parental home to the conjugal home. Today, many brides follow this custom, but its meaning has emerged as an outward approval of the groom by the parents or family of the bride.

Brides who consider this tradition archaic, or who have lived independently for years before their wedding, can eliminate this custom entirely or revise it to include their mother, brother, stepfather or any other significant member of the family. Some brides even elect to walk down the aisle alone.

Throwing of Garters and Bouquets

The story behind throwing the garter and bouquet goes back as far as the 1300’s when people were particularly superstitious. It was believed that taking a piece of the bride’s clothing would grant the guests good luck. As you can imagine, through the excitement created at the wedding festivities, many guests would become driven to literally tear cloth from the bride’s dress. In an attempt to stave off greedy luck-seekers, many brides began to throw items to guests that could be easily removed from her person. This included her garter. Eventually, grooms began to remove the garter from their new bride, and tossing it to the men. This was done to prevent tipsy male guests from becoming impatient and trying to do the deed themselves. In an effort to help the women feel included, it eventually became customary for the bride to throw her bouquet at the female guests.

Marbelhead Lighthouse

Marblehead Lighthouse is one of Lake Erie's best known and most-photographed landmarks! It can also be the perfect backdrop for an outdoor wedding. Couples who are looking for a simpler but still distinctive way to celebrate their wedding may find this venue perfect. Although the lighthouse and nearby keeper's house are not open for such events, wedding parties with 50 or fewer guests may use the Lake Erie shoreline for their celebration. The grounds surrounding the lighthouse offer great views of Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay, Kelleys island and South Bass Island. Marblehead Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse in continuous operation on the Great Lakes, has guided sailors safely along the rocky shores of Marblehead Peninsula since 1822.

You're engaged!

Getting engaged should be one of the most memorable and exciting moments in your life. For t­he first few weeks after the proposal, you may both feel a little crazy with happiness and be bursting with anticipation. And why shouldn't you feel this way? You've met the man or woman of your dreams, and have decided to get married. Then it is time to get down to business and begin planning the wedding -- the official celebration of your love and commitment. As the two of you plan this wonderful day, you will hopefully continue to feel great joy, but you may also experience a few butterflies and a little confusion. After all, organizing a ceremony and reception is a big undertaking. You will have questions about anything and everything: from the meal (fish, chicken, or beef?) to the wedding gown (strapless, fitted, or empire-waisted?) to the reception music (live band, small orchestra, or DJ?) and much more. There will be issues about budgets, guest lists, and styles. In the end, however, it is important to remember what this day is really about -- a celebration of love. Stay focused, and take time to enjoy the process. Work as a team and be ready to compromise if necessary.

It's all about the groom!

Let’s face it—any groom will look handsome in a classic tuxedo. The real challenge, is in looking unique. This might take a bit more thought, however, and since most grooms would rather be planning a bachelor party than figuring out if a basic black bow tie is boring, I thought I would share a couple of my favorite ideas.

(1)Wear fun socks—black socks are the expected, but how about selecting a patterned pair or a pair in the colors of your favorite sports team. (2) Wear suspenders—not only do they look great with a slim-fit tux, dancing will be much more PG appropriate (no plumber’s crack). (3) Select a unique boutonnière—avoid the traditional rose and wear a boutonniere that shows off your favorite hobby like guitar picks or legos. You could also choose to have all the men in the bridal party wear a different bloom in your signature hue for unique looking lapels.

Wedding Cake

The wedding cake has always played an important part in this special day. Ancient Romans broke a cake over the bride's head to symbolize fertility or abundance. Many other cultures dropped wheat, flour or cake on the bride's head, and then ate the crumbs for good luck. The early British baked baskets of dry crackers, and every guest took one home after the wedding. In medieval times, guests brought small cakes and piled them on a table. The bride and groom then attempted to kiss over the cakes. Thankfully, a young baker decided to put all the cakes together and cover them with frosting, thus the tiered wedding cake was born.

Wedding Photography

Many couples are choosing to do many of their photos BEFORE the ceremony. This gives the bride and groom more time to enjoy the party and allows the reception to follow immediately after the ceremony. Couples are also choosing a more photo journalistic style of wedding photography meaning they are opting for fewer posed pictures and more candid pictures that capture the moment. Once you have decided what you want, be sure to talk to your photographer. Check out my husband's website for more examples www.carusoimages.com