Looking to incorporate an Indian twist into your wedding?

Love the thought of your very own Monsoon Wedding? If you want to add some exotic Indian wedding traditions into your festivities, here are some ideas:

- You could wear a colorful sari to your rehearsal dinner.

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- You could incorporate vibrant Indian colors and fabrics in your decor.

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- You could have a Mendhi ceremony where brides are intricately decorated with henna "temporary tatoos" pre-wedding. My sister and I had this done on a recent family trip to Texas:

- Or if you're not sure you want to commit to the Mendhi on your body, why not incorporate it into your cake? Just check out this this cake that incorporated this lovely tradition from Lazy Bride.

Bridal Style From Around the World!

As you know, different cultures have different wedding customs. While we mostly focus on the all-American white wedding, I thought it would be fun to showcase some exotic looks from around the globe found on BellaSugar.




Click here to see the colorful slideshow.

Feeling crafty? Looking for something blue? How about a DIY garter?

How cute is this blue floral wedding garter?


I saw it on Prima donna bride and just had to share. If you're still looking for that something blue to go under that wedding gown, I think this could do the trick. Click here for the DIY instructions.

Go green pre-wedding dress tradition!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, here's a post on a little known Italian Wedding Tradition...

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Did you know that Italian brides have an age-old tradition of wearing green, known as color of fertility, the night before their weddings. Full story here.

Wedding Tradition Explained: "Tying the knot?"

You all know that "Getting married" = "Tying the Knot," but do you know where this expression originates?

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In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a symbol of their new bond and commitment to the marriage. This is the origin of the expression "Tying then knot".

Are you incorporating this expression into your wedding? I'm loving these Save The Dates with the little Mini Moo cards and bakery string.

To read more about the origins of tying the knot and other interesting wedding traditions click here.

Fun wedding trend takes flight...Asian Wedding Tradition

Ever notice that a lot of brides feature origami cranes in their wedding decor? Just look here, here and here.

Well, this popular wedding trend is based on an Asian tradition. The crane mates for life and symbolizes peace and longevity in Asian cultures. According to Japanese lore, a bride who folds 1,000 paper cranes before her wedding will have a prosperous marriage! Mini origami cranes make great escort-card holders or favors so start folding. Click here for directions or check out Thousandfold Origami for some custom project ideas like this.

Want more? For details on the Origami Club, check out this Daily Candy article.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

We all know this saying but did you know that it comes from a Victorian wedding tradition?

A bride at her wedding should wear:

Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a sixpence in the shoe.

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Or, in the United States:

...And a new dime in the shoe.

The "old" must be something which has belonged to a happily married woman. The wearing of such an item insures a lucky transfer of happiness to the new bride. The "new" is the wedding gown, the shoes, or other apparel of the bride. The "borrowed" must be some object of gold to guarantee wealth and fortune in the future. The "blue" is symbolic of the heavens and also of true love. The "sixpence" or "new dime" must be worn in the heel of the left shoe to insure wealth and prosperity.

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving and all the turkey leftovers, I leave you with an interesting, easy to incorporate Turkish wedding tradition that involves shoes!

Click here for the details....

And, if you're planning a getaway, Orbitz is offering 15% off all hotel stays now through April 15. Book here by December 1 and use the promotion code TURKEY15.

Happy travels!

Italian Wedding Tradition: Go Green Pre-Wedding Dresses

1) Are you or your fiance Italian?

2) Are you honeymooning in Italy?

3) Do you love pasta?

If you answered yes to one of these questions, I've got a fun Italian wedding tradition for you to consider for your pre-wedding celebration dress.

Italian brides have an age-old tradition of wearing green, known as color of fertility, the night before their weddings. Why not go green with these fabulous frocks?

Flying First Class?
Oscar de la Renta

Flying Business?
Roberto Cavalli
Tibi

Flying Coach?
Juicy Couture
Alice & Olivia
Diane von Furstenberg
J. Crew

Be sure to check out the Turkish Wedding Shoe Tradition and Moroccan Wedding Milk Bath Tradition for more global inspiration.

Got Milk??? Try this Moroccan Wedding Tradition...

If you're looking to incorporate an ancient Moroccan custom into your wedding preparation, you're going to love this one.

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Moroccan weddings are very elaborate (some last seven days) so to prepare for the festivities, Moroccan brides enjoy a luxuriating milk bath to purify themselves and relax before the ceremony. This is followed-up with a beberiska ceremony in which the bride's hands and feet are painted with henna.

If you don't feel like making your own milk bath, try this Plus Buttermilk Bath Soak from H20 Plus or Skin Milk Foaming Bath at drugstores nationwide.

Delightful Turkish Wedding Tradition

Are you having a Turkish themed wedding?

Are you honeymooning in Turkey?

Are you a modern gal who wants to incorporate a fun, non-humiliating, find-out-who-will-marry-next tradition into your wedding?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, I have a great idea for you, compliments of Martha Stewart Weddings.

Instead of tossing a bouquet and subjecting their girlfriends to bodily harm, Turkish brides use shoes and dancing to determine the next bride-to-be! How fun is that? Before the ceremony, the single women autograph the sole of the bride's wedding shoe. After dancing the night away, Turkish legend has it that the person whose name who has rubbed off the most will be the next to marry.

Just one more reason to enjoy dancing the night away.