More Wedding traditions

18th May 2010

Hello

I had such a great response from my newsletter about the wedding traditions from around the world, (if you did not receive it, please click here ) that I thought you might enjoy these as well...

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue- the old represents a link with the brides old life, blue is a symbol of purity & fidelity, borrowed represents good luck, new represents good fortune and success in the bride’s new life

Shoes are traditionally tied to the back of the newlyweds car as a symbol of fertility

Church bells are rung at the wedding ceremony to drive away evil spirits

The bride traditionally stands on the grooms left, a remnant of marriage by capture, when the groom needed his sword hand free for defence

The woman who catches the bouquet is said to be next to marry

The top tier of the wedding cake is traditionally saved to be used at the christening of the couples’ first child

Doves, frogs, goats, lizards and lambs are all good omens if spotted on the way to the wedding ceremony

The Romans believed that a kiss following the marital vows bound the couple’s souls together

The groom carries the bride over the threshold to protect her from evil spirits

The bride wears a veil to protect her from evil spirits

The original reason to have a best man was to defend the groom against anyone who might steal the bride

Rice or confetti is thrown to symbolize fertility

June weddings are lucky because of ties to Juno, Roman goddess of marriage and fertility

In ancient times, many of the first marriages were by capture, not choice. When early man felt it was time to take a bride, he would often carry off an unwilling woman to a secret place where her relatives wouldn’t find them. While the moon went through all its phases, about 30 days, they hid from searchers and drank a brew made from honey. Hence, we get the word, honeymoon

Sunshine is the luckiest weather, for the bride will be happy. If it rains- no more tears

SPECIAL PROMOTION

I will not charge for travelling to Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek, Durbanville and surrounding Winelands, for any weddings booked before 31 August 2010. That’s right, even if you are only getting married in 2011, book now, and the travel charges will be gratis, mahala, en verniet. But that’s not all! As part of the Canal Walk Wedding Expo and the FAB Bridal Fair I’m also giving a 100 Jumbo prints for gratis , mahala en verniet.

The way I see it...

When I shoot a wedding, I always try to get the “next best shot”, and after taking thousands of wedding photographs over the past 17 years, it is an increasingly difficult challenge. I just love this shot taken at the recent wedding of Ben and Anke, who flew in from Australia to get married at Whale View Manor in Simon’s Town: “Ek sal mooi na Anke cake” was written on the back of Ben’s speech, to end his speech, and to impress the in-laws with his Afrikaans. Well Ben, you certainly impressed me. Well done!

You can view more of my wedding pics on my Flickr Fotostream: www.flickr.com/photos/peterhaarhoff

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Keep those cameras snapping, till next time.

Peter Haarhoff