Why is it customary for the bride to wear something blue?

Brides in ancient Israel wore a blue ribbon on the border of their fringed robes to denote modesty, fidelity, and love - ideals still associated with that color. Blue is also the color that represents the purity and innocence of the Virgin Mary.

Photo by: Jonathan Rosen Photography

Why wear a wedding ring?

It was said that the circular shape of the wedding ring symbolizes never-ending love. According to folklore, the ring was to protect the bride against evil spirits; if the bride or groom dropped the ring during the ceremony, bad luck would be with them forever. In the beginning, rings were made of rushes, hemp, or braided grass, which has to be replaced every year. Early Romans chose more durable iron to symbolize the permanence of marriage.

Back then, gold was very popular, but more expensive, symbolizing lasting beauty, purity, and strength. In ancient Egypt, before coins were minted, gold rings were used as currency and as a symbol of the groom's wealth and his intention to wed. To show that he trusted his wife with his money, the Egyptian husband placed a gold ring on the third finger of her left hand.

Only one ring was worn, until the 13th century. The declaration of Pope Innocent III that a waiting period was to be observed between betrothal and marriage led to separate engagement and wedding rings. The first recorded account of a diamond engagement ring was in 1477, when Maximilian I, King of Germany, proposed to Mary of Burgundy and offered her a diamond ring to seal his vow.

Photographs by: Gloria Mesa Photography

Why is there a wedding cake?

A symbol of good luck and fertility, cake has been a part of wedding celebrations since Roman times, when a small bun was broken above the bride's head at the close of the ceremony. Wheat, the main ingredient, symbolized fertility: crumbs were eagerly sought by guests as good-luck charms.

During the Middle Ages, custom required the bride and groom to kiss over a pile of small cakes donated by wedding guests. In Elizabethan times, bridesmaids baked small, sweet buns with currants, which served as the centerpiece for the wedding feast. In the 17th century, it was an innovative visiting French baker who frosted the stack of buns so that they would stand upright--creating the first tiered and frosted wedding cake! The Chinese originated the custom of serving each guest a slice of cake to spread the good luck.

Why does the bride wear something old and something new?

The custom stems from an Old English rhyme, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in her shoe..." Brides throughout the decades have taken care to include these touches in their bridal outfit, a nod to tradition and superstition. The symbolism: continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity, and good fortune.

A Must Read Love Story

Ken’s Story:
 As I walked through the gym one morning, I saw the most incredible woman working out on a universal machine. My mouth fell open, my heart began pounding, and my forehead started to sweat. I knew at this point that this was someone that I needed to introduce myself to. I took a few seconds to compose myself then I introduced myself and made small talk. As I talked to her, I noticed her wonderful smile and dimples. Then I discovered that she wasn’t just gorgeous, but educated and very intelligent. It was at this moment, that I knew this was the woman for me. It was destiny! Love at first sight is not a myth. It truly does happen, which was my experience.

Lisa’s Story:
Ken came over one day to make small talk while I was working out. I’d recently moved back to L.A., and just thought he seemed like a nice guy to talk to. I think he asked me out a few times, without me actually realizing it since I was in no way thinking about any type of relationship. Eventually, I agreed to “hang out” with him just as friends. Ken agreed that we could “hang out” as “just friends”, but really had other intentions. Somehow, Ken still believes to this day, that it was I who asked HIM out. To this day, this part of the story is still debated. Eventually, the “friendship” became more serious, and I began to see Ken for the great guy that he is. I admired his drive and worth ethic. I loved his sense of humor, not to mention he was kind of cute and always smelled great. After all this time, we’re still together and now he’s stuck with me…..


The Proposal:
The night I proposed (June 1, 2009), I went to the store to get a piece of cake to symbolize Lisa’s sweetness. I went to her house, and told her I wanted her to taste the cake I brought her. Once I gave her the cake, I waited to see the look on her face because I’d placed the engagement ring visibly on top of the cake for her to see. I then got on my knee and told her that I’d brought this cake to symbolize how sweet she was. Then, I talked about how wonderful our relationship was, that she was the sweetest woman in the world, and asked her if she would be willing to be my wife and spend the rest of her life with me. She was stunned and shocked that she didn’t even say anything at first… Eventually she said jokingly, “hmmm, let me think about it”…. After a few minutes, she did say “yes”.

Why is it bad luck for the groom to see his bride before the ceremony?

Once, it was considered bad luck for the groom to see his bride and for the bride to see herself in a mirror in her wedding clothes before the wedding. Because the wedding ceremony marked a break between old and new, never to overlap, people thought that if the groom saw the bride before the ceremony, she would not be pure and new and if the bride saw herself in a mirror before the wedding she would leave some of herself behind in the reflection.

Brides stay away from those mirrors!

Ken and Lisa Wedding ~ USC Town & Gown

I have the nicest clients. Lisa and Ken got married May 29, 2010 at USC Town & Gown. I had so much fun working with them. I'll have more photos soon provided by Damien Smith Photography to post soon. They gave me the greatest review. Lisa and Ken may your marriage be filled with Love, Peace and Joy!

"Wow, where do I start? I hired Leave It To Me Events for my wedding coordinator. Beverly is the best! At first, my parents kept telling me that I could handle all the wedding details myself - that I didn't need a coordinator. With my non-flexible work schedule and a guest list of over 360 people who responded yes to the RSVP (several from out of town), I knew that would be a huge mistake. I could see foresee a disaster. I was so stressed out staying up late after work, trying to everything myself. I took matters into my own hands and found Beverly-an Angel! Thank goodness!

I talked to her on the phone first, then by email a few times before actually meeting her. The very first time I met her in person, I felt like I'd known her for a long time. I felt completely at ease - like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Beverly is so organized, has a great personality, is always on time, and has great ideas and solutions to problems. She always responds to emails promptly. She handled all the communications with my vendors, something I didn't have much time to do especially during the day while I was working. She kept all the vendors on track. She even went to my rehearsal dinner location to make sure everything was OK.

In the two weeks before the wedding, she gives you a detailed timeline of the schedule of events. She made sure all of the vendors were on the correct schedule for deliveries and payments. The day of my wedding was absolutely phenomenal. Everyone always talks about some disaster that happens that can't be foreseen and I was waiting for it. I can say that I had no problems whatsoever! Everyone in my bridal party and inner circle is still talking about how smooth everything went. Guests are still complimenting me on how organized my wedding was and how professional, efficient my coordinators were. My other vendors even commented on how organized she was and how much they liked working with her. Beverly and her team were really on top of everything. So many of my guests tell me it's one of the nicest weddings they've ever been to.

My parents admitted that I definitely did need a wedding coordinator and are now really happy that I hired Beverly. They, along with my husband and inner circle say she and her team were worth every cent! I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful person whom I now consider a great friend."