Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Modern Weddings: a Modern Classic

By Ann Daniels


We're all familiar with the traditional wedding day accoutrement-- the big white dress, the big white cake, the big white flowers-- and there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but the demand for updates and new ideas is understandable when one considers that many of the traditions surrounding the wedding day are quite old and do not take our modern age into account.

While the dress and the cake are definitely crucial, it's fair to say that the most important purchase related to one's wedding is that of wedding rings. Of all the accoutrement involved with the wedding day, only the rings will be worn and seen every day thereafter. Classic domed wedding bands in gold are still among the most popular choices, but modern wedding band styles gaining ground include diamond eternity rings as well as metals and materials new to the jewelry industry like tungsten and titanium.

The newfound popularity of tungsten carbide rings stems from many different factors. What started the buzz is definitely tungsten carbide's remarkable durability and strength. Tungsten rings are tarnish-proof and very difficult to scratch; in fact, tungsten carbide is so hard that during the manufacturing process, the rings are polished with diamond instruments and never require polishing again after that. Their ability to stand the test of time makes a great metaphor for your love, and the interesting look and modern flair give your wedding style the perfect boost.

As far as the day of goes, music is an integral part of the wedding ceremony-- who doesn't immediately recall the strains of the wedding march whenever the subject of these ceremonies comes up? But it's your day, so never feel limited to doing something just because it's always been done. I was a bridesmaid in some beautifully unique weddings for friends last fall, and one bride entered the chapel to a string quartet playing the Beatles' "In My Life", while the other wedding took place in a historical theater and made use of the "Lord of the Rings" soundtrack.

Another factor to consider is the flowers. In the past wedding flowers were limited by convention to only a few types of flowers in mostly white. Most weddings aren't bound by that rule anymore, though, and details as varied as fiddlehead ferns and Swarovski crystals accenting orange lilies to metal sculpture and peacock feathers standing in for the standard floral bouquets have made today's wedding stand out in a wonderfully creative way.

There are many other ways that a modern wedding can reflect the particular personalities and tastes of the couple as well. Weddings themed to a particular era like Tudor England or American 1920s, wedding dresses in a rainbow of colors, ceremonies that include children or pets, and many more options to make your day as special as it can be are now at your feet.




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