The Trend: Hire a Wedding Officiant
Want to avoid the church but keep the ceremony? Hire a wedding officiant!
According to the organizers of the recently concluded Paris Wedding Fair, having an officiant perform a secular ceremony is going to be the wedding trend of 2017.
The concept of having a wedding officiant originated in the United States and the trends growing popularity can been seen in the proliferation of sites specializing in secular ceremonies. A wedding officiant can be an actor, a facilitator, or even a member of your family. The role of an officiant is a bit like that of a priest’s during a religious ceremony. An officiant’s role is to set the rituals and coordinate the speeches, they might even write the speeches. An officiant helps the couple create a unique ceremony that matches their vision. Some may also coordinate with the caterer, florist, DJ, and other persons involved in arranging the couples wedding day.
One thing you need to remember is, in the eyes of the law, an officiant is a sufficient replacement for a priest but this is not the case with the registrar. You are still going to have to go through town hall for your marriage to be considered valid.
The Wedding March is the official music for weddings. The best known version is the one of Mendelssohn. He wrote it in 1842 for the Shakespeare play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Another popular piece of music to use is Wagner’s “Here Comes The Bride” from the opera Lohengrin. There is also “Pachelbel’s Canon” which was composed in 1677. There are also wedding marches composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, Vierne or Alexandre Guilmant.
Ladies taking a Leap: Proposing in 2016
Ladies, have you found the man that you want to spend the rest of you life with?
Do you know who you want to promise to love, honor and cherish this 2016 and beyond?
Are you just waiting for that special man to pop the question and finally put a ring on it?
Well, why wait? It’s 2016 and it’s a Leap Year, which means there are 29 days on February and – on Leap Day – it’s “Ladies’ Privilege.” YOU can do the proposing.
Many cultures around the world adhere to the idea that, as February 29 is an “unusual” or “rare” day, this makes it a day where the ordinary rules don’t apply. Some cultures also view leap years or leap day itself as a fortunate time to begin an important business venture or other undertaking. Children conceived or born during February 29 are also said to be “favored by Dame Fortune” and will have good luck or be lucky for most of their lives.
The “unusual” tradition of women proposing to their men on February 29 is mostly associated with Ireland. The tradition is tied up to the legend of St. Brigid, an Irish nun in the 5th century. St. Brigid was said to be tired of hearing the complaints of women with suitors who were taking too long to propose. St. Brigid brought these complaints to St. Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. St. Patrick then suggested that women be allowed to propose every leap day.
A further twist to this legend was that this conversation between St. Brigid and St. Patrick took place on a leap day and – when he granted women permission to propose on that day – St. Brigid got down on one knee and promptly proposed to St. Patrick! St. Patrick turned her down, but kissed her on the cheek and offered her a silk gown. This lead to another Irish tradition that any man who turned down a woman’s leap day proposal would have to give her a silk gown.
That’s the most popular version of women proposing on leap day, but another legend from Scotland attributes “Ladies’ Privilege” to an unmarried Scottish queen, Queen Margaret.
Queen Margaret allegedly made an actual law in 1288 which allowed women to propose on leap day. Like most laws, this one had a clause to be fulfilled and a fine attached.
The clause was that the proposer needed to be wearing a red petticoat and this had to be partially visible under her skirt so that her intended was given some warning that she planned to propose.
As for the fine, turning down a proposal was said to be ill-luck for the man – and he would also be fined 100 pounds.
Another “fine” in certain European societies for turning down a woman’s leap day proposal was to buy her 12 pairs of gloves. This was so that she could wear the gloves to hide the fact she did not have an engagement ring.
Meanwhile, in Denmark, the day for women to propose on a leap year is February 24.
In Finland, the day for women to propose is still February 29, and it is considered good luck for the couple BUT if the man should refuse, the fine is enough fabric for a skirt.
Greece, however, doesn’t think much of leap year weddings. A leap year is considered inauspicious and they believe the couple will likely end up separating.
If you want to participate in this leap year tradition and propose to your beloved in the romantic city of Venice, we can help you do just that. At Venice-etc., we help you arrange the romantic proposal that you want, on the date that you wish to make it. We will see to it that your proposal can be as traditional or untraditional as you want.
Top Wedding Trends for 2016
First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR. 2015 was a great year for weddings. . . actually, any year is a good year for weddings and it looks like 2016 isn’t going to be an exception.
There are some truly exciting new wedding trends out there for 2016 and if you’re planning your wedding for this year, check out some of them below:
1.Glitter and shine
Metallic’s are going to be big in 2016. Gold and silver – the metals and the colors – are staples of a wedding’s color palette but newer shades of bling – such as rose gold and copper will be making their appearance in everything from jewelry and dresses to stationary and decor.
2. Feathers
Designers have began to incorporate delicate feathers as accents to their gowns. This rather unconventional element adds a bit of fun to your dress and the fluttery feathers lend a floaty, ethereal air to your entire look.
3. V-Necks
Wide v-necks have been gracing the runways for a while now and they’ve started making their way into wedding dresses. Designers like the way they can enhance your neck and collarbones as the way they can slim the figure. Sexy but subtle.
4. Long tables
This year, move away from the traditional large round tables and seat your guest on long rectangular tables. This will encourage different groups to interact instead of sticking to their own cliques at their own tables.
5. Station and Cocktail receptions
More couples will forgo the idea of formal sit-down dinners and opt for a station dinner or cocktail style reception. By keeping the food and drink circulating among the guests they keep things lively and flowing.
6. Fresh picked flowers
For a truly fresh bridal bouquet, florists are encouraging weddings to use flowers that are local and in season – picked just as they bloom.
7. Picking optional
Fresh, green and growing. Potted trees, ferns, succulents and yes – potted flowers instead of picked flowers have been growing in popularity these past few years and it doesn’t look like we will be outgrowing that trend in 2016.
8. Navy suits
Sometimes it seems like every other detail of a wedding can change but what the men wear. This is not going to be the case in 2016 as Navy is now becoming the suit color of choice. Classic and clean but very versatile, a rich Navy suit is the new black tie.
9. Naked wedding cakes
Instead of being covered in layers of frosting that can make it too sweet and almost inedible, the wedding cakes of 2016 will have unfrosted sides. The decor goes on top, with fresh flower adornments, berry toppings or a cake topper make a colorful statement.
10. Drones
A remote controlled photo drone is a very modern wedding trend that’s just going to grow in popularity in 2015. A drone can capture photo’s from unique vantage points, giving you aerial views of your venue and the ceremony.
Here at Venice-etc, we can help you incorporate these trends and anything else you might want into the Venetian wedding of your dreams. Contact us here.
Getting Married in Italy: what you need
Getting married in Italy can often be seen as an arduous task, but this is not. Below is some useful information to get you started… It is totally manageable, don’t worry. Your wedding can also be arranged efficiently without you having to worry about. All good wedding planners can help you to arrange this.
We try to answer some of the most common questions about getting married in Italy.
Q:What documentation is required for a valid wedding in Italy?
Contact your embassy in Italy as they can provide a full list of documents required to get married in the Bel Paese.
For UK citizens.
For US citizens.
For Australian citizens.http://www.italy.embassy.gov.au/rome/Marriage.htmlQ:Is a marriage in Italy valid all over the world?
A: A wedding between two foreigners neither of whom is resident in Italy is called a “matrimonio di transito” (transit wedding) and is recognised all over the world. The local town hall supplies you with dual-language copies of the legal wedding certificate, which can also be used to register the
wedding with your own local registry office.Q:Where can I get married in Italy?
A: Marriages in Italy are only valid if performed in legally recognised locations. These, in general, are just town halls and churches, although some other locations may have been recognised in some parts of Italy.You will need to talk to the local town hall to find out what other locations are available.
For a wedding in a church you need to talk to the local priest to arrange the date and the exchange of documents between the town hall and church. Catholic priests will typically also require some evidence that you went through a wedding preparation course, which could be as simple as a signed letter from your local Catholic church in the UK.Q:Do I need an interpreter at the ceremony?
A: Yes. An officially recognised interpreter is required at the Ceremony even if you feel confident with your level of Italian.
Q:What kind of ceremony are available in Italy?
Various options are available, with the most common being civil weddings and religious wedding ceremonies, in either Catholic or Protestant churches. You can also choose a Symbolic or Commitment wedding ceremony, which is the right choice for those who prefer not worry about completing documents for a civil or religious one. This type of wedding is not legally binding and spouses have the freedom to personalize the ceremony.
– See more at: Italymagazine
We at Venice-etc can help arrange your wedding in Venice. Check us out here.