For those of us in the US, we have an idea of what a typical American “anglo-saxon” wedding looks like. The dress, the cake, the reception, the vows – all pretty typical. The dress is white. The cake is either chocolate or vanilla. The reception has speeches from the bridal part. The vows incorporate 1st Corinthians 13.

But weddings aren’t what they once were. There isn’t a “traditional” wedding, anymore. Even the “traditional” weddings of today are very different than the “traditional” weddings of our parents’ and grandparents’ day. There’s a lot of change happening and much of it is due to the acceptance of different cultures’ traditions and customs. It’s fascinating!

For the next few weeks, I’m going to take a look at some of the beautiful traditions of cultures from around the world. I’ve had the honor of designing weddings all over the globe and for many intercultural marriages here in the US and I want to pass some of that information on to you. Whether you’re marrying into a different culture or you’re attending a wedding hosted by more “traditional” (  ) family, you’re sure to fit right in!

Jewish Traditions

The Dress:

• Covered shoulders is the most common requirement for brides marrying in a synagogue. If this is the only requirement, you can get away with wearing short — even capped — sleeves. Canadian designer Paloma Blanca’s collection features short-sleeved, traditional, ball gown-style dresses that exude a refined simplicity and are appropriately modest for the synagogue. You won’t find any plunging necklines or clingy sheaths in this collection.
• A few final thoughts before you buy: Avoid gowns with too much color. In Jewish custom, a white wedding dress symbolizes spiritual purity. But if white’s not your color, don’t worry. Some Sephardic and Mizrahi brides wear bright, festively colored headdresses and gowns to symbolize the extreme joy of the event.
• Last but not least, don’t forget your veil. According to the book of Genesis, the custom of veil-wearing originated when Rebekah, working in her father’s field, covered her head in modesty when she first saw Isaac approaching.

The Ceremony:

• Jewish weddings typically take place under a chuppah, which is an open canopy supported by four poles. It’s the first roof the couple share, and the structure’s lack of walls pays tribute to the open tent the biblical figures Abraham and Sarah shared. Their home was never closed to the community, and they greeted all their guests openly and hospitably. The ceremony begins with a family processional, after which the groom makes his way to the chuppah. In many ceremonies, the bride circles her future husband seven times before joining him, which symbolizes her building the walls of their new life together.
• Indicating that the solemnity of the ceremony has ended and it is time to celebrate, the breaking of the glass is one of the most recognizable elements of Jewish wedding ceremonies. It may remind guests that there is healing to be done somewhere in the world or protect the newlyweds and guests by satisfying evil spirits. Afterward, guests shout “mazel tov!“, meaning “good luck”. I suggest placing a glass inside a receptacle to ensure safety (cut feet have resulted) and hold the shards which can then be recycled into a keepsake.

The Reception

• One of my favorite Jewish wedding customs is The Hora, or “Royal Chair Dance”. This is the dance done during the reception in which the bridal party scoops the bride and groom up in chairs and dances with the chairs lifted above their heads. This is such a fun part of the reception and makes for great pictures! There is a lot that goes on during the Hora, so I’ve linked to The Wedding Yentas’ article on what makes The Hora so much fun!
• Perhaps the most special (in my opinion) tradition in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies are the tables for the poor. To remember Proverbs 10:2 that “Charity saves from death”, many Jewish couples set out a table filled with food for the poor to enjoy during the wedding feast. Their presence would bring long life to the newlyweds. While it would be very uncommon to see a homeless person walk into a wedding reception and actually partake of the food on the table, many Jewish couples wish to give tzedaka (charity or justice) and remember the poor on their special day – especially when so much is being spent on food, hairdressers, and a limo…

There certainly are a lot of traditions, special language, and important elements to a Jewish wedding. If it seems like a history lesson, that’s because it is! Jewish culture holds on very tightly to the elements and traditions that have been passed down for thousands of years. If you’re invited to a Jewish wedding or are participating in a traditional (or non-traditional) Jewish celebration, you owe it to the bride and groom to understand the various parts of their  faith – many times, it’s the most important part of their lives.

For those of us in the US, we have an idea of what a typical American “anglo-saxon” wedding looks like. The dress, the cake, the reception, the vows – all pretty typical. The dress is white. The cake is either chocolate or vanilla. The reception has speeches from the bridal part. The vows incorporate 1st Corinthians 13.

But weddings aren’t what they once were. There isn’t a “traditional” wedding, anymore. Even the “traditional” weddings of today are very different than the “traditional” weddings of our parents’ and grandparents’ day. There’s a lot of change happening and much of it is due to the acceptance of different cultures’ traditions and customs. It’s fascinating!

I’ve had the honor of designing weddings all over the globe and for many intercultural marriages here in the US and I want to pass some of that information on to you. Whether you’re marrying into a different culture or you’re attending a wedding hosted by more “traditional” (  ) family, you’re sure to fit right in! This week, we have a guest post from Sofia Angeli, a writer and blogger in the wedding and engagement ring industry.

What to Expect When You Attend a Muslim Cultural Wedding

Like all weddings, Muslim cultural weddings are preceded by a multitude of concerns, which include banquet halls, invitations, wedding feast menus, and gifts of jewelry (which may include the usual engagement rings). However, traditional Muslim weddings have many interesting features that are worth mentioning.

Muslim nuptials are grand activities that take into consideration not only the wishes of the bride and groom but their elders and families as well. The celebration can last for three days but this can vary, depending on how much a Muslim community adopted Western practices.  In urban communities where getting families together is not possible, festivities have become simpler.

Basic Rules

During a Muslim wedding, especially when the families of the bride and the groom are devout believers, no wine and no pork will be served. In the Middle East and in conservative societies, men and women are seated separately. There is no dancing and no physical touching between men and women. In many cases, taking pictures is not allowed.

The Wedding Venue

Most conservative couples prefer to be married in a mosque, but more and more couples are opting to have their ceremony in other venues. If the wedding is held in a mosque, only the bride and groom can be adorned with flowers, but if the ceremony is held in a restaurant or a hotel, you can expect the usual beautiful floral adornments.

The Clothes 

In countries where men and women still wear traditional clothes, you will be treated to the beautiful sight of ethnic wedding clothes. In the Middle East, India and Brunei, the bride and the groom may wear beautiful and elaborate versions of their traditional clothing. When Muslim weddings are held in non-Islamic places, the bride and the groom may wear Western style clothes, but these are typically modest and conservative in cut. Definitely, no décolletage is allowed and the bride’s arms and legs are covered.

Taking a hint from this dress code if you will be a guest in a Muslim wedding. You must wear clothes that are not revealing since this would be offensive to some conservative members of the wedding party.

Beautiful Traditions in Muslim Weddings

On the day of the wedding, it is the custom in many Islamic communities for the groom and his family to travel to the bride’s home to show that they welcome her into their clan. The groom’s party can travel in a motorcade or a procession. In many cases, the street immediately leading to the bride’s home is decorated with balloons and other decorations.

At the end of the wedding, the guests shower the couple with coins to symbolize prosperity, in the same way that couples are showered with rice in Christian weddings. After the main ceremony, the wedding party proceeds to the groom’s home where the father of the bride offers his daughter’s hand to the groom, asking him to take care of her. As the bride and groom enter their home as a couple for the first time, the mother of the bride holds the Holy Quran above her daughter’s head.

At the Heart of the Wedding

Some traditions in a Muslim cultural wedding may be similar to Christian weddings, while some may be vastly different. If you are invited to a Muslim friend’s wedding and you are not Muslim, know that it is an honor to be included among the guests.  Use this time to see that beyond the ceremonies people surround themselves with, the foundation of weddings crosses culture. At the heart of a wedding, you will find a couple and their families hoping that this new family will prosper.

Author Bio:

Sofia Angeli is a PR & communications consultant for companies in various industries. In particular, she brings her writing skills and passion for travel, culture, arts and lifestyle, including wedding planning and engagement rings, to the online world.

Guest Blogger Candace Elisa Hair…San Francisco

2013 Wedding Hair Styles 

First I want to thank Jerri Woolworth for sharing my blog with all of her followers. Wedding season is fast approaching (I for one can’t wait).  In anticipation of this wonderful season I wanted to piece together a few amazing styles that are popping up.  Some of the styles are your classic looks; timeless and elegant.  Some are completely modern.  (Lets be honest our grandmothers wouldn’t have been married with a day after-sexy blowout or an over the shoulder messy loose braid.)  What is true for every style is that they all have drama.   Drama is crucial when you are thinking about weddings, weather it be in the dress, decor, or my personal favorite the HAIR.
I mean seriously just look at the detail work on Penelope Cruz’s dress, (I’d absolutely have another wedding if it meant i got to wear that work of art), the lovely and sweet flower in the brides hair and the serious sparkle and glamour from the hair clip.  Each element is popping with, you guessed it, drama.

In the upcoming posts I’m going to be showing you how to incorporate your own dose of drama with some to die for hair styles.  I truly believe hair can be a gorgeous accent or a show stopping work of art all itself.  I also most definitely believe hair can completely tie a look together; take for instance the Reem Acra dress on Olivia Wilde(left) and Julie Bowen(right).  Each woman looks gorgeous in it but Bowen’s look has a vintage, old hollywood glamour to it while Wilde’s look is a much more modern style.

In order to complete these amazing looks we have to start with some basics.  So the first lesson will be on some braiding and twisting fundamentals.  After we have all mastered the basic fundamentals, (I have faith in everyone) I’ll show you how to get creative, messy, sexy, crazy and how to make it look planned, effortless, and perfect all at the same time.

I hope you are as excited as I am.   Thanks again to Jerri Woolworth and her team. Until Next Time… visit me at:

http://www.candaceelisahair.com