I’ve been writing Pocono Wedding Talk since 2006. It amazes me that I haven’t revisited certain topics more often. As times change, I sometimes see the need to update my views and pass that on to the reader. If I’ve written about something more than once it’s because I believe we all need reminding of […]
How to incorporate this every-day item into your wedding ceremony I want to talk about umbrellas, because they actually have many interesting cultural connections and surprising ritual uses. We know umbrellas shelter us from the wind, rain or even the sunshine, so they are ripe for symbolic representation. A cool French tradition involves the newlywed couple […]
I’ve written about and performed the well-known and beloved African American wedding ritual of ‘jumping the broom.’ Just to recap, it comes from the time when slaves, who were not allowed to marry, created their own rituals. It is a debate among scholars as to whether the custom was brought from Africa or created here, […]
Last week I wrote about a hand warming ceremony – an idea I came up with on a cold day. Another winter inspired ritual is a ‘blanket ceremony.’ It comes from a Native American tradition. Blanket Ritual In the original, traditional Native American ceremony each partner is wrapped in separate, blue blankets. Then the officiant […]
Winter is a time when I hunker down. This is probably true for many people. Since weddings are few and far between, at least in our part of the world, the cold weather keeps me indoors, and provides lots of time to think and write. So I was thinking: on a cold day have you […]
There are two framed photos that grace the walls of my home – my parents wedding and my husband’s parents wedding. I treasure these and enjoy them immensely. They are the World War II generation and both our fathers are wearing their uniforms. These photos tell quite a story. Your wedding is an important story, […]
Every winter I take a vacation abroad, and I always try to crash a wedding if possible. Preparing in advance I want to learn about the local traditions. This year it’s Sicily, and as you read this I’m there right now! As I studied up on their wedding traditions I’ve learned that for Sicilians, a […]
Christmas is a popular time for proposals. A ring does make a wonderful surprise gift. If you just became engaged, sit back and enjoy the feeling for a minute, because it won’t be long before everything starts spinning, and hopefully not out of control. If you haven’t told anyone yet, please tell your immediate family […]
As the new year approaches, bloggers and opinion makers of all stripes give their predictions and advice for the coming year. I will attempt to add to the cacophony. But having said that, I’m not a fan of following what the latest fashionistas tell us; on the other hand, there are good ideas that come up every […]