Category — Wedding

(for Men Only)

FORMAL WEAR

It’s not only the brides duty to look fabulous at a wedding its the groom’s too! So you can be sure that whatever the occasion in your wedding,you’ll make a great impression. The formal wear of your wedding ceremony can be planned depending on the time of day and the season of your wedding. Men have a simple plan about their wedding attire. Make sure to match your outfit to the type of dress that your bride is choosing to wear. Coordination of your wear with your bride’s is much important, because standing in front of a crowd of known guests you need to look special and your suit should match from the bride’s dresses.

There are plenty number of selection of styles and colors available to today’s groom , his bride and his party. From pleated pants and continental jackets to a top hat and tails and designer name tuxes as well. It is important that the groom chooses a tux that is matching with the color scheme of rest of the wedding party. It will be better if you try on the tux after alterations have been made within one or two weeks before the wedding. Limit the colors because too many colors detract from the sophistication of the wedding. What is most important is what pleases the Bride and Groom and what they feel comfortable with.

Traditional Wedding Wear

Formal Evening Wedding

Evening weddings are more formal than their daytime counterparts More formal the venue, the dressier the attire. For a Formal Evening Wedding a black tailcoat and matching trousers, white pique waistcoat, dressy wing-collared shirt and a white bow tie is appropriate. Patent leather or polished black shoes and black socks should be worn for accessories. Select your shoes wisely since you’ll be dancing in the evening keep them comfortable.

Formal Daytime Wedding

For a Formal Daytime Wedding look for a chic skirt suit , or a gray or black cutaway jacket with dark striped trousers, matching or contrasting waistcoat, white wing-collared shirt and striped ascot tie.

Semi-Formal Evening Wedding

For a Semi-Formal Evening Wedding a black dinner jacket and trousers are worn in if the wedding is in winter, or white if it is in summer. A black vest or cummerbund goes with a white dress shirt and black bow tie. You may wear black gold or jeweled studs and cuff links.

Semi- Formal Daytime Wedding

For a Semi-Formal Daytime Wedding a stroller jacket and dark trousers are worn with a vest, wing-collared shirt and striped or checked conventional tie which gives slight informal look and gives you a comfortable feeling.

Informal Daytime Or Evening Wedding

For an Informal Daytime or Evening Wedding wear a solid black, gray or navy suit with white dress shirt and bow or conventional tie in winter: white or off white jacket with gray trousers, navy jacket with white flannel trousers, or white suit in summer, which are colors in contrast and will give you an awesome look.

Recent Fashion Trends

Trends have changed a lot, and so has changed the way of the wedding wear too. Every kind of wedding has got his new sort of wedding suit

A contoured long or short jacket is worn with matching trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie during a Formal Evening Wedding

In a Formal Daytime Wedding, a groom can wear a contoured long or short jacket , white in summer and a dark colored jacket in winter,with striped trousers, wing-collared shirt and ascot tie, with a vest if needed.

For a Semi-Formal Evening Wedding, one can opt for a tuxedo jacket with his own taste of colors and styles with matching or contrasting trousers, white or colored dress shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie.

For a Semi-Formal Daytime Wedding a tuxedo jacket worn with matching or contrasting trousers, wing-collared shirt, vest or cummerbund and bow tie will look great for the groom

TUX TIPS FOR THE GROOM

PLAN AHEAD:

You should start shopping for the tuxedos at least two months before the wedding. Have an idea of what sort a suit and in what color you are going to buy before you start ordering and purchasing the wedding wear. See that the dresses are ordered as much as year in advance Bring your lady’s swatches with you…your tux shop can help you choose the right formal wear to complement the color scheme.

SHOP AT ONE STORE:

The tuxedo prices are almost the same in all the shops. But the service, quality, selection and group discounts do vary from one shop to the other. Rent your formal wear from a shop on which you are confident enough. The better tuxedo shops will organize your party and solve the problem of providing tux to everyone.

OUT OF TOWN GUESTS:

Some tuxedo shops provide mail-in cards members specially designed for the ones who live out of town and find it difficult to go to the tux shop for fittings. Approach these members go to a tailor to be measured and send the measurements to your tux shop. Your tux shop will prepare the right tux and have it ready for delivery by the time your guest arrives in town for the affair. Do not take these measurements without the help of tailor . It is usually not a good idea. Measurements should always be taken by a professional.

Tuxedo Rentals:

The tuxedo rentals include jacket, pants, shirt, tie, cummerbund or vest, studs, and cuff links. Other accessories are usually provided if you need them. Formal shoes may also be rented.

CHECK THE FIT:

Tuxedos should be picked up on the assigned day, and once you get them check if they fit you comfortably. If the fit should be changed, better tuxedo stores make alterations on the premises and they do make adjustments while you wait.

GROOM-THE MAN OF THE HOUR:

Most of them would want the members of the bridal party to wear the same tuxedo style. But the groom should have something to set him apart. Today’s designers recognize this need and therefore introduced their designs as a collection for a groom. A collection consists of a particular jacket style available in different colors or a tail coat model and matching short jacket versions, so that the groom can have a jacket in a particular color and the bridal party the same model in a different color. This idea allows many different possibilities and combinations. Also, the groom could wear a black tail coat while all the ushers could wear the same style and color without tails. Different color ties and cummerbunds could also be used to match the ladies’ dresses

Something for Everyone

Choose the tux that best complements your peculiarity and personality. As with any garment, a tuxedo is a fashion statement. Today’s tuxedo designs offer a greater variety than that were earlier. Box cuts, tapered cuts, tails, waistcoats, and double breasted, just to name a few, are all readily available tuxedo suits. You can consult with the tuxedo consultant before buying it.

BOUTONNIERES AND HANKS:

Boutonnieres can add a nice touch to any tuxedo. It should be worn on the left lapel. If you do not want one, you can just wear a colored hankie as a substitute, but not both at the same time.

A WORD ABOUT RETURNS:

A good tuxedo consultant does everything to his greatest effort to have your tux ready on time. This is not an easy task, since he has to rely on punctual returns. Save yourself expensive late charges by returning your tux on time. If you know that you cannot return it yourself due to busy schedules after your wedding have a reliable family member do it for you.

The Groom’s Checklist

There are loads of things you will/may need to do before the big day. The basic order of events is more important than the exact dead-line of time here and make sure you allow enough time for everything .Here is a checklist below in chronological order of those ‘not to be forgotten’ steps…

1.Buy the engagement ring well ahead of time
2.Put a wedding guest list. Note which guests would like to have seated in the reserved pews of the church or of the
wedding ceremony site.
3.The formal ware, non traditional outfits and other things for you and the men in your wedding party depend on the
kind of wedding affair that you and your bride have chosen.
4.Make an invitation to your best friend to be your best man and select and invite other friends to be ushers.
5.Select a good gift for your best man and the ushers and present it at the wedding rehearsal or the bachelor party,
which you feel as the best place to honor your friends.
6.Select a gift for your lady. It may be of diamond or any other which you feel would surprise her.
7.Choose the wedding rings with your bride. You can engrave your ring with your initials if you would like to.
8.Well plan for the honey moon with your bride so that you can reserve for tickets and residence ahead of time to
avoid rushing at the last minute.
9.Arrange the bride’s bouquets with wonderful and attractive colors, and all the necessary things for the bride’s mother
and female relatives on both the sides.
10.Make sure that the bride has made all the necessary tests for the blood test, birth certificates and baptismal
certificates.
11.Apply for the marriage license and obtain it before the wedding date.
12.Give this license to the best man before the wedding, he will then present after the wedding ceremony.
13.Change the status on all pertinent paperwork regarding your marital status like insurance on life, property,
household, medical and fire.
14.If there is to be a prenuptial agreement, the agreement should be drawn, reviewed and seek a counsel so that the
agreement may be signed.
15.Arrange a bachelor dinner several days before the wedding. Let the best man and ushers host this dinner .
16.Set a date for the wedding rehearsal. Inform the best man about the clergyman’s fee and the logistics of the wedding,
the honeymoon and travel plans.
17.Print out our Best Man’s Checklist and give him a copy and any other resources he’ll need.
18.After the wedding ceremony, the couples should sign the wedding certificate and have your best man ensure it is
safely put away.
19.The day next to your ceremony, send a telegram to the bride’s parents thanking them for the auspicious wedding
and reception.

Your Best Man and Your Wedding

In any wedding ceremony, the role of the Best Man is most critical for the groom. The Best Man is not simply one of the facilitators of the day’s event as it relates to the groom. He deals with all the contingencies of the day. He acts as a formidable character who is reliable and resourceful in providing all essential information and working for the Reception, wedding transportation, forgotten items, unexpected guests and so on.

The Best man guides the groom in each and every step of the engagement and wedding occasion starting from the the bachelor party till the moment the groom and his bride drive off to their honeymoon.

Thus the Best Man has to oversee the following four main things:

–To check that the groom makes it successfully to the alter
–To assist and manage any unforeseen reception problems
–To ensure that the groom maintains things correct enough to not make a fool of himself
–To see to that the groom and bride successfully make it on their way to their honeymoon.

The Best Man Checklist

The Best Man’s duties get into many diversions like things to be carried out before the wedding, during and after the reception, on the wedding ceremony

Before the Wedding

1.Arrange for the bachelors dinner and party
2.A gift for the groom
3.Be helpful in guiding the groom’s family and friends
4.Confirm honeymoon arrangements.
5.Arrange transportation for the groom to get to the ceremony and from the ceremony to the reception.

Before Leaving to the Wedding Ceremony

1.Help the groom in packing his dress.
2.Ensure that the car is packed for the honeymoon.
3.Wedding Ring
4.Travel Tickets, Passport, ID etc.
5.Reception Speech
6.Money/ Travelers Checks and car keys
7.Gifts or acknowledgments

Before Walking Down the Aisle and After the Ceremony the best man has to be with the groom to ensure that the groom has used his restroom. Check if his shoes are tied , pant’s fly is up and all together if he is neat and teak. See if his face and hair are in order and nothing is between his teeth . Calm him and put hi fear and second thoughts put to rest . Wedding ring is with the best man . Then the marriage license is signed. Finally pay the clergy fees.

During & After the Reception:

Most of the grooms would want best man to arrive early and that he may have to stay even after the bride and groom departs. You can very well ask him since he is your best friend. A couple of days before the wedding date, review all the arrangements you have made with the Best Man.

The Best Man can have the checkbook or credit card for any needed payments Musicians or DJ setup. The events like Speech to the groom and bride,Offering the first toast, Dance with the bride and her attendants, Reading telegrams or special mail for the bride and groom should be with the Best Man as an order wise list to remind everything to everyone on time.

Panic Kit for the Groom.

There are possibilities of the groom to go sick or panic suddenly due to restlessness .The Best Man should have all the basic things that may also be forgotten by the groom by mistake. Put them in a zip up bag and have them handy. The items the Best Man should have ready with him always are:

1. Aspirin, Tylenol and Antacid
2. Hair comb or brush
3.Black magic marker Small towel or paper towels
4.Hair gel or hairspray Extra toothbrush & toothpaste
5.Deodorant Mouthwash
6.Reception Speech (your best man should prepare this alone)

To sum up and spell out properly, the Best Man who will help to make your wedding day easy and trouble free. Select a close friend who is resourceful, energetic, and diplomatic and with those skills to find solutions to problems without offending or creating new ones.

The Good Luck Saying

A good luck saying dating back to Victorian times is “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Silver Sixpence in Her Shoe.

“Something Old” represents the link with the brides family and the past things in their family like a piece of antique family jewelry or a mothers or grandmothers wedding gown.

“Something New” represents good fortune and success in the bride’s new life.

“Something Borrowed” is to remind the bride that all her friends and  families will be there for her when any sort of help is needed. The borrowed object may be something such as a lace handkerchief. 

“Something Blue” is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Often  the blue item is the garter.

“Silver Sixpence in her Shoe” is to wish the bride wealth.

TRADITIONS & THEIR ORIGIN  

Altar Positioning:

This tradition has been in practice right since marriages are done. By having the bride stand to the groom’s left, the groom can have his right hand free for his sword if he needed it for defense any time of crisis.

Arch of Swords following the Ceremony:

Its a custom that the couples are made to walk through the arc of swords following the ceremony. This was done to ensure the couple’s safe passage into their new life together.

Breaking of Glass: 

To recall Jewish tradition that represents the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the couple save the pieces of glass from the ceremony in a symbolic box.

Best Man:

As marriages were historically accomplished by capture, warrior friend was often employed. This friend, called the Best Man of the groom helps
the groom to fight off other men who wanted the captured woman.

Bridal Party:

The bridal party has many origins. When the groom was about to abduct his bride, he needed the help of many friends, the “brides men” or “bride knights.” The bride also had women to help her. They were known as the “bridesmaids” or “brides women.”

Bride on the left, Groom on the right:

The groom will fight with other warriors for the bride. When he does so, he holds her on the left hand and his sword on the right hand. This is why the bride stands on the left, and the groom on the right.

Dowry/Hope Chest and Trousseau: 

During the marriage ,the couple’s family will exchange their property. The groom’s family would pay a price as a symbol of love to the bride’s family for the bride. The bride’s family in turn would provide the couple with a dowry of various household items for their new family life. All these gifted items will be kept in a special Hope Chest built by the bride’s father for the purpose of holding the dowry. 

Diamond Engagement Rings:

These lavishing gifts were given by medieval Italians with the belief that the diamond was created in the flames of love. 

Garter Toss / Bouquet Toss: 

It was customary for the bride to toss her garter to the men, but sometimes the men got too drunk, and would become impatient and try to take the garter off her ahead of time . All the same, it got to be less trouble for her to toss her bridal bouquet instead. 

Honeymoon

Following the abduction, the groom will hide himself with the bride, which is now called the Honeymoon, so that by the time the bride’s family found them, the bride would already be pregnant.  

Huppah:

In the Jewish religion, the ceremony takes place as the couple stands under an ornamental canopy. This canopy symbolized nomadic tents of Israel and the new home that the couple would soon share. 

Incense

Incense has been used in many cultures as an aromatic practice for purification of the air and carrying prayers and wishes to the heavens or gods at the ceremony site.

Shoes on the Bumper:

Tying shoes to the bumper of the car represents the symbolism and power of shoes in olden. Egyptians used to exchange sandals when they exchanged goods. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom would tap the heel of the bride’s shoe to show his authority over her. Some years back, people had the practice of throwing shoes at the couple. Now folks just tie shoes to the new couple’s car.  

Something Blue:

In Biblical days , blue represented purity. Thus the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire. Hence their wedding occasion will include something blue to notify this.  

Stag Parties:  

The groom would feast with his male friends on the night before his wedding. In this event, he would say ” goodbye ” to the carefree days of bachelorhood and swear continued allegiance to his comrades.  

The Taking of each others Right Hand: 

An “open right hand” is a symbol of strength, resource and purpose. The couple holding their right hands together is a symbol that both the bride and the groom can depend on each other. It also represents the merger of their lives together into one. 

Tie the Knot:  

This wonderful Roman custom in which when the bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots which the groom had the fun of untying. This also refers to the tying of the knot in Hand fasting Ceremonies, which were often performed without the benefit of a clergy.  

Ties That Bind

Throughout the world, there are many cultures that recognize the idea of matrimony as the “ties that bind”.In African cultures, long grasses are braided together and used to tie the hands of the groom and bride together to symbolize their union. Delicate twine is used in the Hindu Vedic wedding ceremony to bind one of the bride’s hand to one of the hands of the groom. In your own ceremony, consider symbolizing your commitment to each other by adapting some of these cultural practices that would enrich you life after marriage according to ancient believes. Silk ribbons, garland of flowers or just holding hands can be a romantic way of showing your ties that bind. 

Veil:

Along with these kidnappings and bartering, there were also arranged marriages. In these, the groom’s family informed him that he was to marry…but they very rarely let him see the bride. After all, if the groom didn’t like the bride’s looks, he might not agree to the marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all eternity for the first time. 

Wedding:  

In ancient times, quite often the bride was exchanged for land, political alliance, social status and/or currency. Indeed, the Anglo-Saxon word “wed” meant the groom would vow to marry the woman — and that the bartered goods and/or currency would go directly to the bride’s father. In short, a wedding seemed little more than the purchase of a bride for breeding purposes and not for a liberated point of view in particular. 

Wedding Bands:  

It is still an unknown story of why and when the wedding bands were first worn. They were probably made of a strong metal such as iron. As far back as the ancient Romans, there was a belief that the vein in the third finger ran directly to the heart. So, by wearing a ring on that finger it joins the couple’s hearts and destinies together. 

Wedding Cake:

A wedding will not be complete without fertility symbols, like the wedding cake. Ancient Romans break a cake made of wheat or barley over the bride’s head as a symbol of her fertility. And nowadays, it became traditional to stack several cakes , as tall as possible. The bride and groom would then be charged to kiss over this tower without knocking it over. If they were successful, a lifetime of good fortune was certain for the newly married couple.

White Wedding Dress:  

The white wedding dress was made popular by Anne of Brittany in 1499. Indeed, white is not accorded as a symbol of chastity, but of joy.  

LEAP YEAR Proposals 

For more than many hundreds of years to when the leap year day had no recognition in English law, every woman had the right to propose on 29th February each leap year . It was considered, therefore, that as the day had no legal status, it was reasonable to assume that traditions also had no status. It was also strongly believed that since the leap year day corrected the discrepancy between the calendar year of 365 days, it was considered as an opportunity for women to correct a tradition that was one-sided and unjust.

Throwing Confetti 

Throwing confetti over newly weds is a very old custom. It originated from the ancient Pagan rite of  showering the happy couple with grain to wish upon them a ‘fruitful’ union, since they believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell. In recent years, small pieces of colored paper have replaced sweetmeats, grain and nuts. There is no specific reason for such a sudden change, but papers are used as an inexpensive substitute.

Unity Candle

The unity candle is a symbol of family unity. Usually a single candle represents the newly married couple is lit with two individual candles, each representing the bride’s and groom’s families.  

FOLLOWING THE RECEPTION 

Carrying the Bride over the Threshold:

This is a custom that is done to protect the bride from any evil spirits which may be unknowning to others hiding beneath the threshold. The groom would carry his beautiful bride to safety and happiness so they could start their new lives together. 

Honeymoon: 

This was a chance for the new couple to hide themselves from family and friends for a period of time and enjoy their newly married life for pretty few days. 

Shivare: 

This custom dates back from the Middle Ages till the present. A group of friends gather and bang on pots and pans, shoot off guns, to disturb the newly married couples on their wedding night.

INTERNATIONAL TRADITIONS

Following is a list traditions, customs and rituals throughout the world. Some of these are still followed at weddings today.  

1. In England, if an English bride passed a chimney sweep on her way to the church,and the chimney sweep kissed her, it was considered as good luck.
 
2.In Holland and Switzerland, pine tree was once planted outside a new couple’s home, as a symbol of luck and fertility. 

3.In South Africa, the couples’ parents carried a fire from the hearths of their own homes and took this fire to the new couple’s home to begin the fire in their home. 

4. In Armenia, two white doves were set free to symbolize love and happiness. 

5. In Japan, brides change their bridal attire several times throughout the wedding day. 

6.In Italy, the groom’s tie was cut into pieces and was sold to the guests during the reception. The money earned from this was used for the honeymoon.

7. In Japan, ducks or a goose and gander were included in the processional because they mate for life and are a symbol for fidelity. 

8. In Poland, guests paid to dance with the bride and this money is used for the honeymoon.

9.During the reception in Spain, wedding guests danced a special dance and then present gifts to the bride. 

10.In an early American custom ,the bride pinned a small pouch to her wedding petticoat. This pouch contained a small piece of bread, cloth, wood and a single one-dollar bill. This ensured that there would be enough food, clothes, shelter and money for the future couple.

The Wedding Cake

Your wedding cake plays an important part in your reception celebration, since it stands second to the bride! It is the ultimate symbol of love when you feed each other a bit of cake as a sign of love and trust. It stands tall and elegant as an attractive tasty focal point of the reception table. It is prominently displayed and served to your honored guests. Your cake will be photographed and remembered for long even after your wedding. Don’t choose the cake in the last minute! Plan as ahead as you can, so that you have a wonderful cake, color coordinated with your wedding theme. Here is what you need to know to make it all come together.

Why wedding cakes?

The wedding cake is a custom that is used as an eternal symbol of good luck and fertility. The wish represented by the cake is “Let us break bread together and wish for each other love, happiness & prosperity.” The Romans used a loaf of bread broken over the brides head as a wish of fertility. The Chinese had the custom of passing a piece of cake to each guest as a way to distribute the good luck.

Tips to buy a Wedding Cake

Personalize your wedding cake with decorations and festive toppings like figurines, flowers, different flavors, sugar decorations.Cakes are becoming more artistic and more individualized. You can choose to have a heart shaped cake, a square cake, a hexagonal shape, or any combination. Most bakeries will let you sample their choices of frosting and some even prepare a small grooms cake for you. Look through their cake portfolio to see what styles are available. If you cannot find one that you like, go through cake decoration books and magazines for ideas.

The cakes can be stacked one on top of the other, or they can have separators between them. The separators consist of a plastic bottom plate with columns in various styles that snap onto it and a second plastic plate that fits snugly on top. These separator sets can normally be rented from the bakery.

White cake is the evergreen favorite choice for everyone. You can get a white cake for the largest tier, and a chocolate cake for the one above it. Multi-flavor wedding cakes are more popular now than ever.

In order to be white, wedding cake icing must be made with variety of colors to match your wedding format, or choose to have it all white. If you are OK with an ivory colored cake, then butter icing is a good choice. Flavorful and beautiful, pure butter icing is fantastic on a cake. Carrot cakes and spice cakes are becoming more popular. You can also choose to have different layers with different flavors.

When looking for a bakery/cake decorator, ask others if they have any recommendations. Ask questions when you interview various bakers. Usually bakers have photos of prior work or will create a cake of your own design. You can elegantly decorate your wedding cake with a cascade of roses and baby’s breath sweeping down the side. It will be really gorgeous and also you can choose the flowers to match the color theme of your wedding.

There is something called a wedding cake ornament, that you will place at the top of the cake. It can be like a bouquet of flowers or like spun glass and doves.Once ready with your wedding cake, all you need to prepare now is the cake table. It should be large enough to hold the cake, plates, napkins and utensils. Plan for a table cloth to be on the table and spread it ready for the cake arrival. You may add candles in crystal holders to the table as well.