Wedding Photography Advise

Bridesmaids
You may have up to 12 bridesmaids (depending on the size and
formality of the wedding). The bridesmaids pay for their own
gowns, share the responsibility for the shower, contribute to
bride's gift from all bridesmaids and attend the rehearsal and
dinner.

Best Man
He walks down the aisle with the maid/matron of honor and
stands next to the groom during the ceremony. He holds the
bride's ring until the officiant asks for it and he signs the marriage
certificate as a legal witness. At the reception, he proposes the
first toast to the bride and groom.

Bouquet
For ancient Greeks and Romans, the bouquet was a pungent mix
of garlic and herbs or grains. The garlic was supposed to ward off
evil spirits and the herbs or grains were to insure a fruitful union.
In ancient Poland, it was believed that sprinkling sugar on the
bride's bouquet kept her temper sweet.

Cake
The wedding cake has always played an important part in the
wedding. Ancient Romans broke a cake over the bride's head to
symbolize fertility or abundance. Many other cultures dropped
wheat, flour or cake on the bride's head, and then ate the crumbs
for good luck. The early British baked baskets of dry crackers,
and every guest took one home after the wedding. In medieval
times, guests brought small cakes and piled them on a table. The
bride and groom then attempted to kiss over the cakes.
Eventually, a young baker decided to put all the cakes together
and cover them with frosting, thus the tiered wedding cake was
born.

Dress
Traditionally, brides did not wear white wedding gowns. Through
the 18th century, most brides just wore their Sunday best to their
wedding. Red was a favorite during the Middle Ages in Europe.
Other colors were worn for symbolic reasons: blue meant
constancy and green meant youth. As years passed, white was
worn as a symbol of purity. Today, white merely symbolizes the
wedding and is worn by any bride, no matter if it is their second
marriage.

Flower Girl
This young lady carries the basket of flowers down the aisle or
sprinkles flower petals down the aisle for the bride to walk upon.

Groomsmen
These friends or relatives of the groom walk with the bridesmaids
down the aisle. They pay for their own attire rental.

Honeymoon
The first weddings comprised of a groom taking his bride by
capture. He would take her somewhere hidden away so her
relatives and villagers couldn't find them. There they stayed for
one moon phase and drank mead, a wine make from honey, to
make them more amorous. Thus, the word "honeymoon" was
born. Today, the honeymoon is the time when the couple can get
away for awhile.

Kiss
The first kiss a bride and groom share at the close of the
ceremony has carried special significance through the centuries.
Many cultures believed that the couple exchanged spirits with
their breath and part of their souls were exchanged as well.

Maid/Matron Of Honor
Before the wedding, she helps with addressing the invitations and
plans the bridal shower. On the big day, the maid or matron of
honor helps the bride get ready, adjusts her train and veil during
the ceremony, holds the groom's ring and the bride's bouquet, and
signs the marriage certificate as a witness.

Ring
The wedding ring has traditionally been worn on the third finger
of the left hand because it was believed that a vein in this finger
ran directly to the heart. The third finger of the left hand has
become the customary wedding-ring finger for all
English-speaking cultures.

Ring Bearer
He carries the ring pillow down the aisle. He can walk with the
flower girl or after her.

Throwing Rice
One of the oldest wedding traditions, the custom of throwing rice,
originated with the ancient Hindus and Chinese. In these cultures,
rice is the symbol of fruitfulness and prosperity. Tossing it after
the ceremony was believed to bestow fertility upon the bride and
groom. Eating rice and other grains was thought to guarantee
health, wealth and happiness for the newlyweds. Today, rice
tossing is being replaced by the more ecologically friendly
birdseed tossing, because uncooked rice is damaging to birds who
eat it off the church lawn.

Ushers
These gentlemen lead all the guests to their seats and unroll the
aisle runner before the processional. You should have one usher
for every 50 guests.

Veil
Mystique and romance has surrounded the veil for more than one
thousand years. Originally, the veil is thought to have been used
to hide the bride from abductors, just as the similar dress of her
bridesmaids was meant to do. But a more romantic interpretation
evolved later which believed that concealment (as the bride's face
beneath a veil) rendered what was hidden more valuable. Another
early interpretation of the veil was that it symbolized youth and
virginity.