Going to the chapel and I’m gonna get…an amazing cultural experience

So it wasn’t what the Dixie Cups had in mind when the sang their perennial hit wedding song “Goin’ to the Chapel,” but with American weddings today, there’s a good chance many guests will be experiencing either religious or cultural traditions they’ve never seen before.

What a beautiful and wonderful thing! Weddings ( or something like them) are a universal ceremony around the world. You may not speak a language or know a religious tradition, but the special loving atmosphere at a wedding of any variety is unmistakeable.

A Parsee Wedding
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In a world where there is so much fear of an amorphous “them,” could there be a better way to be introduced to new ideas, traditions and faiths than at such a joyous moment?

Go to the chapel. Go to the synagogue. Go to the mosque, the tent with the fire pit, the altar with a rainbow aisle runner. Go grow, learn and celebrate two people in love, who, above all else, are gonna get married.

Why Herman Cain’s Bad Behavior Brings Good Wedding Memories

Herman Cain’s accuser is named Sharon Bialek. That whole scene is made for TV- and her name reminded us of former TV teen star Mayim Bialik, aka Blossom. The two women are not related – their names are spelled differently, but Mayim had a lovely wedding, definitely worth checking out. And we don’t lose track of beautiful weddings.

One bone to pick – she claimed to be so ‘DIY’ that she didn’t want a florist. We vote for EIY, enjoy it yourself as opposed to being the bride worried about decor all day. Let the professionals take care of the flowers. Ok Blossom?

When the Moon Hits Your Eye Like A Big Pizza Pie…Our Favorite Italian Wedding Detail

A form of dragée: Jordan almonds (a.k.a. confe...
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That’s Amore! Love! Amore! (let’s keep it true amore as opposed to the kind that is likely about to kill the political career of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi).

The Italian culture is passionate, full of beautiful art, fashion and design.  The food? Don’t get me started. What better place to find wedding inspiration? You could go a hundred directions with this – and we say run with it, FloJo – let that imagination loose.  Our favorite Italian wedding detail, suitable for any wedding, very pretty, and very easy: Jordan almonds.

Jordan almonds are candy coated almonds that you’ll find at any traditional Italian wedding.  Sometimes in little dishes on the tables at the reception, others cleverly packaged as favors (traditionally small tulle bags), or even sprinkled directly on a dessert buffet as part of the decor. Used in groups of five, almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. Design bonus: they are available in any color of the rainbow, even silver and gold, so they can be perfectly blended with any decor.

Can’t say that about big pizza pies, can you?

Keep an eye on that moon.

-Dinah
Read more: Wedding Favors: All About Jordan Almonds – TheKnot.com http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning/wedding-favors/articles/all-about-jordan-almonds.aspx#ixzz1d50VE7Tl