"Coolin' Out"
For Weddings
One of our favorite things
is helping to make a bride's most important day more perfect with music.
From ceremonies with a
beautiful processional and recessional, to playing the very special music
at your reception, we pride ourselves on setting the mood with the music
of your choice, presented with the most cutting edge equipment available
for full rich sound.
With over 42,000 selections
of music at our disposal, we're able to create any mood and carry your
event with over 20 years of DJ experience in knowing what people want to
hear by observing your guests.
Some
Interesting Wedding Facts
Quick now... at a wedding
ceremony, does the Bride traditionally stand on the left or right side
of the Groom? And for a 25-point bonus... why?
While we are at it, why does
a Groom have attendants? And why is the ceremony called a "wedding", and
the subsequent time a "honeymoon"?
Ever since that first Bride
and Groom (Adam and Eve of course!), newlyweds have been observing and
embracing a variety of traditional wedding customs that vary according
to religion, ethnic background, geographic area, and advice from mom!
General Information About
Early Marriages
Many of today's popular wedding
ceremony and reception traditions can be traced to ancient Egyptian and
European customs. Many of these were based on symbolism, superstition,
folklore, religion, and the early belief that evil spirits could bring
disease and death to newlyweds and crops (the focal point of many farm-based
early cultures). Although the exact origin and usefulness of many of these
early wedding traditions are unclear, popular acceptance has allowed them
to flourish. Besides, many of these wedding traditions are just plain fun!
According to various sources,
some of the early marriages were literally carried out by the Groom (and
his Bridesmen or Bridesknights) who would kidnap a woman (the origin of
"carrying a Bride over the threshold") from another tribe! The Groom (and
his fellow conspirators) would then fight off the female's family of tribesmen
with swords held in their right hand while the Groom would hold the captured
Bride in his left hand (the origin of why a "Bride stands on the left side
of the Groom" at a wedding).
After a successful capture,
another politically incorrect practice was for the Groom to hide his new
Bride for one month for mating purposes. It is said that the word "honeymoon"
was created to describe this one month cycle of the moon when they would
drink mead (a honey sweetened alcoholic brew that effects both sobriety
and the acidity of the womb thus increasing fertility). The first aphrodisiac?
The world's longest hangover??
Later, in the more civilized
(???) four-digit years (1000 - 1900), some marriages were nothing more
than trading chips used in bartering land, social status, political alliances,
or money (no checks or credit cards were accepted) between families! "Wedding"
comes from the Anglo-Saxon word wedd that meant a man would marry a woman
and pay the Bride's father. If only there had been an early equivalent
to television's Roseanne or Miss Piggy, this practice no doubt would have
ended quickly!
What's that... you say you
want to learn more about the origins of some popular wedding traditions?
Only because you seem to be a really nice person, this article continues
below for you to read. And while you're at it, why not expand your horizons
and create some new traditions of your own? Let's see now... gratuitous
tipping of your Disc Jockey at a wedding reception might lead to a life
free from financial worry? Yep, that's a great new wedding!
Bouquet
Wedding bouquets were originally
made of strong herbs (thyme and garlic) to frighten away evil spirits,
and to cover the stench emitting from people who had not bathed recently!
Bouquet Toss
In ancient times, it was believed
that a Bride was especially lucky on her wedding day. Guests would sometimes
tear at her dress for a souvenier piece of good luck to take home. The
Bride's tossing of her bouquet grew from her desire to offer a good luck
souvenier, and prevent guests from bothering her during her reception.
Bridesmaids
Early Brides and Bridesmaids
wore similiar dresses to confuse evil spirits.
Bridal Shower
Back in the days when weddings
were arranged by family members, a poor Dutchman fell in love with a girl
whose father refused her a dowry. Their friends showered her with enough
gifts to help them start a household.
According to another lore,
the first "Bridal Shower" ocurred at the end of the 19th century. At a
party, the Bride's friends placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened
it over the Bride's head. When she opened the parasol, she was "showered"
with presents!
Bridal Veil
When marriages were arranged
by family members, the newlyweds very rarely were allowed to see one another.
Family members exchanging a dowry were afraid that if the Groom didn't
like the appearance of the Bride's face, he might refuse to marry her.
This is why the Father of the Bride "gave the Bride away" to the Groom
at the actual wedding ceremony. Only after lifting her veil just prior
to the ceremony did the Groom see the Bride's face for the first time!
Early Greek and Roman Brides
wore red or yellow veils to represent fire, and ward off demons.
Carrying The Bride Over
The Threshold
When a Groom used to steal his
Bride from her tribe, he was forced to carry her kicking and screaming.
This act of thievery has evolved into a more romantic gesture welcoming
the Bride into her new home.
Garter
Brides originally tossed a garter
(rather than a bouquet) at a wedding reception. In the 14th century, this
custom changed after Brides tired of fighting off drunken men who tried
to remove the garter themselves!
According to legend, the
garter toss in England evolved from an earlier tradition of "flinging the
stocking". On their wedding night, guests would follow the Bride and Groom
to their bedroom, wait until they undressed, steal their stockings, and
then "fling" them at the couple! The first person to hit the Bride or Groom
on the head would be the next person to marry.
Dollar/Money Dance
According to one custom, when
arranged marriages were common the Groom collected a dowry only after his
marriage was consumated. The dollar/money dance insured that the couple
would have some money before they left their wedding reception.
According to another wedding
tradition, the people of the village gave gifts of pottery, livestock,
and garden plants to the newlyweds because the Bride and Groom had no money
to acquire these items until they had children, after which a dowry was
exchanged.
Penny In Shoe
European tradition to bring
the Bride good luck, fortune, and protection against want.
After the Wedding Day, the
lucky penny can be turned into a piece of jewelry as a pendant, charm for
a bracelet, or ring setting.
Ring Finger
Prior to the 5th century, the
ring finger was the index finger. Later, it was believed that the third
finger contained the "vein of love" that led directly to the heart.
Shoes On Vehicle
Ancient Romans used to transfer
to the Groom his authority over his Bride when her Father gave the Groom
her shoes. In later years, guests threw their own shoes at the newlyweds
to signify this transfer of authority. Today, this tradition is kept alive
by simply tying old shoes to the back of the newlywed's vehicle before
they leave their wedding reception celebration.
Something Old, Something
New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This superstition of the Bride
wearing something that fits each of these four categories originated in
Europe to ward off evil spirits.
Something Old: This tradition
symbolized the sense of continuity while making the transition from a single
person to that of a married couple.
Something New: This tradition
symbolized that marriage represented a transition to adulthood.
Something Borrowed: This
tradition symbolized the popular belief that by borrowing something from
a happily married couple, good fortune would follow the newlyweds.
Something Blue: In ancient
Israel, blue was the border color of the Bride's dress symbolizing purity,
constancy and fidelity.
Stag Parties
The male equivalent of the Bridal
Shower. Roman Empire soldiers would feast with the Groom the night before
his wedding to say goodbye to his irresponsible days of bachelorhood, and
to renew their vows of allegiance to their friendships.
Tossing Rice
Believing newlyeds brought good
luck, guests used to shower them with nuts and grains to insure a bountiful
harvest and many children to work the land. During years of a poor harvest,
rice was tossed instead. This tradition continues today with rice or birdseed
(where permitted), or bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom much happiness.
Incidentally, it is only
a superstition that birds eating rice thrown after a wedding ceremony are
destined to have their stomachs enlarge and eventually explode. This myth
may have simply evolved from church/synagogue employees weary from cleaning
after every wedding ceremony!
Tuxedo
Until the 20th century, the
Groom simply wore his "Sunday best" on his wedding day. It is said that
President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the modern tuxedo.
Tying The Knot
This comes from the days of
the Roman empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots. The
Groom untied the knots prior to the consumation of their marriage.
Wedding Cake
Also during the days of the
Roman empire, wedding cakes were baked of wheat or barley. At the reception,
they were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom
as a symbol of her fertility. Guests would then scramble for pieces of
the cake, and take them home for good luck.
It later became a tradition
to place many small cakes on top of each other as high as possible. The
newlyweds would then try to exchange a kiss over the top of the tower of
cakes without knocking them down. During the reign of King Charles II of
England, a daring baker added icing, and the modern style of wedding cake
was born.
It is unclear when the tradition
of the newlyweds smashing wedding cake into each other's face first began,
and uncertain if that marriage lasted more than one day!
Wedding Ring
According to some historians,
the first recorded marriage rings date back to the days when early man
tied plaited circlets around the Bride's wrists and ankles to keep her
spirit from running away.
Approximately 3,000 BC,
Egyptians originated the phrase "without beginning, without end" in describing
the significance of the wedding ring. These rings were made of woven hemp
which constantly wore out and needed replacement.
Although Romans originally
used iron, gold is now used as a symbol of all that is pure. Diamonds were
first used by Italians who believed that it was created from the flames
of love.
In some European cultures,
the wedding ring is worn on the right hand. In other cultures, an engagement
ring is worn on the left hand, and the wedding ring is worn on the right
hand.
Wedding Toast
It is said that this tradition
first began in France where bread would be placed in the bottom of two
drinking glasses for the newlyweds. They would then drink as fast as they
could to be the first person to get to the toast. According to legend,
the winner would rule their household!
White Wedding Dress
This was made popular in the
1840's by Queen Victoria (instead of the traditional royal "silver" wedding
dress). Prior to this, Brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding
day.
Receive Wedding
Congratulations From The White House, Buckingham Palace, & Vatican!
Newlyweds, wedding anniversary
couples, birthday individuals, and people writing on their behalf can receive
congratulations from the President & First Lady of the United States,
the Queen of England, and the Pope. Be sure to allow ample time for delivery
prior to the celebration day, and check postage requirements for letters
mailed to England and Italy.
Those people faced with
an irresistable urge to receive mail may also consider requesting congratulatory
letters from your local governor, mayor, clergy member, police chief, judge,
state legislator, U.S. Congressman (woman), U.S. Senators, etc.
President Of the United
States
A personalized white card
with a gold seal (suitable for a 5 x 7 frame) from the President and the
First Lady will be mailed to individuals requesting the information. Although
the names of the Big Guy and First Lady appear on these messages, they
are not individually signed by them (a stamped signature). Apparently,
they have a few "other" things to do that require more immediate attention
(day-to-day operation of the world's most powerful government, stopping
wars in difficult to pronounce third-world countries, dealing with difficult-to-deal-with
politicians, etc.)!
Requests for congratulations
from the First Family can be forwarded through the offices of your U.S.
Congressman (woman) or Senator, or mailed by you directly to the White
House at:
The White House
Greetings Office, Room 39
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW
Washington, DC 20500-1600
Even easier, you can also
reach White House with your request at:
Fax: 202-456-2461
E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov
Queen Of England
While you're in a writing
mood, why not expand your horizons and contact Queen Elizabeth II of England
(QEII) at Buckingham Palace for congratulations? Her office sends replies
to people of English ancestory writing:
Her Royal Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II
Buckingham Palace
London, England
Pope
Catholics wishing to receive
congratulations from Pope John Paul II at the Vatican can forward their
written request to:
Prefettura della Casa Pontifica
00120 Citta del Vaticano
Italia
A temporary E-mail address
that oversees messages sent to Pope John Paul II is:
E-mail: kn8@umail.umd.edu
