The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-02-26, Page 31tradition is still styliSh.
The word for weddings today is "tradi-
tional." The barefoot -in -the -park •
ceremonies of the 1960s and '70s have
disappeared as completely as flower
children and love beads. Elegant clothes,
age-old ritual and a spirit of nostalgia are
the rule.
But does this swing back mean that all
innovation is out of style? Does the bride
of today really have a wedding that is
distinguishable from the one her mother
had? Barbara Tober, editor in chief of
Bride's magazine, says no. .
"Taday'S weddings seek out the best
and most beautiful traditions of the past
in contrast to a few years ago when
anything old was automatically suspect.
But, at the same time, they're modern in
that they express new ideals."
Fewer "rules" of etiquette plus a .
climate that favors personal expression
have led couples to add their own
creative touch. But today's individuality
is very different from the 'do your own
thing' brand of the'last decade," Tober
said.
Couples don't throw out the whole
ceremony and start from scratch; they
change or add little things. For example,
they have their own special music plann-
ed, have a little girl instead of a boy as a
ring bearer, or pass out printed
• ceremony programs.
Modern weddings also break with the
past over the ideal of equality. Today's
bride may be dressed in a demure turn -
of -the -century style, but that isn't
necessarily indicative .of her approach to
marriage. For example, because many
couples decided that ritual phrases such
i
as "love, honor and obey". and "man and
wife" just didn't fit anymore,
hthese
e
phrases have largely disappeared.
The "giving away" (a part of some
ceremonies in which the celebrant asks,
"Who gives this woman in marriage")
has also changed with the times. Today a
couple might rewrite the question to
read, "Who blesses this marriage" with
both the bride's and groom's parents
answering, "We do."
The same kind of thinking has likewise
revised the idea of who pays for a wed-
ding. Traditionally, the bride's parents
shouldered the whole bill.
"But for the first time," Tober said,
'there's a definite trend toward the.shar-
ing of expenses by the groom's family."
This is partly economic - for some
families everyone must chip in for there
to be a wedding at all.
But it's also a sign of the times. A
•
bride's parents are no longer considered
to be "marrying off" their daughter.
Rather, the wedding is seen as 'a joining -
of two people and two families.
Equality means a new role in the wed-
ding for today's groom. In the past, a
groom often'felt like a spectator at his
bride's "big day." Modern couples simp-
ly take for granted that it's his day too.
Grooms have new responsibilities:
They help pick the wedding site, choose
china patterns, address invitations, and
write thank -you notes. And they bask in a
larger share of the limelight. Some men
wear engagement rings, appear with the
fiancees in newspaper announcements
and have showers thrown in their honor. ,
Showcase '86, page 5
A preference for satin in various weights depending on the season is shown this season. The
dramatic emphasis of the puffed sleeve narrowing sharply from elbow to wrist visually nar-
rows the waist. The sophisticated styling is carried through on the hat which features a face
veil and netting. (photo by Gary Walden) ,
Trust
* Weddings
* Portraits
* Family Portraits
* A. V. Graphics 8 Copywork
* Commercial
* Video
* General
58 ELGIN AVENUE E.
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