Sometimes it's just the little things ....
Yes, weddings are about the big things in life: a public commitment, legal recognition of marriage and the start of a new life together. Then there are the big things to do with the day that need organising: the ceremony, where to have it, what to serve to eat and drink, live music or recorded music, who can we invite given the numbers we're looking to achieve, the flowers, who is in the bridal party and what will they wear and, yes, what will the dress be?
Sometimes it is cold for the guests waiting outside!
Sometimes really hot
But, amid all these big decisions, sometimes it is just the little things that will make a day really special in the memory of everyone there. They don't need to be expensive: a pile of cheap sunhats or rugs for the guests if the ceremony is outside; maybe a couple of tubes of sun-block because you can be sure most of the guests won't have remembered to put it on; some drawing things and games for the children to entertain them whilst the adults are having drinks and during the reception; a handwritten note to the guests to welcome them in their rooms if you are having a destination wedding or they have travelled to join you; maybe even a note from you on the seats to welcome them at the start of the ceremony; table names themed to places special to you both; a quiz on you both for a little light entertainment - and competition; perhaps a special piece of family jewellery that you wear to remember someone by; the handkerchief your mother or grandmother carried on their wedding day; a candle lit at the ceremony to remember loved ones no longer present; a grandparent reading something that was read at their own wedding; wearing the family veil; having your favourite childhood flowers in your bouquet, having a collection of family wedding photos around the cake ...... the list is endless.
Remembering those no longer here
Family wedding photos around a stunning cake made with much love by a mother ...
For me, if was about wearing my Grandmother's pearls and my wonderful florist, who knew me well, had tucked, as a surprise for me, a little bunch of violets into the top of my bouquet. My favourite perfume and flowers ..... just where only I could see and smell them. It was a wonderful surprise and I was stunned she'd remembered a casual conversation from so many years ago.
Violets .... a favourite to pop into the top of a bouquet.
For a special girl in my life, for whom I'm "fairy god-mother", I had the amazing experience of being invited to go dress shopping with her and her mother, my "big sister". Even better, it was in New York and we went to some amazing stores and designers. At the last appointment on the second day, having not yet found "the one", we were wondering if the dress would be here: and it was. Two in a row that were so different from the original concept but stunning. Which to chose? Either was stunning. So I said to Vanessa that, whichever she selected finally, I'd make sure she had the other one there too - not as a dress, but as a bag! So, I set to and interpreted the gorgeous "runner-up" design into a little bag for the bride to have to carry a special family handkerchief, a little makeup and lipstick. I sewed into it a piece of heirloom lace (something old) and, on the inside, for something blue, I embroidered a fan design. It proved to be fun, useful and a special "little thing".
Made for our girl with love ... a mini replica in bag form of another loved design.
Something old .... the lace. Something new .... the bag itself. Something borrow ... the gorgeous handkerchief that went into it. Something borrowed ... the blue fan design.