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Your vows are more than just you and your fiancé becoming husband and wife--it's also a celebration of your two families becoming one. With that in mind, you might want to include some family traditions during your wedding day. Some of the best wedding planners shared the easiest ways to do just that with SHEfinds.
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Incorporate A Family Member's Wedding Dress
Brides can use or wear parts of their mother's or grandmother's wedding dresses on their big day. Cynthia Pesce of the Inn at New Hyde Park explains how brides can do so. "A wonderful way to use part of their gowns or veils is to use a segment of it to wrap the bouquet instead of using a satin ribbon," Cynthia says.
Serve Up Family Favorites
Let the food you serve at your wedding reception showcase your family's heritage and traditions, says Ashley Grossmann of Weddings by Funjet Concierge. “Many couples have family recipes that have been passed down for generations," Ashley says. "We always suggest asking the caterer what the possibilities are, you may just find yourself in luck!”
Incorporate Your Culture
Kristen Estela of Lovely Event Planning says you should keep your culture in mind when planning your wedding. Whether it's an Indian bride wearing red, a Chinese Tea Ceremony or using a family tallit to adorn a chuppah, couples can put a spotlight on their family by celebrating cultural traditions during their wedding.
Play Meaningful Music
Music can conjure up wonderful memories for family members at the wedding, says Sandy Hammer of AllSeated. "If there is a specific song or dance tradition that is special to your family, let your entertainment company know in advance so that they can incorporate them into the playlist," Sandy says.
Put Thought Into Your Favors
Giving guests something that circles back to your family traditions and culture is a special way to make sure they remember your day for years to come. "One of the most interesting cultural traditions came from a recent wedding. Our bride's father and family were Welsh. For her wedding favors, she decided to use a very old wedding tradition dating back to 1667 as a nod to her Welsh background," Kristen from Lovely Event Planning says. "We ordered custom, hand-carved Welsh Love Spoons from Wales for each of her guests and attached a little note explaining the traditional element, adding a sweet, personal touch to the day."
Enjoy Family Favorite Desserts
Kristen adds that you can also showcase favorite family desserts at the reception--a sweet treat for guests. "One of my bride's mothers was famous for her Jamaican rum cake. For dessert, her mother made enough cake for each guest to share in this family tradition," Kristen says.
Display Family Photos
Sandy Hammer from AllSeated further suggests creating a wedding photo display from both sides of your family to feature their wedding photos. "This creates a beautiful way to display the merging of your families and the tradition of marriage on your own special wedding day," Sandy says.
[Photo: nadiadphoto.com]
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