Saturday, February 19, 2011

Modern Weddings: a Modern Classic

By Ann Daniels


The demand for more modern weddings is understandable, given that many of the traditions associated with the marriage ceremony have roots in diferent times and cultures in which marriage was very often a political strategy or a business agreement rather than a love match.

Wedding rings are a big part of this, as the wedding bands are the only item featured on the day of the wedding that the couple continues to use or wear when that day is over. Plain gold or platinum wedding rings in half-round or flat shapes have stood the test of time fairly well, but there is an indisputable demand for different and more modern wedding ring options as well. Different shapes like concave and beveled edge rings, black and two-tone wedding rings, and gem-heavy eternity styles present a new world of options, as do new and unusual materials like titanium and tungsten.

Tungsten rings or, more accurately, tungsten carbide rings, are a distinct gunmetal gray color that sets them apart from other types of rings in appearance. Their special properties don't stop there, however-- tungsten carbide is much stronger and harder than standard jeweler's metals and is incapable of tarnishing. Tungsten carbide rings are also extremely difficult to scratch and lend themselves well to other modern elemnts of design, such as tension setting and laser etching.

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 beatifully 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.

One of the wedding traditions that's probably not going away anytime soon is the bouquet toss, but your flowers can still reflect your couple style. Exotic flowers in colors complementing the theme or season of the wedding make a gorgeous impression, and other accents like feathers and crystals are a beautiful way to further distinguish your choices

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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