As you know, theme weddings are a great way to plan a wedding and reception.  It gives you a ’springboard’ from which to start when deciding on the many details of a wedding.  One of the easiest and most versatile theme is the use of color.  You can choose one color or a color combination that you’re particularly fond of.

A color theme wedding doesn’t confine you to specific types of decorations, style of gowns, or menu selection.  But it will allow you to express your own individual unique personality in everything you plan.  As an example, let’s say you want to plan a wedding using the traditional white (bride) and black (groom) colors with a splash of red.

As I’ve said before, begin at the beginning.  Incorporate those colors, especially the red, into your wedding invitations.  A lovely red rose or heart would be a nice start.  HINT:  When ordering the invitations, don’t forget to also order matching thank you cards.  This continues the theme all the way to the end. 

Use these same colors in the wedding attire.  One of the most striking wedding party pictures I’ve ever seen was with the bride in white carrying a red bouquet and the bridesmaids in red carrying white bouquets.  

Extend the color theme to the reception featuring specialty drinks.    Talk with your caterer about creating drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, using fruits like strawberries or raspberries to give these specialty drinks the color of your theme.

Adorn the wedding party table and the reception tables with touches of red in the centerpieces and the wedding favors.  Make a request of the wedding party decorating committee that red and white be used when adorning the getaway car.   

Every bride wants to look her very best on her wedding day.  After all, it is the most special day of her life and there will be hundreds of pictures taken that will last a lifetime.  Chances are you’ve spent days, maybe even weeks and months searching for the perfect wedding dress and veil.  Don’t wait until the last minute to decide what hairstyle you’ll have and how your makeup will look.

As with every detail of your wedding, it’s best to have your makeup and hairstyle planned out well in advance.  If you’ll be fixing your face and hair yourself, you can practice with different looks at your leisure.  However, if you’re like most brides, and decide to get your ‘look’ professionally done, the sooner you start looking for your stylist, the better. 

Talk to friends and coworkers who have used this kind of service.  Visit the salons and talk to the stylists.  Don’t be afraid to ask for references and then call them to see what they liked or disliked about the stylist.

Some salons will offer a package where you can ‘practice’ on the first visit before deciding on a definite style and look.  Be sure to bring your veil with you so your stylist knows what they will be working with.  If your bridesmaids will be using the same salon, make it a girls’ night out and have fun with it. 

You may even want to check to see if your salon offers a complete wedding day package, which usually includes a total spa treatment the morning of your wedding, along with a manicure, pedicure, and a light snack, in addition to the makeup and hair styling.

If you have chosen to try to cut your wedding costs by creating some of your floral arrangements out of silk flowers yourself, congratulations!  Floral arranging is a lot of fun and you will be absolutely amazed at how much money you actually save. 

The best way to start is to look for a floral arrangement book.  These can be found in the wedding section of most craft stores.  You may need to purchase several books in order to find all the arrangements in the style you like.  First, look for a book that has a style of bridal bouquet that you like.  Remember you can substitute different types and colors of flowers to create your own unique bouquet; right now you’re just looking for a style you like.  These books will list all the materials you will need to make each arrangement and step-by-step directions.

You may want to start out small, making boutonnieres and corsages first.  These are very easy to make and take very little time.  If it all seems a little overwhelming to you, try creating a long stem floral arrangement for the bridesmaids instead of bouquets.  This is done by simply arranging 3 - 5 long stem flowers and tying them together with ribbon.

There are lots of benefits to using silk flowers for your wedding arrangements other than just the money you’ll save.  You never have to wait until a flower is in season or worry about working around holidays when florists may be out of a certain flower you want.  Silk flowers can be found in many more color shades to fit into your wedding color scheme, and best of all, they last forever.  So you can keep your wedding party table arrangment to use in the dining room of your new home. 

Creating a wedding with a theme makes the planning easier and tends to give the whole ceremony and reception a more polished look.  A theme can be anything you can imagine from destinations to hobbies to colors.

A theme should begin at the beginning ~ with the wedding invitations.  Springtime wedding invitations featuring pastel butterflies or wispy flowers would set a lovely romantic tone for the entire wedding.

If you’re having a destination wedding in Hawaii, choosing a beach theme would be perfect.  The idea brings to mind many images such as tiki huts, sandy beaches, seashells, palm trees, tropical sunsets and native Hawaiian-style music. 

Heritage theme weddings can incorporate long-lost traditions, special wedding vows, or symbolic gestures during the ceremony.  Continuing the theme into the reception would allow you to incorporate ethnic food, beverages, music and dancing.

Consider themes that incorporate mutual hobbies such as hot air ballooning, horseback riding, hiking, sports, cooking, etc.  Coffee or wine theme weddings are perfect for the couple who are connoisseurs of those particular beverages.  These themes also fit very well into the planning of the reception.  Other theme ideas include, hearts, swans, fairy tale, garden, colors, seasonal theme, a favorite movie, or flowers.

The trick to making a theme wedding work is to start with the invitations and run it throughout the ceremony and reception. 

I’ve found a few more international wedding customs that are quite interesting and may even make a wonderful addition to your heritage theme wedding.

Australia
It is traditional to give the bride and groom a marriage Bible as a wedding gift.  These Bibles are treasured family heirlooms and are often passed down from generation to generation.

Finland
Long ago, during the wedding ceremony, a crown of gold was placed upon the bride’s head.  Once the ceremony was over, the bride was blindfolded and all the unmarried females would gather around her.  The bride would then move around blindly until she chose someone to pass the gold crown to.  This person was believed to be the next to be married.

Ireland
New Year’ Day is considered to be the luckiest day to be married on.  The couple may receive a horseshoe to hand in their new home for good luck.  The horseshoe should always be hung with the open side up so none of the luck spills out.  The Claddagh ring is the traditional wedding ring.  It bears a symbol containing a heart, crown and hands which stand for love, loyalty and friendship.

Japan
Japanese weddings are known to be some of the most extravagant wedding ceremonies.  During the ceremony, the bride and groom take nine sips of sake (a traditional rice wine).  The couple is considered to be married after the first sip.  It is common for the bride to change clothing three to four times during the ceremony.  Guests not only enjoy delicious food and wonderful entertainment, they are also given extravagant wedding favors that may be valued up to half of the price of the wedding gifts given to the couple.

Romania
A common tradition here is for the guests to shower nuts and candy on the bride and groom as a symbol of prosperity.

Sweden
The bride will carry a bouquet of fragrant herbs in hopes of keeping away trolls.  Even the groom would have thyme sewn into his wedding attire.

United States
Long ago, the newlyweds would receive a drink consisting of hot spiced milk and brew instead of wedding gifts.  It was believed to provide the couple with stamina for the wedding night.  A common pre-Civil War belief among African-American brides was that Tuesdays and Wednesdays were the best days on which to marry.  It was thought to ensure a long and happy married life together.

Here’s a few more wedding customs from around the world that you may like to work into your heritage theme wedding celebration.

Bermuda
After the wedding, the newlyweds plant a tree to symbolize their marriage and growing love.

England
On their way to the church, the bride and her maids of honor travel on a path of strewn flower petals to symbolize a smooth and happy journey through life.  Bells chime as the couple enters the church and again as they leave.  Bells were believed to ward off evil spirits.

Germany
Here both the bride and the groom wear engagement bands before the wedding.  During the ceremony, the groom kneels on the hem of the bride’s wedding gown to signify his authority over her.  The bride then steps on the groom’s foot in order to set him straight.

India
Puffed rice, a symbol of fertility and luck, is prepared by the families of both the bride and the groom.  The brother of the groom showers the couple with flower petals after the ceremony.  Another unique tradition is to use henna dye to paint designs on the hands of the bride and groom.  Then the newlyweds leave their handprints on the outside door of their home for good luck.

Philippines
The couple is joined together by a white silk cord during the ceremony.  The bride’s family is not expected to pay for the wedding, however, they do provide the couple with a cash dowry.  The groom’s family customarily pays for all wedding expenses including giving the bride a gift of old coins which symbolize prosperity.

Spain
The groom wears a hand-embroidered shirt on his wedding day that has been made for him by the bride.  The bride adorns herself in orange blossoms and a mantilla, a lace veil covering.  Unlike in America, both the bride and groom wear their wedding rings on their right hands.

If you’ve chosen a heritage theme for your wedding, here are some more international wedding customs you may want to incorporate into your ceremony or reception.

Africa
Wedding customs can vary with each tribe, but a some African wedding ceremonies can include joining the couple together by the wrists with plaited grass. 

China
Red is the color of love in China and therefore is used a great deal in wedding ceremonies.  A red ribbon, which symbolizes unity, is used to tie together a goblet of honey and a goblet of wine.  The bride and groom take a sip from each goblet.  This gesture denotes their union of love.  The wedding reception may include unique food items such as bear nose.

France
A two-handled cup made of silver called the ‘coupe de marriage’ is used by the bride and groom for the first toast.  The cup is then passed through the family to future couples.

Holland
The bride and groom will attend a prewedding party given by their families.  They sit under an awning made of evergreen, which symbolizes everlasting love, and ‘hold court’.  Guests are to approach the couple while in their ‘court’ and extend their wishes for happiness.

Lithuania
Gifts that have a special meaning regarding the elements of marriage are given to the bride and groom by their parents.  These gifts include bread, which stands for work, salt, which stands for tears, and wine, which stands for joy.

Russia
Here’s a custom not too many couples will opt for.  It seems that there are parts of Russia where the wedding guest is not required to bring a gift to the wedding.  Instead, all non-family guests receive a gift! 

Wales
The bride gives all of her attendants a gift of myrtle, an evergreen plant with white or pink flowers and dark berries.  It is said that the blooming of the flowers predicts another wedding.

There are many ways to incorporate a theme into your wedding.  One of the most popular ways is to celebrate your heritage with unique wedding customs from your country of family origin.  Below are listed a few customs you may want to include in your heritage theme wedding.

Belgium
A family tradition is created when the bride carries a handkerchief, on which her name has been embroidered, down the aisle with her.  This handkerchief is then framed and displayed in their new home after the wedding.  When a daughter gets married, she will have her name embroidered on the same handkerchief and carry it during the ceremony.

Czech Republic
A wreath is made of rosemary and given to the bride to wear.  This wreath symbolizes love, wisdom and loyalty.

Egypt
A procession of belly dancers, sword-carrying men, and people creating great noise on horns travel down the street with the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception.  The bride normally will wear a traditional white wedding gown, however, the guests may choose to wear Egyptian garments.

Greece
Crowns made from flowers are placed on the heads of the bride and groom by the koumbaros (the groom’s Godfather or other honored male family member).  During the ceremony, both the bride and groom will take 3 sips of wine and travel  around the wedding altar 3 times with the officiating priest.  This symbolizes the Trinity.

Italy
The bride and groom pass out cakes and other baked items to the villagers as they travel through the streets.  The getaway car is decorated with flowers on the front grill to symbolize the ‘road to a happy marriage’.

Mexico
A white cord or string of rosary beads is wrapped around the shoulders joining the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony, symbolizing their marriage union.  During the reception, the guests will form a heart-shaped circle in which the newly married couple will dance.

Poland
During the wedding reception, the bride wears an apron over her wedding dress.  Guests place money in the pockets of this apron for the privilege of dancing with the bride.  This money is put toward the cost of the couple’s honeymoon.

Switzerland
The wedding procession starts with the junior bridesmaids throwing colored handkerchiefs to the wedding guests.  Any guest who catches a handkerchief is then obligated to give money to the bride and groom to help them start their married life together.

Once you’ve made it official by accepting the proposal, you’ll want to begin sharing the good news with others.  Customarily, the bride’s parents are the first to be informed, followed closely by the groom’s parents, and then close friends and relatives.  A newspaper announcement is a great way to let a lot of people know at one time, however, it shouldn’t take the place of ‘the personal touch’ when it comes to those who are close to you.

Although an engagement party can be held by the couple and the news of the engagement revealed at the party, it is typically hosted by the parents of the bride, and takes place shortly after the engagement has been formally announced.  If you’re planning a short engagement, the party should be held as soon as possible so as not to interfere with bridal showers, bachelor parties, etc. 

The groom’s parents may also want to host an engagement party to share the news with their family and friends.  Although the bride’s parents traditionally throw the first party, the couple is not limited to only one party. 

Engagement parties may be as formal or as informal as the host and couple may like.  Gifts are not required at an engagement party, however, if you do receive any presents, be sure to send out thank-you notes shortly after the party.

Purchasing a diamond is an investment, so you’ll want to get the best quality diamond you can for the money you spend.  It’s always a good idea to shop at a jewelry store that is reputable and is a member of the AGS (American Gem Society).  

Be sure to ask questions regarding the four C’s of diamonds ~ clarity, color, cut and carat (see previous blog).  But don’t stop there.  You’ll also want to know about their extended service plan (ESP).  This plan usually comes with a small fee and you may need to have your diamond ring checked every six months, but it can be invaluable in the long run.  It will normally cover the cost of sizing, prong repair, and diamond replacement if the diamond is lost.  Ask about money-back guarantees.

Don’t purchase a diamond without first taking it to an appraiser of your choosing.  This will not only guarantee the quality of the diamond, but a written appraisal is necessary to order to insure it under your homeowner’s policy.

See if the price is negotiable.  Surprisingly, many jewelers will ‘make a deal’ in order to get your business.

Be sure to visit many jewelry stores before making your final decision.  You don’t want to ‘fall in love’ with the first diamond you see and make a purchase, only to walk past another jeweler’s window and see a diamond ring you like better. 

Ultimately the style of setting and the size of the diamond is a matter of preference.  But remember, purchasing a diamond is an investment, so in my opinion, it is better to purchase a small flawless diamond than a larger one with a lot of imperfections.