THE AVANTÉ BLOG

Wedding traditions are a great way to add personal meaning to your wedding day. There are so many ways to celebrate your wedding, and each one is special in its own way. Wedding traditions stem from all types of cultures, and they are a great way to add your personal meaning to your special day. Some common wedding traditions used today are tossing the bridal bouquet, having a bridal party, doing a unity ceremony, the groom fishing out the bride’s garter from under the dress, and the classic something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. Many couples aspire to be unique on the big day by changing up the traditional wedding celebrations and partaking in new wedding traditions. From the last dance with your new spouse to having fun games for your guests to play, there are many ways to make your wedding day unique and authentic. Here are 5 unique wedding traditions you can do on your wedding day: 1. Have A Last Dance With Your Spouse Traditionally, the first dance is the big focus of the wedding reception, where friends and family gather to watch you take to the dance floor together for the first time as bride and groom. But what about the last dance of the evening? This is your chance to let loose and have fun with your new spouse or have a quiet moment to reflect on the day and the future together. You can pick any song you want or even have a DJ mix up a special last dance playlist. If you wish for something more intimate and private for you and your new partner, you can wait until the guests have left and have the dance floor to yourselves. The last dance of the night is a wedding tradition that is both romantic and sentimental. This is a perfect moment to slow things down and share a dance as a newly married couple before finishing up your night. 2. No Assigned Seating For Guests During a traditional wedding ceremony, when having a marriage ceremony in a church, the bride’s family and friends would be on one side of the aisle, and the groom’s friends and family would be on the other. During the reception, seating charts would keep close family units or friends clustered together so they may easily socialize amongst themselves. One new unique wedding tradition is to have no assigned seating at your wedding ceremony or reception. This allows guests to mingle and move about as they please. It also gives the happy couple a chance to see how their families interact. This wedding tradition is perfect for more relaxed wedding receptions. Because you have two families coming together through marriage, it can be important to have both the bride’s family and the groom’s family learn to know each other and create everlasting relationships for a harmonious life. Plus a bonus: that’s one less thing to plan and stress over! 3. Reserve Memorial Seating & A Memorial Table A wedding is a special day, and you probably want all of your loved ones there to celebrate with you. Sometimes, however, we are missing someone close to us on our big day. A unique wedding tradition is to have a special seat or seats reserved during the ceremony for loved ones who are no longer with us. This is a beautiful way to remember and honor those who are no longer with us, and still have them part of your special moment during your ceremony. Setting up a memorial table at your reception is a wedding tradition that can be both touching and beautiful. This can be done in addition to or in place of memorial seating. This is a place where you can display photos of loved ones who have passed away so they can still be a part of your special day during your reception. In addition to photos, you can display other small charms or flowers on the table. The ideas are endless on how you can honor and pay homage to important family members or friends on your special day. You can also use this as an opportunity to share special memories of loved ones with your wedding guests. 3. Biodegradable Confetti Throwing confetti is a wedding tradition that is both fun and festive, and has been happening for many years. However, traditional confetti, like rice, can harm the environment or wildlife. One great option for newlyweds is to opt for biodegradable confetti instead. This wedding tradition is not only eco-friendly, but it’s also beautiful. You can find biodegradable confetti in a variety of colors and materials, or you can make your own. To make your own, simply take a hole punch – it can be any shape you please – and punch holes in flowers, leaves, or natural paper to create your own confetti. If you want it to be extra special, take from flower petals or another plant that has some symbolization of something you wish to use, or use herbs. 4. Flower Symbolism Below are some meanings of flowers, herbs, and other plants, according to almanac.com: Aster – love Basil – good wishes Calla lily – beauty White carnation – pure love Chamomile – patience in adversity Edelweiss – devotion Holly – domestic happiness Jasmine – love, grace Peony – happy life Rose – love, happiness Sage – wisdom Tulip – passion Violet – faithfulness 5. Games for Guests It can be important to keep your wedding guests entertained with games if extra time is planned between the ceremony and reception. This is a great way to get everyone involved and have fun while waiting for food and dancing. You can have various games for your guests to play, from classic wedding games like the shoe game or bouquet toss to more unique wedding games like wedding bingo or a wedding scavenger hunt. Below are some fun outdoor games for you and your guests: Giant Jenga The yard version of

There are an enormous amount of details that go into a wedding. There will likely be more than just one event leading up to and after you tie the knot. Gone are the days of 8 piece paper invitation suites that cost thousands of dollars just for your guests to throw away after the big day. A wedding website is the best (and least expensive) way to ensure your guests have all the essential information. Many easy-to-use and free wedding website builders beautifully display all your wedding information and can even track your RSVPs. Some of our favorites are The Knot, Zola, and Joy. All that to say, what exactly is the correct information to put on your website? Read on to find out! Location of the wedding and reception Location details are essential information that must be on your website for obvious reasons. In most cases, the address of your ceremony and reception venues will not fit on your physical invites, or they clutter up your desired aesthetic. This critical information will be displayed where it can easily be seen or accessed by your guests.  RSVPs Let guests know how to RSVP to your wedding and when. Most wedding planning services make it easy for guests to RSVP and keep track of all details. You can also include extra information such as dress code or adults-only. You may also remind guests that you can only accommodate plus-ones included on their invite. Event Schedule   Will you be hosting a rehearsal dinner or a morning-after brunch? Help your guests plan accordingly by having a timeline of events before or after your main event. Avoid displaying private events such as bachelorette parties or bridal showers. Private events should have a separate invite to prevent complications.  Travel and Accommodations Is your venue a little tricky to find? Having a detailed map and directions will come in handy for your guests. If you are tying the knot and celebrating at different venues, let guests know how long it will take to get there.  Make it easy for your guests to find a place to stay by including accommodation recommendations. This information will be extra beneficial if you have a destination or overseas wedding. The Dress Code It’s essential to inform your guests what kind of attire to wear. Will it be black tie or white tie? Can guests show up in jeans, or do they need to find themselves a formal suit jacket? Laying out a clear dress code will help everyone understand the formality of the wedding. Your Contact Info If guests still have questions, how do you want them to contact you? If you prefer someone else to handle the questions, have your wedding planner, maid of honor, or a designated family member’s information on the website. You’ve got enough on your plate already! Registry and Gift Information   It’s not rude to let your guests know where and how to give you gifts; they want to know! Link all your registries to your website for easy access and share all the information on any special funds and how they can contribute. Honeymoon Info   Your friends and family love hearing about all the fun details! Tell them where you plan to honeymoon and how long you will be gone. Add some pretty photos of the location and how they can give to your honeymoon fund if you have one. Your Bridal Party   Knowing who your bridal party is can be helpful for guests as they might be interacting with them during certain events and even at the wedding. Add some photos and share how you met and what role they will play. Bridal party information is a great way to add more personal touch to your wedding website. Your Love Story Your love story is why everyone is gathering together for your special day! Some may not know how you and your spouse-to-be met or the proposal story! Your wedding website is the perfect spot to share those sweet stories with your loved ones. With these details on your site, you can rest assured that everything everyone needs to know is easily accessible and available to all your guests in a beautiful and memorable way.

You have most likely heard of this English rhyme when it comes to your wedding day: “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” This little poem has evolved into one of the most well-known wedding traditions used by British and American brides. The idea is that she includes something that references each item into her wedding day attire as symbols of good luck, honor, and future happiness. However, there are increasing numbers of brides also incorporating the tradition in different areas of the wedding such as décor, so you are certainly not limited to wearables! As local wedding experts, we’ve seen so many beautiful and fun ways brides have weaved this tradition into their big day. Some may surprise you! Read on to be inspired. Something Old A Vintage Getaway Car Do you have a friend or family member that fixes old cars? Ask to borrow one as your getaway car. Or maybe you’ve seen a photo of your parent’s or grandparent’s wedding day with a particular make in it? You could even recreate that photo with your new spouse! Photographs Speaking of photos, adding old photographs into your look or decor is a wonderful way to look back on memorable moments in you and your partner’s life together or remember loved ones who couldn’t be there. Some brides choose to have a display table with these pictures. You can even incorporate them into your bouquet or wear a locket with the photos inside. Family Heirloom A family heirloom is the most popular way to include the “something old” tradition. You can wear a gorgeous pair of your mother’s earrings or sew on some of the pearls from your grandmother’s collection onto your gown.  Something New Your Wedding Dress Here’s a freebie for you! Many people will argue your “something new” can easily count as the wedding gown you’ve picked out. Perfume Surprise your new spouse with a fresh scent on your wedding day. They say your sense of smell is the strongest link to memories, so every time you are wearing this perfume you and your spouse will be brought back to your wedding day. Wear it again on your first anniversary to relive all those magical moments. Embroidery Of Your New Name Your name will be new, technically, so could embroider it on the inside of your dress (by the back zipper, or somewhere otherwise unseen) as a sweet, sentimental nod to the tradition and your spouse. Something Borrowed The Veil  A veil is a perfect thing to borrow for your wedding ceremony. Maybe you already have your dress picked out, so ask a friend or relative if they wouldn’t mind lending you the finishing touch. The Dress They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so why not honor a special woman in your life by wearing her wedding dress down the aisle? With their permission, you can even make alterations to suit the dress to match your personal style. The First Dance Song Your ‘something borrowed’ doesn’t always have to be tangible – you could ‘borrow’ your first dance track from your parents, grandparents or another loved one. The ones in the know will be so happy to hear it. Something Blue Shoes A pop of blue can freshen up and add a little playfulness to your look. If you pick out the right pair they can be worn more than just on your wedding day. Sapphires As if you needed any more reasons to drip in jewels on your wedding day, wear a sapphire necklace, ring, or bracelet to incorporate “something blue” into your look. Ring Box or Cushion Make sure your rings are safe and snug for your ceremony in a blue velvet box or a pretty cushion decorated with blue ribbons. However you decide to implement this fun and easy tradition, you can be sure that will only bring more beauty and sentiment into your first day of forever!

Have you ever wondered why we do what we do at weddings? Why does the bride throw her bouquet? Where did we get the idea to exchange rings? The answers might surprise you!  Keep reading to learn the history behind some of the most common wedding traditions: The Wedding Dress The tradition of wearing a white dress is a relatively modern practice. All around the world bridal gowns often reflect the traditions of their culture; throughout history, brides would wear gowns of expensive fabric, which were usually bold in color. It wasn’t until 1840 when Queen Victoria wore a white gown on her wedding day that the white wedding dress we know today became popular in the West.  The Veil Originally utilized in arranged marriages, the veil was used to conceal the bride’s identity until the moment she met her groom at the altar, to ensure the groom wouldn’t back out before the wedding. Now, veils are used as a style piece for brides to personalize their bridal look. The Bouquet Walking down the aisle with a bouquet of flowers dates back to the time of ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed carrying fragrant herbs and spices on your wedding day kept bad luck at bay. The flowers were used to symbolize a new beginning and a hope of fertility, happiness, and fidelity. Brides still carry on this tradition today, as flowers are a key part of the bridal look. Wedding flowers are often sentimental and many brides opt to preserve their wedding flowers. Bridesmaids Also rooted in superstition, a bride and her attendants would all dress similarly to confuse and distract evil spirits trying to spoil the bride’s happiness.  The Best Man In 16th century Scotland, men would usually marry within their small village. But when there were not enough brides to go around a groom would enlist the best warrior he knew to help kidnap a bride from a nearby village. The responsibility of the “best man” was to protect the groom from angry family members of the bride and make sure she didn’t run away. Makes being in charge of the rings seem easy now, huh? Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue This seemingly unrelated list of objects that brides carry or wear down the aisle is based on an Old English Rhyme that dates back to the 19th-century. The exact meaning of these items is unclear, but the most popular theory is that the “something old” represents a tie to the past, “something new” symbolizes the beginning of a new life with your spouse, “something borrowed” from a happily married couple is believed to bring good luck and even fertility to the newlyweds, and the color blue stands for love, purity, and fidelity.  Nowadays there are so many ways brides can creatively incorporate this tradition into their wedding day.  The Cake Wedding cakes have their roots in Ancient Rome when marriage ceremonies would end with the groom breaking a wheat or barley scone over the bride’s head for good luck and fertility. The newlyweds would then eat a few crumbs as the first unified act as a couple. The tradition eventually evolved into the beautiful sugary tiered cake you see at almost every wedding.  The Rings The placement of the ring on the fourth finger came from the Egyptians who believed that it was the finger that contained the vein that connects to the heart. Scientists have since proved that that idea is incorrect. Nevertheless, we still wear rings as a symbol that our love is all for our spouse. Bouquet Toss The tradition of the bouquet toss as we know it today began in England. Prior to the 1800s, it was considered good luck to touch a bride on her wedding day. Young single girls would rush the bride just to touch her in the hopes of being blessed with her good fortune so they too would be married soon. Some girls even went so far as to try and rip off a piece of the wedding dress to take home. To escape this mob of desperate women the bride would throw her wedding bouquet in one direction and run away in the other. Over time the bouquet toss has evolved into a fun way for a bride to share the spotlight with her single friends.   Whatever traditions you decide to incorporate on your wedding day, remember that it’s all about you and your new spouse. And Avanté is here to support your choices and bring your ideas to life. 

You found the dress of your dreams and married the love of your life in it. You spent so much time, money, and effort on this gown that you only wore for one day. Now, what do you do with it?  Before you just throw it in the attic to collect dust, here are some fun and creative things you can do with your wedding dress after you’ve said, “I do”. #1 Trash The Dress Hear us out! This is a super fun way to have a memorable time and capture some amazing photos with your new spouse. Couples will jump into the ocean, have a mud fight, cover each other with colored chalk, or folic in a field without a second thought of their attire. #2 Repurpose It  There are many ways you can transform your dress into other beautiful and useful things!  If you have children or hope to start a family after your wedding, consider turning your dress into a christening gown, a baby blanket, or a bassinet cover.   Use your dress to make pillows, tablecloths, or curtains to decorate your newlywed nest.   Wear your dress (or part of it) for more than one day; make it into a necklace, a cocktail dress, a scarf, or even lingerie.  #3 Turn It Into Art Make your wedding dress last a lifetime and have it turned into a work of art. Get it framed to create unique and beautiful artwork that means something to you.  You can have this done professionally, but there are plenty of DIY options too. #4 Sell It It’s no secret that wedding dresses are expensive. Luckily you can gain some of that money back in your pocket by selling your dress. These days there are a plethora of ways you can do that. Some sell their gowns on social media, such as Facebook Marketplace, or on sites that specialize in selling pre-owned wedding dresses, like Nearly Newlywed. You can make extra cash and pass along your dress to another bride-to-be (it’s a win-win!). #5 Post-Wedding Photo Shoot Wear your dress again and capture more photos in a less formal setting. Think about some places that are meaningful to you, where you can let loose and have fun with your new spouse without having to worry about the state of your dress. OR Preserve it  If all this talk of trashing, cutting, or framing your dress, never to be worn again causes you angst, the best option for you is to preserve your prized gown. This is a great option if you want to keep your dress as a family heirloom and pass it on one day or simply for sentimental reasons. Wedding dress preservation can range from $200 up to $1,000. But there are also easy ways you can do this yourself. Your wedding dress can have use beyond your wedding day. By repurposing it, or simply passing it on, you’ll be reducing waste and sharing the love years after you’ve said “I do”.

Without a doubt, summertime is a beautiful season to say “I do”.  Everything is brighter, warmer, and happier. Plus some of the best honeymoon destinations are in prime during the summer months. However, with the beauty of summer also comes the high levels of heat and discomfort that threaten your special day. Especially if your ceremony or reception is outdoors, the summer heat can leave your guests wishing they were home instead of celebrating. Fortunately, by following these tips and tricks you can avoid the summer wedding woes and enjoy your first day of forever! 1. Avoid The Hottest Part Of The Day Ideally, you want to avoid being outside when the heat peaks, which is around 3 pm (depending on where you live). Especially if your ceremony is outdoors, we highly recommend waiting until mid to late evening to avoid everyone sweating in their wedding attire. 2. Provide A Way For Guests To Stay Cool At hot, outdoor weddings, provide hand-held, battery-powered fans or stylish paper fans to beat to heat. Get creative; you can even choose fans that match your wedding palette! 3. Stay Hydrated Ice cold water is essential on hot summer days. Serve your guests ice water with fun umbrellas or a slice of lemon or lime throughout the day. If your wedding is more casual, make sure to have easily accessible ice-filled coolers of bottled water. 4. Avoid Heavy Foods Instead of heavy, cream-filled foods that could make others sick in the heat, opt for light, fresh, and crisp food to energize your guests. 5. Cover Those Serving Platters Keep the bees and flies away by selecting plates and dishes that can be covered with lids. Also, avoid decorating the buffet or tables with bee-attracting flowers. 6. Keep The Dress Code Light The members of your bridal party are some of the most important people in your life, so keep their comfort in mind when choosing wedding attire. We recommend light and airy clothing.  Also, remember to keep you and your significant other cool and comfortable too. Your wedding day should be an amazing experience; you don’t want the day to be full of sweating, smearing make-up, and constant discomfort. 7. Wear The Right Shoes If your ceremony or reception is outside, choose a shoe with a thicker heel for you and your bridesmaids so you won’t be sinking into the soft summertime grass. 8. Skip The Perfume If you don’t want swarms of bees around you, wait to apply perfume until the evening hours. This will also help you feel refreshed and ready for the night’s events. 9. Save The Bouquets To keep your flowers looking fresh, store your bouquet in the site’s refrigerator (or a cooler if a fridge isn’t available) so that it doesn’t lose moisture and color. 10. Choose A Dress Made Of Lighter Fabric You don’t want sweat stains in all your wedding photos. So choose a gown with breathable fabric such as cotton organdy, chiffon, crepe, or voile over silk. By using these tips and tricks you’ll be able to enjoy every part of your wedding day. The summer heat will be no match for you and your new spouse!