Incorporating Family Traditions, Customs and Heritage into your wedding

We love it when our bride's incorporate bits of their own family traditions, customs or heritage to their day.   We had a couple whose first task as a married couple was to saw a log.   Yep, I said saw a piece of wood!   Right after saying I DO the groomsmen carried out a log and a two handed saw......well we learned something that day....Saw on end of the log...NOT in the middle!!!  LOL!  Anyway...our couple completed their first task as a married couple and it was very memorable to watch!!
This was a German tradition.

image from sisterspointofview.com

Salt and Bread ~ We had a Polish bride whose wedding tradition is for the parents to present the bride and groom with Salt and Bread.  The bread represents the parents hope that their children will never experience hunger or need, the salt reminds the couple that their life may be difficult at times and they must learn together to cope with life's struggles.  

Guest Seating we did was to symbolize their 1st family dinner.
Unfortunately we don't have a photo of the Salt & Bread ceremony.

Money Spray ~ We worked with a Nigerian couple whose wedding tradition is to spray the couple with money!!  They had many dances throughout the night where the couple danced and they were sprayed with money...It was quite amazing to watch.  

Bagpiper ~ Another bride wanted to honor her father's Scottish background by having a bag piper lead the guests into the dinner reception.  The father was so surprised that his daughter honored him in this way....

The Grand March ~ Over the years we have had a few bride's incorporate the Grand March.  If you haven't seen this done you are missing out!!!    I personally have loved the tradition so much I did it at my own wedding last year.   It was such a fun way of having all of our guests get out on the dance floor and surround us.  The march ends with everyone in a circle around the married couple which is perfect for the couple to go right into their first dance.  It is one of our favorite memories of our day!  And I am sure our guests loved it too!

The Red Envelope ~ An Asian couple we did a destination wedding for received red envelopes with money.  The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck and is supposed to ward off evil spirits.   To let guests know about the tradition in advance, we  put details on the couple's wedding website.  This way the guests came prepared!

Umbrella Dance ~ Otherwise know as the Second Line dance.  Participants walk and sometimes twirl a parasol or handkerchief in the air following the bride and groom.  This is a New Orleans tradition.    We have worked with 3 brides from the same family and they are originally from Louisiana and each of them have incorporated this fun tradition into their wedding receptions.