I worked in Malaysia for many years and made wonderful friends with the Muslims, Chinese and Indians who live there. I just loved sharing in their customs and traditions. Particularly I loved the rituals around marriage which are so different to our own here in Australia. If you think it's hard to choose one wedding dress - imagine how hard it is for Chinese girls who normally have to choose three! The first is the traditional cheongsam and quite often red, a lucky colour in Chinese culture. Then they have a white, normally very elaborate, gown and then a dress, often cocktail style, to change into during the reception.
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If you are having a small wedding, how about giving all your guests a gift they can use on the big day? If it's a summer wedding outdoors, a pretty parasol would be a great choice. And think how picturesque it would look in group photos! If it's to be a winter wedding, how about a shawl for all the ladies - in coordinating colours. The internet is the best place to start your search for multiple items like these - and you can often pick up a large number for minimum cost. For parasols you can also try Asian stores and shawls can often be picked up at op shops - though this may take a little trecking around!. My last post was about a rose ceremony at a wedding. But roses - and rose petals - are also perfect for a non-religious baby naming ceremony - making a lovely and significant alternative to a water sprinkling. One godparent or guardian can drop white rose petals on the baby, symbolising a childhood innocence that hopefully will last; another can use yellow petals for friendship - evoking the friends who will bless the baby in the years ahead. Then another can sprinkle pink petals representing love that knows no bounds. The fourth can use red petals to reflect life and the passions the baby will find there. Throughout history roses have held great significance. Monks tended rose gardens in the Middle Ages...there are references to roses in the bible and of course Shakespeare's immortal words were, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So no wonder some couples chose to include a rose ceremony at their wedding. Red roses stand for sacrifice and love. White roses represents pure spiritual love. A single white rose represents forgiveness and white roses in a bridal bouquet signify a holy union.Twelve roses is considered a complete cycle and therefore represents true love... while nine stand for eternal love. At weddings, engagements and renewal ceremonies it's a lovely idea for the couple to present each other with a rose - either white or red - as a symbol of their love. |
AuthorRebecca Skinner is a journalist, editor and writer who is also a civil celebrant, committed to helping people cherish special moments in their lives. From ceremonies with a difference together with books of living memories as a unique memento - to writing life stories - she is the specialist in celebrating life's many chapters. Archives
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