I became his girlfriend on June 21, 1995 and his wife on June 21, 1999. Happy 13th wedding anniversary to my forever love!!!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Our send off
From researching information online about wedding traditions, it seems that most agree that throwing food items at the bride and groom began as a fertility and prosperity wish (people were all about good luck and lots of babies back in the day!). Seeds and grains are used for crops, and from the smallest seeds, large crops can be grown. For some cultures, throwing rice or grains at the wedding was a blessing for the wish of a healthy and large crop so the couple could be prosperous. It might also have signified fertility, so the couple would have many children to help them work the crops.
The tradition has continued into modern times, with rice throwing the most common American tradition for closing a wedding ceremony. In other countries, the customs have included throwing dates and figs, for a fruitful union, and for the more romantic and scented send off, some couples have opted for throwing colorful rose petals instead.
Sometime in the early to mid '90s, a scare rumored the internet and wedding industry that throwing rice was hazardous to birds. The theory was that rice, once swallowed whole and uncooked by the birds, would then swell inside their stomachs and cause the stomach to expand, causing the birds to become very ill or even die. While the theory is an interesting one, the US Rice Federation and educated ornithologists both have repeatedly assured the public that throwing rice at weddings is not unsafe for birds. In fact, in the wild, birds eat rice from the fields all the time, and we don't see them dropping dead. However, the bridal industry has definitely taken advantage of the rice throwing urban legend by marketing 'bird friendly' rice for weddings, which you can rest assured will cost much more than a bag of rice at the supermarket. Additionally, you will find bird seed baggies and dried rose petals and other items marketed as 'environmentally safe/friendly' to throw at weddings now.
The irony about the rice throwing urban legend being harmful for birds is that, while no reported incidences of bird deaths have been documented, throwing rice at weddings is actually dangerous to humans. Yes, that's right. Throwing rice at a wedding on a hard walking surface while most people in attendance are wearing dress shoes has resulted in many tumbles, falls and spills that have resulted in injury. Because of this and resultant lawsuits, along with the mess that throwing rice can make, many churches and wedding halls have now banned the practice of throwing rice or other items after a wedding altogether. This doesn't even mention the pelting rice hitting the bride or groom in the eye either!
One popular alternative to throwing rice at weddings has been to blow bubbles instead. While the significance of blowing bubbles may not be steeped in tradition for blessing the couple for fertility or prosperity, they can be beautiful, playful and fun as a way to send off the happy couple.
I was not interested in being pelted in the face with rice or birdseed and I never even thought about flower petals so Kraig and I opted for bubbles and I think it turned out quite nice :0)
The tradition has continued into modern times, with rice throwing the most common American tradition for closing a wedding ceremony. In other countries, the customs have included throwing dates and figs, for a fruitful union, and for the more romantic and scented send off, some couples have opted for throwing colorful rose petals instead.
Sometime in the early to mid '90s, a scare rumored the internet and wedding industry that throwing rice was hazardous to birds. The theory was that rice, once swallowed whole and uncooked by the birds, would then swell inside their stomachs and cause the stomach to expand, causing the birds to become very ill or even die. While the theory is an interesting one, the US Rice Federation and educated ornithologists both have repeatedly assured the public that throwing rice at weddings is not unsafe for birds. In fact, in the wild, birds eat rice from the fields all the time, and we don't see them dropping dead. However, the bridal industry has definitely taken advantage of the rice throwing urban legend by marketing 'bird friendly' rice for weddings, which you can rest assured will cost much more than a bag of rice at the supermarket. Additionally, you will find bird seed baggies and dried rose petals and other items marketed as 'environmentally safe/friendly' to throw at weddings now.
The irony about the rice throwing urban legend being harmful for birds is that, while no reported incidences of bird deaths have been documented, throwing rice at weddings is actually dangerous to humans. Yes, that's right. Throwing rice at a wedding on a hard walking surface while most people in attendance are wearing dress shoes has resulted in many tumbles, falls and spills that have resulted in injury. Because of this and resultant lawsuits, along with the mess that throwing rice can make, many churches and wedding halls have now banned the practice of throwing rice or other items after a wedding altogether. This doesn't even mention the pelting rice hitting the bride or groom in the eye either!
One popular alternative to throwing rice at weddings has been to blow bubbles instead. While the significance of blowing bubbles may not be steeped in tradition for blessing the couple for fertility or prosperity, they can be beautiful, playful and fun as a way to send off the happy couple.
I was not interested in being pelted in the face with rice or birdseed and I never even thought about flower petals so Kraig and I opted for bubbles and I think it turned out quite nice :0)
Friday, June 15, 2012
Sticking with Tradition
The tradition of bouquet tossing at a wedding has the same historical background as does the garter toss, which I explained in my last post. So interesting how these traditions come about!
And here I am following tradition so that the single girls in the background don't run me down for good luck and promises of fertility (Oh, did I forget to mention in my last post about the fertility? Yes, apparently in medieval times, it was not only good luck to take home a piece of the bride's garment, but it was also a fertility charm. Seriously, people??)
I would like to point out that I got married in the late 1990s...before digital cameras were all the rage. And while I don't feel like I'm that old or have really been married for all that long, when it comes to technology, I am ancient and have been married for centuries ~ HA! My wedding photographs were done by a wonderful photographer (Greg Green Photography in Manchester, TN) who used a camera with film in it...yes, film. The fact that he captured this moment so beautifully without being able to check his screen afterward proves what a wonderful photographer he is! (And it explains why there were not so many "photographers" in the late 1990s ;D )
And here I am following tradition so that the single girls in the background don't run me down for good luck and promises of fertility (Oh, did I forget to mention in my last post about the fertility? Yes, apparently in medieval times, it was not only good luck to take home a piece of the bride's garment, but it was also a fertility charm. Seriously, people??)
I would like to point out that I got married in the late 1990s...before digital cameras were all the rage. And while I don't feel like I'm that old or have really been married for all that long, when it comes to technology, I am ancient and have been married for centuries ~ HA! My wedding photographs were done by a wonderful photographer (Greg Green Photography in Manchester, TN) who used a camera with film in it...yes, film. The fact that he captured this moment so beautifully without being able to check his screen afterward proves what a wonderful photographer he is! (And it explains why there were not so many "photographers" in the late 1990s ;D )
Monday, June 11, 2012
Where in the world...?
Kraig and I did things very traditionally for our wedding, complete with garter removal and tossing. I knew at that time that supposedly whomever caught the garter was the next to get married, but I had no idea where in the world this tradition came from... So I Googled it today :D
According to what I found on a couple of different sites, centuries ago it was considered very lucky to obtain a piece of the bride's dress. Apparently, people were very savage like about this so the poor bride's dress would get completely ruined and the bride herself would often get trampled or injured in some way. (I think if this were still the custom I would've just eloped!!!) Over time, this resulted in the bride choosing to wear a detachable garment - hence the garter - that could easily be removed. The groom, wanting to protect his bride from being mauled by wedding guests, would remove the garter for her and toss it to the crowd.
So, here's Kraig protecting his bride from the crazy mob desperate for good luck ~ ha!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
And the two shall become one
For our wedding, Kraig and I chose to light a unity candle to symbolize our two lives uniting into one. I think it's really important for husbands and wives to understand this concept. It doesn't mean you lose who you are as an individual like many people might think. Rather, it means that from this day forward your thoughts shall be for each other rather than for just your individual selves. Your plans should be mutual, your joys and sorrows should be shared alike.
As Kraig and I each took our individual candle and joined together in lighting the center candle, we were acknowledging our two lives blending into one. We were claiming (and still are, for that matter!) that just as that center flame cannot be divided back into two flames, our lives and our marriage cannot and will not be divided.
‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” ~ Mark 10:6-9
As Kraig and I each took our individual candle and joined together in lighting the center candle, we were acknowledging our two lives blending into one. We were claiming (and still are, for that matter!) that just as that center flame cannot be divided back into two flames, our lives and our marriage cannot and will not be divided.
But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ Monday, June 4, 2012
Our mutual committment
After my last post, I did some research to see what's behind the tradition of the bride and groom cutting the cake together and then feeding it to one another (besides just a really fun photo op ;D ).
It seems that the bride and groom cutting the cake together represents the first task that the bride and groom will accomplish together as husband and wife. I think that's really sweet. We've chosen this person to stand beside us for the rest of our life and we want them to be with us through everything...even something as simple as cutting a cake!
The next thing... feeding each other the cake. This symbolizes the bride and groom's mutual committment to provide for one another. Who knew this fun tradition held such precious significance!
Friday, June 1, 2012
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