Confetti or sweets.....I know which I would rather have...

Confetti, Candy, Cakes and Sweets

Confetti is Italian for sweets which in Italy are thrown over the couple as they emerge from the Church in that same way we use paper confetti. Raisins and nuts may also be used.

Before the use of paper confetti the married couple were showered with flowers, petals, rice or grains. This was to bestow prosperity and fertility on the couple.

Bridesmaids and More Maids

Bridesmaids were dressed in a similar way to the bride for the same reason as the origin of veil. The bridesmaids were considered lucky, as it was thought that they would act as decoys, to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride. So the more bridesmaids you had the more favourable the wedding omens.

Snow is good - Let it snow on your wedding day

ON THE WAY TO THE WEDDING

When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.
Seeing a chimney sweep on the way to a wedding is thought to bring good luck and it is still possible to hire one to attend wedding ceremonies. Other good luck omens when seen on the way to the ceremony include lambs, toads, spiders, black cats and rainbows.

Seeing an open grave, a pig, a lizard, or hearing a cockerel crow after dawn are all thought to be omens of bad luck. Monks and nuns are also a bad omen. This may be because the are associated with poverty and chastity. They are also thought to signal a dependence on charity by the newlyweds.
Bad weather on the way to the wedding is thought to be an omen of an unhappy marriage, although in some cultures rain is considered a good omen. Cloudy skies and wind are believed to cause stormy marriages. Snow on the other hand is associated with fertility and wealth.

Veil or not................

The Veil :

Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection. The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. It was thought that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit malevolent spirits. The veil became popular in Britain in the eighteen hundreds. In this country it is associated with modesty and chastity. In some Eastern ceremonies the bride is veiled and the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until after the wedding ceremony. In some Jewish weddings there is a ritual where the groom ensures that the bride is his intended before placing the veil over her face. The choice is yours as to whether you wear a veil or not...

There are many different lengths and styles now that will match your wedding dress and your venue.

Winter wedding flowers

It is traditional in winter for the brides bouquet to consist of evergreens and berries. But many bridal flowers are available year round - but some are even winter blooms, but which are suitable winter wedding flowers ?

Flowers for a Winter Wedding

There are some great tips and help with winter wedding flowers in this article.  Their advice about the bouquet, buttonholes and even the wedding reception venue is very welcome .  I really liked that they also list what flowers should be available for November to February brides.  Much nicer than looking in a book only to find that the florist can't get them.  However, your flowers should keep better, in the cold.

Thanks to Arena Flowers who are based in London, W3
for guiding us in the right direction.