By Sandra Sealy
Ever wonder why the Bride and Groom have rice or confetti thrown at them?
This ancient Pagan rite of showering grain is a symbolic gesture of wishing prosperity, good luck and fertility. The Pagans believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell. In the Orient, where rice-throwing originated, the custom was followed in the hope of achieving the same results. In Italy, confetti-with the same root as the word “confectionery”-was used to describe sweetmeats (i.e. grain and nuts coated with sugar). For awhile, small pieces of coloured paper or even flower petals made an inexpensive (and probably less painful) replacement for sweetmeats. This popular tradition is practically extinct since churches, registry offices, wedding halls and wedding co-ordinators don’t quite appreciate the mess left to clean up.
This custom may just survive with the introduction of wedding bubbles. This miniature wedding favour not only provides an environmentally safe (or should I say the buzzword “green”?) alternative, but also add a fun and memorable touch to your wedding.
Bottle designs vary: flacons, flowers, mini wine bottles, animals, chapels and even wedding cakes. Many wedding specialists stock them. Of course, they can be ordered directly from the Internet.
BUBBLE Dos
DO note that regular bubbles won’t suffice! Wedding bubble solution is different from regular bubble solution - meaning the dyes are different and the bubbles are “dry”. They are specifically made to prevent staining and circling. You can perform a wedding bubble “test” by blowing them directly on tissue from 2-3 inches away. The tissue should remain dry.
DO personalize them by adding labels, ribbons, tulle and flowers to match your theme colour.
DO let your photographer/videographer capture the moment. Imagine how magical tiny iridescent spheres encircling you and your new spouse will look! It is advisable that you let your photographer know beforehand so they can be prepared. During your planning, let your Co-ordinator assign a family member to cue the photographer on your wedding day.
DO remember that timing is everything. The best time for the bubbles is upon exiting the church and/or departing from the reception en route to the honeymoon.
DO remember to have your Co-ordinator/Attendants remind guests not to blow them directly at you or on the pavement or floor. If guests stand too close to you to blow bubbles, it is likely you will both get wet. A little caution and common sense should prevail with regard to the flooring or pavement. If you use indoors on a marble floor, the residue could build up and make the surface slick. You could include a brief note about using the bubbles safely in the wedding programme.
DO note if you don’t have enough in your budget for all your guests, let your Attendants or close family members do the honours. **Budget Booster
DO be creative. One couple who married in New Jersey grabbed two bottles and blew them at passers-by as they travelled to their honeymoon venue in their carriage.
Copyright © Sandra Sealy, 1999
*Sandra Sealy is an award-winning Caribbean freelance writer of articles, poetry, fiction, drama and web content, enjoys writing about weddings. In 2007, this writer from Barbados exclusively covered the Caribbean society wedding of Bizzy & Shelly Williams. Sandra is the Creator of Conch Shell Weddings and Seawoman's Caribbean Writing Opps.
Designers: find this article useful? Scroll down to the Copyright Statement below।
Ever wonder why the Bride and Groom have rice or confetti thrown at them?
This ancient Pagan rite of showering grain is a symbolic gesture of wishing prosperity, good luck and fertility. The Pagans believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell. In the Orient, where rice-throwing originated, the custom was followed in the hope of achieving the same results. In Italy, confetti-with the same root as the word “confectionery”-was used to describe sweetmeats (i.e. grain and nuts coated with sugar). For awhile, small pieces of coloured paper or even flower petals made an inexpensive (and probably less painful) replacement for sweetmeats. This popular tradition is practically extinct since churches, registry offices, wedding halls and wedding co-ordinators don’t quite appreciate the mess left to clean up.
This custom may just survive with the introduction of wedding bubbles. This miniature wedding favour not only provides an environmentally safe (or should I say the buzzword “green”?) alternative, but also add a fun and memorable touch to your wedding.
Bottle designs vary: flacons, flowers, mini wine bottles, animals, chapels and even wedding cakes. Many wedding specialists stock them. Of course, they can be ordered directly from the Internet.
BUBBLE Dos
DO note that regular bubbles won’t suffice! Wedding bubble solution is different from regular bubble solution - meaning the dyes are different and the bubbles are “dry”. They are specifically made to prevent staining and circling. You can perform a wedding bubble “test” by blowing them directly on tissue from 2-3 inches away. The tissue should remain dry.
DO personalize them by adding labels, ribbons, tulle and flowers to match your theme colour.
DO let your photographer/videographer capture the moment. Imagine how magical tiny iridescent spheres encircling you and your new spouse will look! It is advisable that you let your photographer know beforehand so they can be prepared. During your planning, let your Co-ordinator assign a family member to cue the photographer on your wedding day.
DO remember that timing is everything. The best time for the bubbles is upon exiting the church and/or departing from the reception en route to the honeymoon.
DO remember to have your Co-ordinator/Attendants remind guests not to blow them directly at you or on the pavement or floor. If guests stand too close to you to blow bubbles, it is likely you will both get wet. A little caution and common sense should prevail with regard to the flooring or pavement. If you use indoors on a marble floor, the residue could build up and make the surface slick. You could include a brief note about using the bubbles safely in the wedding programme.
DO note if you don’t have enough in your budget for all your guests, let your Attendants or close family members do the honours. **Budget Booster
DO be creative. One couple who married in New Jersey grabbed two bottles and blew them at passers-by as they travelled to their honeymoon venue in their carriage.
Copyright © Sandra Sealy, 1999
*Sandra Sealy is an award-winning Caribbean freelance writer of articles, poetry, fiction, drama and web content, enjoys writing about weddings. In 2007, this writer from Barbados exclusively covered the Caribbean society wedding of Bizzy & Shelly Williams. Sandra is the Creator of Conch Shell Weddings and Seawoman's Caribbean Writing Opps.
Designers: find this article useful? Scroll down to the Copyright Statement below।
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