| Whether you’re of Eastern European,
African, Chinese, Japanese, Dutch, or Irish heritage, or a combination
of many backgrounds, if you’re looking to incorporate tradition
into your wedding look, brides today have more options than ever before.
While some religions are very strict when it comes to bridal wear,
you can still bend the rules and honor tradition. All it takes is a
little creativity…and research. For example, when Tina, a recent
bride from Norway living in New York, decided to find a headpiece, she
went with the traditional herb wreath but wore a modern up do. Michelle,
a Chinese bride, decided to add a modern spin to her wedding by wearing
red and gold crystal hairpins to match her ceremonial red bridal dress.
“I knew I wanted to incorporate the colors from the tartan kilt
my fiancé was wearing,” said Jennifer, a Scottish bride,
“so I used blue and green flowers in my bouquet along with those
colors in my tiara.” Catherine wanted to remember her Spanish
heritage by wearing a tiara with colored stones to match the embroidery
to her Flamenco-style gown. “I wanted a different twist on the
white dress and veil thing,” she explains.
If you’re searching for inspiration, first try looking at old
wedding photographs of grandparents and great grandparents and think
of ways to add your personal touch.
Some other ideas to jump-start your creativity:
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Use traditional colors or patterns in non-traditional
ways, like using flowers or colored stones in your headpiece or
tiara. Use accents of jade if you want to include some green, or
rose quartz to capture the look of cherry blossoms, or tanzanite
stones to capture the look of African violets.
- Look at old magazines from your grandparent’s era for beading
and accessory detail. Add Art Deco beading to your tiara or the front
of your dress, and match it with an antique beaded handbag from a
flea market or beaded shoe clips.
-
Take your elderly relatives to tea and listen to
their wedding stories. Ask them about their favorite flowers, colors
or traditions. You might learn something!
The point is to have fun mixing the old with new, and create your own
tradition. Think of your wedding look as a marriage between the past
with the present. Some day, an excited bride-to-be may find your picture
and try to capture her grandmother’s look.
Catherine Siroka is a headpiece and tiara designer.
She can be reached at 209-323-9526 |
