Traditions | Wedding Wishes (Part 3)
Tuesday October 19th, 2010
Here’s our third segment to Wedding Wishes! Enjoy!
Gene Kosoy | San Francisco
Rice
Because rice grows in abundance and rather quickly, it is used to symbolize fertility. Throwing rice at newlyweds is done to wish them a prosperous and fertile marriage. Many churches and reception halls prohibit throwing rice, not because of the myth claiming that rice expands in birds’ stomachs and kills them, but because of tedious clean-up and slipping hazards.
Not into rice or seeds, try some wedding bubbles or make some noise with wedding bell clappers.
Left: Bartosz Jasal | Poland; Right: Tara Kneiser | Nashville
Wishing Trees
Instead of a guestbook, why not have your guests sign labels for a wishing tree! Wishing trees, although around long before her time, were made famous by Queen Victoria, after being referenced in her published diaries. Often, wishing trees are found with either coins driven into the trunk or with white labels with written wishes hanging from the branches. A banyan tree, in Hindu mythology, is said to be a wish-fulfilling tree granting eternal life because of it’s seemingly never-ending branches.
Check out these handmade wish tree items: wish tags and a wish guest book!
Doves
White dove releases are beautiful ways to wish well-being on your marriage. Doves represent peace, purity, love, and fidelity making it the perfect symbol for your wedding day. Doves are specially linked with marriage because doves choose their mates and remain faithful to them for their lifetime. Go to Doves, USA to find a dove release business near you.
Love the idea but don’t want to risk the feathers and well, uh… other things that come along with live birds, check out these dove decorations: cake topper, chair signs, and hanging doves.
Whether stumbling upon a wish like a shooting star or going out of your way to pen a note and hope for it to come true, keep wishing and dreaming big! We’ll continue to do the same for all of you readers out there!
– Heather
