Now wedding season is slowly creeping up on us, brides all over the country will be putting the finishing touches to their wedding day preparation. Many modern brides are opting for a more modern kind of ceremony rather than traditional church services however, there are many ancient traditions that still hold an important place on a modern wedding day. Many brides are adopting contemporary traditions from across the Atlantic, such as the bridal shower, and most families have their own versions of ancient rituals that are so engrained in our culture that we don't even think to question them, but have you ever stopped to wonder why a bride throws her bouquet over her head or why many brides will not walk down the aisle without wearing a little something blue? Or, have you ever wondered how brides in other parts of the world prepare for their special day? Today, we will look at just a few of the traditions and superstitions followed by brides from all over the globe and how to utilise our gorgeous range of bridal fabrics and accessories on your special day.
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Our bridal garters are a great way of incorporating your "something blue"[/caption]
One of the most recognised bridal traditions in Britain is the belief that the bride must wear "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…..and a silver sixpence in her shoe". This rhyme originates from Victorian times, the 'something old' would often be a token from an already happily married bride, such as a garter. By receiving this gift, it was believed that the new bride would enjoy the same happiness and longevity of marriage as the lady who had gifted her the token. The 'something new' was meant to convey the brand new union the couple were entering into that would last a lifetime of health, happiness and success. Wearing a borrowed item provided the opportunity for the bride's family and friends to provide a token of their love and well wishes on her big day. The tradition of wearing something blue actually originated in Israel in biblical times when the colour blue was thought to represent purity. Nowadays, a bride will often wear something old which has belonged to a grandparent or somebody close to the bride and her family, her bridal gown represents something new and the blue is often displayed on the brides garter or a subtle blue flower or symbol stitched onto the bridal fabric of her gown. The silver sixpence mentioned in the Victorian rhyme has been dropped over the years but was thought to represent a life filled with good fortune and wealth.
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Traditionally, mandarin gowns are worn in shades of lucky red and Duchess Satin is the perfect choice of fabric.[/caption]
One of the most important aspects of any wedding day is the brides gown and in China it is traditional for the bride to wear as many as three dresses on her wedding day. Firstly, the traditional qipao is worn for the ceremony and is often crafted from bridal fabrics in shades of red as this is considered to be a lucky colour in Chinese culture. This figure hugging gown is the female version of the changshan, also known as a mandarin gown, this style was first made popular by fashionable socialites in the 1920's. This style of gown is stylish and flattering and is often crafted from heavier satin bridal fabrics such as duchess satin. A luxurious, high end fabric, duchess satin is an excellent weight bridal fabric and is available in a range of deep and sumptuous colours including traditional red. Next, the bride may change into a white gown similar to a traditional western gown and finally for her wedding reception a modern day bride will change into an evening gown or cocktail dress in the colour of her choice, giving the lady the opportunity to experiment with less traditional styles of dress and alternative bridal fabrics.
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Traditional Sarrees are often crafted from Georgette as this fabric is heavy enough to hold the intricate embellishments.[/caption]
A Hindi wedding is called a vivaha, conducted mostly in Sanskrit and is traditionally a very beautiful and colourful ceremony. Prior to the big day the brides family and female friends will gather to decorate her hands and feet with elaborate henna designs called Mendhi, the designs are incredibly intricate and often take hours to apply. The Mendhi ceremony is an important part of wedding tradition and is thought to be the mark of a good omen. Traditional wedding sarees are also an intricate and colourful affair and are crafted from a wide range of bridal fabrics including silk and chiffon. Traditional sarees feature heavy embroidery so it is important to choose a bridal fabric which will hold heavy embellishment. A chiffon fabric such as georgette is an excellent choice for a heavily embroidered saree due to its thick body. Georgette is still a sheer, lightweight bridal fabric but is less fly-away than traditional chiffon. Crepe is another popular choice of bridal fabric for sarees, this is an excellent alternative to satin bridal fabrics with a matte finish which is extremely comfortable to wear and with its good weight, this high quality fabric will hold the most intricate of embroidery designs for your big day. We stock georgette and crepe fabrics in a wide range of bright, striking colours so you can be sure to find the perfect match for your colour scheme.
In Germany, as in the UK, it is tradition for the bride to wear a white gown however, brides normally wear a very short veil or no veil at all often opting for a flowery headband with ribbons. For a traditional short bridal veil, our range of voile bridal fabric is ideal for any length of bridal veil. For shorter veils in keeping with German traditions, our extra wide veiling is a stiff material and is ideal for birdcage veils and fascinators.
In the UK, it is traditional for a bride to wear a white gown representing purity. Over the years, fashions have changed and as a result so have the shape and design of wedding gowns. From the large, hooped affairs of the eighties we have seen wedding dresses take on a sleeker silhouette over the past few years. Those brides opting for a traditional church ceremony may still choose a larger, more intricate style of gown and often opt for traditional bridal fabrics such as duchess satin and taffeta. Some modern brides shy away from a large ceremony and find themselves opting for a quieter, more intimate day with close family and friends. In recent years, we have seen the popularity of beach weddings continue to rise. With the cost of weddings and honeymoons being far outside the budget of many, couples are opting to combine the wedding ceremony and the honeymoon by flying abroad to warmer climates such as Cyprus and Australia for their big day. Beach brides understandably opt for lighter weight bridal fabrics such as lace and chiffon. Cationic chiffon crinkled yoryu is a particularly popular choice for weddings in a warmer climate as it feels soft and comfortable against the skin.
Are you getting married this year and are you opting to make your own gown? As always, we love to see your creations on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine
Our bridal garters are a great way of incorporating your "something blue"[/caption]
One of the most recognised bridal traditions in Britain is the belief that the bride must wear "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…..and a silver sixpence in her shoe". This rhyme originates from Victorian times, the 'something old' would often be a token from an already happily married bride, such as a garter. By receiving this gift, it was believed that the new bride would enjoy the same happiness and longevity of marriage as the lady who had gifted her the token. The 'something new' was meant to convey the brand new union the couple were entering into that would last a lifetime of health, happiness and success. Wearing a borrowed item provided the opportunity for the bride's family and friends to provide a token of their love and well wishes on her big day. The tradition of wearing something blue actually originated in Israel in biblical times when the colour blue was thought to represent purity. Nowadays, a bride will often wear something old which has belonged to a grandparent or somebody close to the bride and her family, her bridal gown represents something new and the blue is often displayed on the brides garter or a subtle blue flower or symbol stitched onto the bridal fabric of her gown. The silver sixpence mentioned in the Victorian rhyme has been dropped over the years but was thought to represent a life filled with good fortune and wealth.
[caption id="attachment_6296" align="alignright" width="300"] Traditionally, mandarin gowns are worn in shades of lucky red and Duchess Satin is the perfect choice of fabric.[/caption]
One of the most important aspects of any wedding day is the brides gown and in China it is traditional for the bride to wear as many as three dresses on her wedding day. Firstly, the traditional qipao is worn for the ceremony and is often crafted from bridal fabrics in shades of red as this is considered to be a lucky colour in Chinese culture. This figure hugging gown is the female version of the changshan, also known as a mandarin gown, this style was first made popular by fashionable socialites in the 1920's. This style of gown is stylish and flattering and is often crafted from heavier satin bridal fabrics such as duchess satin. A luxurious, high end fabric, duchess satin is an excellent weight bridal fabric and is available in a range of deep and sumptuous colours including traditional red. Next, the bride may change into a white gown similar to a traditional western gown and finally for her wedding reception a modern day bride will change into an evening gown or cocktail dress in the colour of her choice, giving the lady the opportunity to experiment with less traditional styles of dress and alternative bridal fabrics.
[caption id="attachment_6297" align="alignleft" width="142"] Traditional Sarrees are often crafted from Georgette as this fabric is heavy enough to hold the intricate embellishments.[/caption]
A Hindi wedding is called a vivaha, conducted mostly in Sanskrit and is traditionally a very beautiful and colourful ceremony. Prior to the big day the brides family and female friends will gather to decorate her hands and feet with elaborate henna designs called Mendhi, the designs are incredibly intricate and often take hours to apply. The Mendhi ceremony is an important part of wedding tradition and is thought to be the mark of a good omen. Traditional wedding sarees are also an intricate and colourful affair and are crafted from a wide range of bridal fabrics including silk and chiffon. Traditional sarees feature heavy embroidery so it is important to choose a bridal fabric which will hold heavy embellishment. A chiffon fabric such as georgette is an excellent choice for a heavily embroidered saree due to its thick body. Georgette is still a sheer, lightweight bridal fabric but is less fly-away than traditional chiffon. Crepe is another popular choice of bridal fabric for sarees, this is an excellent alternative to satin bridal fabrics with a matte finish which is extremely comfortable to wear and with its good weight, this high quality fabric will hold the most intricate of embroidery designs for your big day. We stock georgette and crepe fabrics in a wide range of bright, striking colours so you can be sure to find the perfect match for your colour scheme.
In Germany, as in the UK, it is tradition for the bride to wear a white gown however, brides normally wear a very short veil or no veil at all often opting for a flowery headband with ribbons. For a traditional short bridal veil, our range of voile bridal fabric is ideal for any length of bridal veil. For shorter veils in keeping with German traditions, our extra wide veiling is a stiff material and is ideal for birdcage veils and fascinators.
In the UK, it is traditional for a bride to wear a white gown representing purity. Over the years, fashions have changed and as a result so have the shape and design of wedding gowns. From the large, hooped affairs of the eighties we have seen wedding dresses take on a sleeker silhouette over the past few years. Those brides opting for a traditional church ceremony may still choose a larger, more intricate style of gown and often opt for traditional bridal fabrics such as duchess satin and taffeta. Some modern brides shy away from a large ceremony and find themselves opting for a quieter, more intimate day with close family and friends. In recent years, we have seen the popularity of beach weddings continue to rise. With the cost of weddings and honeymoons being far outside the budget of many, couples are opting to combine the wedding ceremony and the honeymoon by flying abroad to warmer climates such as Cyprus and Australia for their big day. Beach brides understandably opt for lighter weight bridal fabrics such as lace and chiffon. Cationic chiffon crinkled yoryu is a particularly popular choice for weddings in a warmer climate as it feels soft and comfortable against the skin.
Are you getting married this year and are you opting to make your own gown? As always, we love to see your creations on our Facebook page.
Until next time!
Calico Laine