Dec 30, 2010
With all the gifts given this Holiday Season, chances are a few were a shiny engagement ring. The Holidays and New Year’s Eve are the most popular times of the year to become engaged (well, right behind Valentine’s Day…).
Once you are engaged then what? Who and how do you tell the big news? We know you are probably wanting to tweet it to the world but here are a few more practical PC ways for spreading the exciting news!
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WHO TO TELL FIRST?
Parents:
Your parents should be the first to hear the big news! Traditionally the bride’s parents are told first (if the groom didn’t already ask dad for her hand in marriage beforehand – very traditional etiquette) and then the groom’s parents. If both parents live nearby then you could tell them at the same time if you choose and if not, just make sure they are both told within a close timeframe so there are no hurt feelings.
Children:
If you have children, then they should be the first to know. If the child is from a previous relationship it might take them a little while to get adjusted to the big change. If they are from your current relationship, you will want to have your child hear it from you first and not from someone else.
Close Relatives:
After you tell your parents you should tell your close relatives. These should be any siblings, grandparents, and other relatives you are particularly close to. A great time to share the big news with these family members can be over the holidays when many of these family members will be together (if they didn’t happen to be present during the proposal!).
Friends:
Finally you can share the news with your friends! This might be hard for many of you to keep from your best friends and closest confidants. If you absolutely cannot wait, you can slip it to a few BFFs but make sure they keep it a secret until you have time to tell your immediate family.
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HOW TO ANNOUNCE THE ENGAGEMENT?
Formal Announcement:
The most traditional way to announce your engagement is by mailing a formal announcement. Be careful who you send this announcement – everyone who is sent an engagement announcement should also be invited to the wedding. This can double as a save-the-date if you have already set your wedding date.
Newspaper Announcement:
Announce your engagement in the society section of your hometown newspaper. Chances are you might not live in the same location as when you grew up and this is a great way to let all the people back home know of the wonderful news.
At A Party:
By announcing your engagement at a party you can tell a lot of people at once. This party is not to be confused with your engagement party when all of your friends are invited to celebrate during your engagement. If you are engaged around the holidays then a holiday gathering is another great time to let your family know. Please make sure not to announce it at someone else’s event so they do not feel upstaged by your big news.
Postcard:
A more creative way to announce your engagement is to have an engagement photo shoot with your new fiancé. Take one of your favorite photos from the shoot and turn it into a post card. You can do this on virtually any online photo service or where you locally get your pictures developed. On the postcard you can add a quick announcement or a more elaborate quote about love, the engagement and, if known, a wedding date. These postcards are a fun and easy way to announce your news and are now more commonly doubling as a Save the Date!
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We raise our glasses to all the newly engaged couples as they begin this magical and exciting time of planning a wedding! Happy Engagement!
Dec 23, 2010
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With plenty of white snow glittering and dancing as it drifts down from the sky in Tahoe these days, we found inspiration everywhere for a sparkling winter wedding!
This winter white wedding inspiration board, fashioned by our fabulous intern Alex, creates a very luxurious and glamorous winter style. The all white affair is complimented with a few platinum accents. From layers of pearl beading to dangling crystal prisms to frosted ornaments, the key is in making the most of the minute details.
A winter wedding in the mountains would not be complete without a white cashmere bridal hoodie to wear and a few gorgeous outdoor pictures of the couple playing in the fresh snow. Of course in Tahoe a ski lift photo shoot is a must!
We wish you and yours a very merry Holiday Season!
Photos Courtesy of:
Top row: Jim Hjelm, Style Me Pretty and Tiki Lounge
Second Row: The Knot, Tastefully Entertaining and Zinke Designs
Third Row: Tastefully Entertaining, The Knot and Tidy Flowers
Bottom Row: Blavish, Elizabeth Anne Designs and Rock n Roll Bride
Dec 17, 2010
It’s hard to miss the signs that this holiday season is in full swing – all the cocktail parties, sweet treats, festive decorations and, thankfully this year, lots and lots of snow in Tahoe. I love this time of the year!
This is also a spiritual time for many and a time to reflect upon their faith. Along with each different faith, there are certain beliefs and traditions of which influence the couple’s wedding ceremony. These ceremonies can differ as widely as a bride’s personal style but they have one common purpose of uniting two individuals.
This past summer Merrily Wed planned a wide variety of wedding ceremonies. We had a Persian, a Jewish, a Catholic and a Buddhist ceremony all in the month of July alone! Just like our couples, each of these ceremonies was very unique and we had a fabulous time making sure every detail was just right. We would like to share some of the highlights with you!
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Dave Getzschman - MW Wedding
Persian Wedding Ceremony:
The Persian wedding ceremony is known as the aghd. During the aghd, the bride and groom are seated before a spread of traditional items, called the sofreh. On the sofreh facing the bride and groom is a mirror, illuminated by candles on either side. Many other items are placed onto the sofreh and each has its own symbolism with regard to prosperity that it may bring. The married women in the family hold above the couple a canopy of fine fabric and grind two cones of sugar over their heads, to hope for a sweet life.
Unlike traditional western weddings where the bride and groom state “I Do,” the Persian tradition is more elaborate and entices the bride to agree to marry the groom. When the officiant asks for the bride’s hand on behalf of the groom, the bride does not speak at first; instead she remains silent, which represents the pursuit of the bride by the groom. The third time that she is asked, the bride speaks up and gives the affirmative response of “baleh!” (yes). The officiant then directs the question to the groom, who answers yes without hesitation.
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Keoki Flagg Photography - MW Wedding
Jewish Wedding Ceremony:
Before a Jewish wedding ceremony, the ketubah (marriage contract) is signed in the presence of two witnesses. The ketubah describes the husband’s responsibility to his wife: clothing, food, and marital relations. This is often written as a manuscript and is framed and displayed in the couple’s home.
A traditional Jewish wedding ceremony takes place under a Chuppah – a wedding canopy. The Chuppah symbolizes the new home being built by the couple when they become husband and wife. It is traditional for the face of the bride to be veiled during part of the ceremony. The veil is removed by the end of the ceremony, in a ritual called Badeken.
In the ceremony, “Seven Blessings” are recited by the Rabbi, or by honored members of the bridal party who are called up individually. The groom holds a cup or glass of wine during these blessings, and drinks from it after each blessing. At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a glass, crushing it with his right foot, and the guests shout “Mazel tov!” which means good luck. After the ceremony it is custom to leave the bride and groom alone for 10-20 minutes, where the couple retreats to a private room.
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Kate Webber - MW Wedding
Catholic Wedding Ceremony:
Catholic weddings are very traditional, rarely straying from their original customs. The ceremony consists of biblical readings, a sermon, the exchange of vows and rings followed by additional prayers. A very important element of a Catholic wedding ceremony is the Sacrament of Matrimony, a public sign that the couple gives oneself totally to the other person. Catholic weddings must be held in a church and are not allowed to be held outdoors, to be valid with the church.
The processional is a key aspect of the Catholic wedding ceremony. This usually consists of altar servers, the priest, witnesses, bridesmaids and groomsmen. The bride is traditionally led down the aisle by her father.
The priest blesses the rings, then the vows and rings are exchanged by the couple. Couples having a Catholic ceremony can choose whether or not they desire to include Mass. To conclude the ceremony, the priest gives a final blessing followed by announcing the couple for the first time. The couple starts the recessional by walking back down the aisle together, followed by the bridal party.
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Lisa Leigh Photography - MW Wedding
Buddhist Wedding Ceremony:
There is no standardized Buddhist marriage ceremony; however wedding ceremonies can be Buddhist if they are centered on the main beliefs of Buddhism and include traditional Buddhist elements. There are two main areas of beliefs to add to your ceremony to make it a Buddhist ceremony.
First is the acknowledgement of the present moment, many of life’s special moments occur in the present. Including the acknowledgement of the present in the ceremony is very traditional for a Buddhist wedding ceremony. The second belief that should be a part of the ceremony is the feeling of interconnectedness. Ceremonies are intended to mark important events, allowing attendees to express their true feelings and share them with others is important to those attending a Buddhist ceremony.
Other traditional elements in the ceremony include having a short period of silence that allows all in attendance to have time to reflect on the wishes they have for the couple. Another element is repeating a refuge or precept after the officiant. The refuge or precept can be unique and re-written by the couple. Adding poetry into the ceremony is another aspect of a Buddhist ceremony. Lastly, having prayer flags around the ceremony is said to bring happiness, long life and prosperity to the flag planter and those in the vicinity.
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Although all of these ceremonies are different, they also have some similarities – a processional, vows are read and rings are exchanged which represent the vows. The last and final common tradition is ending the ceremony by the groom kissing the bride. What better way to ending a ceremony then by sealing it with a kiss?
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Dec 9, 2010
Lindsay and Kirk tied the knot this past July at a private lakefront estate. With a wonderful mix of unique details, eye candy color and an easy-going style, this wedding celebration captured the look and feel that Lindsay envisioned and even more…
We loved the vibrant red touches of color that popped everywhere from the flowers to the flower girl sashes to the bubble water goblets to the glowing paper lanterns. It was a gorgeous vision turned reality!
The spectrum of reds mixed with gold, wine, yellow and amber were chosen by Lindsay to support her Buddhist themed wedding. We hung similarly colored prayer flags around the estate on which guests had written their prayers, poems or advice weeks ahead of time for the newlyweds to read on their wedding day. The result was astounding and an extremely personal wedding keepsake.
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Both ladies and men comprised the wedding party. What’s so different about that you ask? Well, a modern mix included Lindsay’s brother on her side and Kirk’s sister stood among the groomsmen. Not to mention adorable Ruby – their cherished pup – was also included as her parents exchanged their vows.
Another theme close to the couple’s hearts were birds and this was subtly visual throughout the wedding with branchy nest-like flower girls’ baskets, a custom giant nest from which the guests found their place cards, dining tables named rightly after Tahoe birds to the homespun cake toppers.
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Photography by the talented Lisa Leigh Photography and the stunning florals by Bellissima Floral Creations. We hope this wedding inspires you to make your wedding uniquely you too!
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