While white is the color of purity and virginity in the Western world, it wasn’t always the preferred color during a wedding. In fact, it was seen as controversial!

Clergymen saw wearing white as flaunting sexuality in the faces of wedding guests, especially considering that virginity was seen as a marital prerequisite for the young lady. For centuries, you were more likely to see a black or yellow wedding.

The first mention of white in a wedding is during the sixteenth century, and for almost the next two hundred years the controversy raged in newspapers and wedding professional circles.

Around 1813, the fashion choice had gained enough attention to be featured in the influential French Journal des Dames. When Queen Victoria wore white during her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, wearing white had officially become the norm.

While the color had to do with the symbolism of purity, it also symbolized something else: affluence. Because of the usually massive dress and specific color, the dress was only really worn once. Obviously only wealthy people are able to buy a dress that they wear one time and then toss away or save for the next generation, so it makes the wedding dress something only for the elite. Even today, 99% of brides wearing a white dress only wear it once.

After World War 1 and the Depression had encased the world, women everywhere had to make do with whatever dress they could afford. As the fashion tradition of the time was already firmed settled into a white dress, the designs were often very short and informal. After the ceremony, the dress was dyed into a different color to be used for everyday use.

It remains to be seen how long this tradition will stick around, considering the amount of off-beat brides out there that are keener on having a fun rather than a traditional wedding (something we specialize here at Viva Las Vegas wedding chapel). With the number of women still insisting on wearing white during their big day, however, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere anytime soon!

The Finnishing Touch...

I need a sign! Tell me where to go? Hi, it’s me again Diana your friendly Chauffeur from the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Today I am told to ”go to the sign”….Within minutes I am at the Four Seasons Resort Hotel and I am picking up my next Vow Renewal couple. They are accompanied by a few of their dear friends and there daughter. Their daughter Sophia, was just cute as a bug and so sweet. A little princess indeed.

At the Viva Las Vegas Chapel we have couples from all over the world as you can see in my past blogs. Most of them make their initial plans over the internet and make there way to Fabulous Las Vegas. Peter and Pernille are from Denmark! Oh, and for those of you that do not know….if you are not much of a phone person, but you need some information regarding a Wedding or Vow Renewel, we have Livechat. Go to our website attached WWW.VivaLasVegasWeddings.com and speak to a live Wedding Reservationist. Just press the button that says Livechat, it is red. We are always happy to help and answer your questions.

Peter and Pernille have been married for 10 years and have always wanted to get married by the King. They chose our Las Vegas Sign Wedding/Vow Renewal. In this package, we pick you up in a beautiful stretch limousine at your hotel on “The Strip,”and carry you off to the Las Vegas Sign to make your wedding dreams come true. There are flowers for the Bride and a matching boutonnaire for the Groom. Within a matter of minutes, the Bride and Groom are married by Elvis. Your witnesses are all of the visitors who are just at the sign to take a memorable picture of their visit to Las Vegas. Just imagine it…you and your lovely Bride are dancing away below the Las Vegas Sign and Elvis is serrenading the two of you. Happy onlookers are now your guests at your 10 year wedding renewal. Your new found friends are enjoying your nuptials and sharing in your joy and begin to sing with Elvis just for you….Viva Las Vegas! …Viva las Vegas! I’ll say that again..Viva las Vegas!

The energy is fantastic, and the photos are so great. I have attached a photo of the great looking couple at the sign. I am not a professional photographer, but the Chapel does supply one with this wedding package. The black and whites on these weddings at the sign are just amazing. Keep that in mind…

Peter, Pernille and Princess, thank you and your super fun friends for a great afternoon of fun in the sun! I am now Finnish. No, you are Finnish. Pernille is from Finland. Hugs to all of you. I’ll see you again in ten years, how about a James Bond themed Wedding then Peter and Pernille???

Until we meet again,

Diana

Anyway, the tradition goes back even farther than you would imagine. But instead of tying them to the car, old shoes and other items were used to pelt the bride with on her big day! And I bet you’ll never guess why…

That’s right, to increase the chances of a big family. In ancient times, feet were considered a powerful phallic symbol. In certain cultures, if a woman was experiencing difficulty conceiving, she was instructed to carry a piece of an old shoe with her to help out!

So while the tradition today is for fun, in old times it was serious business! Of course, not wanting to lose their expensive footwear, old shoes were tossed at the happy couple, resulting in the tradition today.

Also, in some cultures it was tradition to throw wheat and rice, resulting in the other wedding tradition of today where we throw rice (well, bird seed, because rice is supposed to be dangerous to birds) at the newlyweds while they walk to their fancily decorated car.

So from one baby influenced tradition spawned two seemingly random events everyone loves at a wedding, even Las Vegas weddings!

Of course, it’s somewhat ironic, with the emphasis we put on contraception and waiting to have kids these days, that there are two traditions that place emphasis on having a lot of children. Especially since a recent tradition seems to be putting condoms on the car instead of balloons!

Full Fledged Jedi Knight...

          It’s July and I totally space it….I receive my limousine pick up schedule and I’m off. I am off to pick up what I think is a traditional Bride and Groom. As I begin my day, I realize they are far out. I mean they’re not in another Galaxy…but on the other side of the Las Vegas Strip. Now, at this point, I, like you, have no idea who I am picking up. I just know, go to Tower II and they will be there. As I arrive, I make my way out of my limousine and I feel funny. Why in a blink of an eye my limousine has turned into a Landspeeder. Does that officially give me the right to Speed? Hmmmmmm. I blink again, and to my surprise, I am surrounded by Princess Leia, Luke, Han Solo, Chewy and well you know the rest of the gang .

          So, in my best Wookiee Speak, I greet my Space Travelers and dash ahead to get them to the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel on time. I believe that Han Solo has finally opened his heart to the universe and is going to show the Grove a little something. He’s taking Princess Leias hand in marriage. Ya know, to offer them a moment of realization. Woo hoo a marriage in the living force. This should be a cosmic awakening!!!! We arrive at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel and Han Solo is ready to confront Vader. Should I be scared? I will tell you that I heard that Yoda told Han Solo not to go……

          But with a Jabba the Hutt style, Han Solo smuggled Princess Leia out of Canada ( no carbonite freezing was used in this transfer) and to the Las Vegas Space Port. Princess Leia is so willing  to marry her man. I guess Yoda could not foretell everyones future after all. Han Solo and Princess Leia survived their meeting with Vader, and received his blessing and are now living happily ever after with the help of the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel and Jedi trained staff. Wishing you Dawn and Robin a beautiful union from all of your Inter Gallactic Wedding Coordinators at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Your wedding was a blast! I hope Comic-Con was too. May the Force be with you, and you, and you and……

 The Wedding Ambassador ( Y.T.) says you made a wise decision in choosing the right Wedding Chapel. Thank you, and your wonderful family and friends for a great time. And who ever said weddings were’t fun?

Yours truly,

Ambassador ~Diana

But just like our couples don’t always do things the “traditonal” way, neither did Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and her groom. Here’s our regular guest poster Cheryl Anderson Brown of the Princess Palace blog with their story:

A wedding is supposed to be about the bride and groom, but that doesn’t stop mothers, sisters, and others from insisting on their ideas for your day. Add centuries of tradition and the opinion of an entire nation and you’ll have some idea how Crown Princess Victoria, the future Queen of Sweden, felt when she married Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010. Victoria and Daniel were able to create a perfect blend of personal desires with royal traditions.

Here’s how they did it:

- They were married at Storykyrkan Cathedral in the old part of Stockholm, literally steps from the royal palace. However, instead of arriving at the church by carriage as many royals do, Daniel walked there and Victoria arrived by car.

- Victoria opted to wear the Cameo Tiara. Overly large and topped with old-fashioned cameos, it is not an obvious choice for a modern bride. But, it entered the Swedish royal family more than 200 years ago and has been worn by numerous brides in the family including Victoria’s mom and her aunts. She also chose to wear the long lace veil that had been handed from bride to bride in the family. With these two ancient and ornate accessories in mind, Victoria selected simple, clean lines for the dress, knowing that too much fussiness would be overkill. She added a long train under the lace veil which, instead of covering her face, was gracefully draped from the back of her head.

- Victoria walked up the aisle with her father, King Carl XVI Gustaf. This decision actually caused quite a controversy in Sweden where the bride and groom usually walk together, signifying their equality and partnership. Not only were feminist groups outraged, but the nation’s top archbishop issued a statement in protest. In the end, both Victoria and Carl defended the decision as representing not only their closeness as daddy and daughter but their unique relationship as king and heir.

- Music can be important part of any ceremony, especially, I am told, in a Lutheran church in Sweden. To that end, Victoria and Daniel selected several traditional wedding marches and hymns, but after their vows, they added one song that was clearly a personal choice. The pop ballad, “When I Tell the World You’re Mine,” was performed live (in English!) as the bridal couple smiled and whispered together as if millions of people weren’t watching.

- At the wedding banquet following carriage ride and boat tour throughout Stockholm, known as the “Venice of the North,” Daniel offered a deeply personal speech. Breaking with royal protocol which usually forbids the expression of emotion, he publicly said, “I love you, Victoria, and I am proud to be your husband.”

- Finally, in one more break with royal tradition, the environmentally conscious Victoria insisted that there be no confetti or fireworks associated with any of the half-dozen public events associated with the wedding. Nevertheless, the Swedish people still had a grand time and the entire country engaged in an all-out marketing campaign to increase foreign tourism, calling 2010 “The Summer of Love.”

In fact, although Victoria and Daniel chose French Polynesia, you might consider Sweden as a honeymoon destination after your Las Vegas wedding: the royal wedding seems to have made everyone there a romantic!

As you plan your own wedding, remember what the newly titled Prince Daniel told the paparazzi who tracked them down on their honeymoon: “As many said in advance, ‘make sure you enjoy the moment.’” Indeed!

We’re dying to hear from you,

Diana

Though the first documented use of a diamond ring for engagement was Archduke Maximillian of Austria to Mary of Burgundy, the Venetians were the first to popularize the beauty and versatility of the diamond. Soon after its introduction, the diamond engagement ring was all over Italy, and eventually spread throughout the upper class of Europe.

One of the earliest diamond rings in history fashioned for then two-year-old Princess Mary in 1518. Hoping to ensure peace and trade between France and England, her father Henry VIII betrothed her to the son of France’s King Francis I. As the diamond engagement ring was the newest rage in wedding style, it only made sense for the little tyke to have on of her own, albeit for a very short time!

Diamond engagement rings didn’t catch on in the United States until, it’s true, the De Beers Company reinvigorated the practice in the 1930s. A national advertising campaign was launched to convince the American public that not only was it fashionable to wear a matching diamond engagement and wedding ring set, it was downright unmanly to not buy one for your betrothed!

The campaign obviously worked, judging by the constant commercials and sparkly bling on women’s fingers everywhere. But, traditions have to start sometime, and most guys are very willing to shell out the dough to make their better halves happy. Remember, you only get married once!

How do you feel about diamond engagement rings? Did you go with a diamond or another special stone? Or did you opt the forgo the ring altogether? We here at Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel want to know!

Don’t Look Too Eager to Get Some Alone Time….

Believe it or not, there once was a time when women weren’t supposed to be enthusiastic about losing their virginity to their new husband. Oh. Wait a minute. Let me start over…

Believe it or not, there was a time when women were virgins when they got married.

So anyway, let’s pick our jaws up off the floor for a moment and get back on point. During this time, women in western cultures were not supposed to be slobbering all over their grooms after the ceremony a hundred or more years ago. Instead, these dainty, chaste femme non-fatales were supposed to be blushing—literally blushing—brides. This pseudo-reluctance (and actually very real reluctance in some cases) was exemplified by the groom’s nasty grabbing and picking up of his wife to carry her over the threshold. When he did so, the bride didn’t have to look eager or familiar with the process, but the groom still got his virginity swan song.

Evil Spirits Beware!

Of course, reluctant virgins aside, other cultures had different ideas about threshold walking versus carrying. Some believed that evil spirits hell-bent on ruining the couple’s chance of happiness and fertility, stood guard at the newlyweds’ threshold waiting to invade the marriage.  They assumed that these n’er do well vapors had nothing better to do than to wait around until the couple returned from exchanging their vows so they could infect their lives.

Of course, spirits—like anything—needed a way to enter into the bride and groom’s marriage. Some groups believed that evil spirits had an entryway through the bride’s soles, which meant that they must not touch the threshold until the marriage had been consummated (please see allusions to a virginity swan song above). Others believed that if the bride walked over her own threshold and tripped, it would open an entryway. To prevent the klutzy woman from committing such a security breach, the big bad groom was forced to carry weak, evil-spirit-prone wifey over the threshold.

So what does that mean for you? Will you still incorporate this tradition into your marriage—or do you dare to look too eager and invite spirits to do their damage?

You Want it Your Way

In most cities around the globe, weddings are held in the same churches, halls, hotels and historical mansions as they’ve always been. The ceremony is performed by the same preacher or justice of the peace, and the decorations consist of the same flowers, materials, lights, and centerpieces we’ve all seen before. But Las Vegas is different. Las Vegas is an ever-evolving adult playground for brides and grooms to be. The Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel alone keeps pace with current movies, events and social trends to help you design a wedding ceremony that is as individual as you are, and as current as this evening’s tide. It’s possible that this is why about 5% of all the wedding licenses issued in the United States each year are issued in—you guessed it—Vegas! After all, where else can you have an Elvis impersonator read your vows or a child of the night bite your wrist during your ceremony?

But Wait—there’s More

Of course, the constantly evolving wedding services offered within the state of Las Vegas are just one reason why such a large number of couples decide to begin their new lives here. In addition, Vegas is an inexpensive one-stop-shop for your bachelor/bachelorette party, wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon needs. It is the perfect place for your friends and family to go and be a part of your wedding while still enjoying their trip by going to shows, enjoying great food and having fun playing the slots or tables.

Every bride has felt the pressure of wedding planning, and every groom knows about the fallout from that pressure. Vegas takes all that weight off your shoulders with its built-in décor, easily booked rooms, and amazingly simple wedding planning possibilities.

Wedding Tradition 1—The Dress: There was a time when weddings were less about love and more about a bargain between two families or business owners. This attitude of a wedding as a business arrangement resulted in the use of fabrics to create a dress that was fitting for the social and financial status of the bride. Kind of like that show Rich Bride, Poor Bride. Rich brides with high social status wore fabulous, lush fabrics and poor brides wore polyester; okay not polyester since there weren’t any lab created fabrics then, but you get the picture.

Then you have your tribal weddings. Tribes don’t take a capitalistic view of marriage, but they also indulge in a certain costuming of the brides and grooms in order to acknowledge the ritualistic nature of a wedding. They use colors and fabrics as a communication to the Gods and spirits to help start each marriage off with hope, happiness and fertility.

These days, a wedding dress or other outfit means only what the bride and groom want it to mean. So if you wear a cowboy hat and spurs, or a spacesuit with delicate flowers, there doesn’t have to be any financial or supernatural meaning to it—it just has to represent you and your love.

Wedding Tradition 2—The Vows: Once upon a time, when weddings were a financial and social arrangement, long agreements and contracts had to be created to discuss the property (or dowry) that would go along with the bride and the property that the couple would share once the wedding was complete. Then, in 1549 a book called The Book of Common Prayer was published. This book had wedding vows written in it. The exchanging of these vows soon became the contract within a contract and are still repeated to this day.

While your vows might include pledging marital allegiance to Star Wars and a promise to stay together for richer, poorer and football season, you are still entering into a contract with certain agreements–just like in the old days.

Wedding Tradition 3—The Cake: Weddings throughout history have been about a transfer of power over the bride from her father to her new husband and the resulting subservience to a new regime. Romans had cakes at weddings to help give a visual illustration of this new power of submission. The groom would eat a piece of the cake and then take the rest of the cake to break over his bride’s head. According to Hudson Valley Weddings, this was the groom’s way of showing the impending ruination of the bride’s virginity and her subsequent subservience. Of course now, the cake gets “broken” in the face of both the bride and the groom. And that, my friends, is thanks to the women’s rights movement.