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The Sweet (and Not So Sweet) Origins of the Honeymoon

There’s one wedding tradition that doesn’t seem like it should need much explanation: the honeymoon.  Unlike some of our other wedding traditions, which seem to happen because it feels like that’s the way it’s always been, the purpose of the honeymoon appears to make sense.  It gives the new couple some time alone together, away from the world.  That, more so than a wedding ceremony itself, seems like the perfect celebration of the start of a marriage. But just like the wedding dress, despite the fact that there seems to be an obvious explanation for the honeymoon, its origins are … Continue reading →

Wedding Rings and Gender Roles, Pt. 1

The practice of wearing wedding rings has roots in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians might have believed that circles represent eternity, fitting for a marriage vow. Wearing the rings on our left hand dates to the Roman era: Romans apparently believed that the fourth finger on our left hands had a vein that went directly to the heart. While women have worn wedding (and engagement) rings for centuries, the practice of men donning the former only dates to the 20th century. Some sources speculate that it had to do with World War II: men started wearing the rings while deployed, as … Continue reading →

Unpleasant Wedding Humor

I love injecting humor into weddings. The occasion can sometimes be taken too seriously, either made especially solemn or fraught with the nerves of invested parties that want everything to be perfect. So I’m all about taking things a little more lightly; my imagined and actual wedding invitations are proof of that. What I can’t get behind, however, is a certain brand of humor I often see or hear about at weddings or in the course of wedding planning. I hesitate to call it chauvinist or sexist but that’s ultimately what it is, or at least it springs from the … Continue reading →

Evil Spirits and Sword Fights: More Wedding Tradition Origins

Today I want to share some of my favorite origins behind wedding traditions. The traditions themselves aren’t my favorites, but I’m very tickled by their roots. These traditions have to do with the wedding party and originated in medieval Europe. It’s easy enough to imagine why a bride is surrounded by bridesmaids; they often spent the night with the bride before her wedding to make sure that she wasn’t visited by any men before becoming a wife. But that’s not the only reason for their presence. Centuries ago brides and their maids all dressed alike (which is why bridesmaids still … Continue reading →

Unexpected Difficulties with Wedding Invitations

I had a hard time choosing my wedding invitations. I suppose you could say I was a stereotypical picky bride about them, though I never got angry or chewed anyone out. I just wanted something simple, and I couldn’t find anything on the market that fit. I did have an ideal wedding invitation, and it was totally possible to make. The idea came from a close friend of mine. He said it should just be a blank white card, with the words “We’re Getting Married” alone on the front. Opening the card would reveal the simple words “You Should Come.” … Continue reading →

Why We Wear White

If there’s one universal symbol of a wedding it’s a white dress. Ask anyone off the street the meaning behind that dress and they’d say it symbolizes purity, even virginity. We keep adhering to the supposed tradition of a white wedding dress and the meaning behind it, even if that latter part isn’t usually relevant anymore. Almost every woman wears a white dress to her wedding. The most common reason for deviation is if it’s a second (or third or fourth, etc.) marriage, when it’s not as scandalous to acknowledge that the implied “purity” of the white gown isn’t exactly … Continue reading →

Home Sweet Cubicle

Do you spend eight hours of your day in a cubicle? I do, sometimes more than eight hours a day. It is my home away from home and it looks like it. I have a Minnie Mouse coffee cup for my pens, a white board that I write cute sayings on and tons of family pictures. If I have to spend my life in a box I want it to at least me a homey, comfortable box. I have slippers under my desk because I hate to wear shoes and a blanket for those times the office is too chilly. … Continue reading →

Green Halloween Costumes

It’s almost Halloween! If you are still looking for costume ideas, why not consider a green costume? What are some green Halloween costume ideas? Well, you could dress as a recycle bin. Just find a box and cut a hole in the middle of the bottom, one big enough for you to fit into it. Cover it with blue or green paper or paint it. Be sure to include the three arrow recycle triangle. Put the box on (you may need to attach straps to keep it secure) and fill it with empty boxes, cans, and bag. If you want … Continue reading →

Special Needs Podcast Roundup – Week of August 30, 2011

It’s that time of the week! Here are a bunch of new episodes of podcasts about topics that parents of children who have special needs will find relevant. You can find new things to listen to every week on the Special Needs Podcast Roundup blog. Special Kid School Talk has an episode that was released on August 26, 2011. This episode is called “Homeschooling Your Special Needs Child”. Host Dr. Kari speaks with Bobbi Sheahan, a mother of a child that has autism. They talk about how to homeschool your special needs child, how to provide your child with a … Continue reading →

This Halloween, Why Not Dress Up As Your Ancestors?

Okay, so I know that it is a little bit last minute to be discussing Halloween costumes. I also know that as many of us as there are that already have our kids’ costumes in hand, there are still plenty of us that are looking for a great last-minute idea because the kids have either not decided what they want to dress up as yet or have decided that the costume that they had you buy a while ago is not what they want to wear this coming Sunday. Perhaps you have just been invited to a Halloween party and … Continue reading →