Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-02-14, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1990. Traditional rules for who pays for what There aren’t absolute rules on who pays for what. Traditionally, the wedding expenses have been borne primarily by the bride’s family, with the groom responsible 9. The honeymoon. 10. Optional: Bachelor dinner. THE BRIDE’S FAMILY 2. Any travelling expenses and hotel bills they incur. 3. Wedding gift for bride and groom. 4. Optional: The rehearsal dinner may wish to meet to discuss the financial arrangements. It is wise for each party to make any financial limits absolutely clear - to prevent any misunderstandings or hard feelings after definite plans have been made. If the parents of the groom wish to share the wedding expenses, they may offer to do so. for the rings and honeymoon. While tradition is still an honoured part of our heritage, financial obligations must often give way to everyday realities and compromise. The following list indicates the traditional assumption of expenses. However, the final arbiter of who pays for what in a wedding should rest upon those most willing and able to meet the necessary financial obligations. 1. The entire cost of the reception: rental of the hall, if the reception is not held at home; caterer; food (including the wedding cake); bev­ erages; gratuities for the barten­ ders and waiters; decorations; music; flowers. 2. A wedding gift for the newly­ weds. 3. Bride’s wedding attire/trous- seau. or other expenses they elect to assume. THE GUESTS 1. Any travelling expenses they incur. 2. Wedding gift for the couple. THE ATTENDANTS THE BRIDE 1. Wedding ring for the groom (if it’s a double ring ceremony). 2. A wedding gift for the groom. 3. Presents for the bridal atten­ dants. 4. Personal stationery. 5. Accommodations for her out-of- town attendants with family, friends or at a hotel. THE GROOM 1. The bride’s rings. 2. Wedding gift for the bride. 3. The marriage license. 4. Gifts for the best man and ushers. 5. Flowers: bride’s bouquet and going-away corsage; corsages for mothers; boutonnieres for the men in the wedding party. 6. Accommodations for out-of-town ushers or best man. 7. Gloves, ties or ascots for the men in the wedding party. 8. Fee for the clery. 4. The wedding invitations, an­ nouncements and mailing costs. 5. The fee for engagement and wedding photographs. 6. Ceremony; rental of sanctuary; fees for organist, soloist or choir, and sexton (sometimes included in charge for premises but if not, these people have set fees); aisle carpets and/or canopy; and any other additional costs for decora­ tions. 7. Bridesmaids’ bouquets. 8. Gratuities to those directing traffic and/or parking. 9. Transportation for bridal party from the bride’s house to the ceremony and from ceremony to reception. 10. Bridesmaids’ luncheon. 11. Optional: Rehearsal dinner. 12. Optional: Household furnish­ ings from linens, china, silver flatware and crystal to furniture. 1. Wedding attire. 2. Travelling expenses. 3. Wedding gift for the couple. At the time the wedding is being planned, both sets of parents - along with the engaged couple - THE GROOM’S FAMILY 1. Clothes for the wedding. Customs that haven’t survived the ages Many customs that originated in ancient times still have an impact on today’s weddings although they aren’t as symbolic as they used to be. But thankfully, other customs have entirely disappeared and once you read these, you’ll understand why. Today’s bride usually wants a special hairdo for her wedding day. But the Mexican bride of 1760 didn’t fuss with her hair for it was the custom to shave off her head to show that she was prepared for the responsibilities of marriage and had given up her immature no­ tions. The Bindjoo tribe of Borneo didn’t kiss to seal the marriage since they had their own tradition. The wedded couple got to hold hands after the groom washed his hands in the blood of a freshly killed cock while the bride washed her hands in the blood of a hen. The elaborate wedding gowns of today’s bride are radically different from what historic brides were forced to wear. An American bride in the early 1800’s almost suffocat­ ed wearing her dress for she was wrapped head to toe in a white sack while she balanced a heavy tray on her head to keep the heavy fabric of the shroud from suffocating her. Her groom must have looked just as strange entirely enveloped in napkins with a shawl draped over his head. Hopefully they were marrying the right person for they couldn’t see each other from out of the shrouds. A centuries old Persian custom was to have the bride draped in red veils come riding to the groom’s house on a horse he had sent. While riding, she was to gaze into a mirror held by a bridesmaid as this would be the last time she would see herself as a virgin. Other customs that have tell by the wayside deal with preparing to move to your new home. Like today, ancient Romans carried the brides over the threshold. But first, the door jams were smeared with fat and wrapped with wool to banish evil spirits from the new house. In Czarist Russia, the bride may have feared she would have hun­ dreds of children for in the proces­ sional to their new home was a man dressed in goatskin who chanted this special prayer: “May you have as many children as they are hairs on my coat.” Finally, a Polish bride in olden days had a lot of work to do before her new home was ready to live in. She had to walk around the fire three times, wash her feet and sprinkle the water on the bed and furniture, put on a blindfold, fill her mouth with honey and kick each door of the house with her right foot. Then, her guests would throw rice.teans, and grain at the doors and chant that the bride would have an abundance of these goods if she was true to her religion and a good wife. ...Invitations We invite you to drop in and see our selection of wedding invitations, stationery, serv­ iettes, matches, thank you cards and other wedding accessories. BLYTH PRINTING INC. BLYTH 523-9211 BRIDAL & TUXEDO CENTRE OFF ALL WEDDING & BRIDESMAID’S GOWNS, MOTHER’S GOWNS, ALLHEADPIECES & HATS •Invitations •Dyeable Satin Shoes •Car Decorations Prom & Casual Dresses for spring - arriving daily! tjl I VISA 182 Main St. W.Listowel 291-5311 Open 6 days a week, Mon. - Sat. 9-6, Fri. 9-9