Strike it lucky: the tradition of giving bridal keepsakes and my modern day twists

It’s often not until you start the research process for your own wedding that you suddenly start thinking about things such as lucky horseshoes and other bridal keepsakes.   But the tradition of giving favours to a newly married woman has actually been around for years.  So where did these traditions come from?  Here are some of the histories behind bridal keepsakes, and my modern take on the lucky horseshoe:

Wooden spoons

Although giving a wooden spoon may seem like a bit of a booby prize when it comes to wedding keepsakes, it actually has romantic origins.  The love spoon is a traditional gift of love in Wales and would be made by a man to give as a gift to his intended lady.  They would be carefully and intricately carved to show the recipient how much care and devotion she would receive from her beloved.  If the lady in question kept the spoon, the man’s love was returned; if, however, it was sent back, it meant that his love was unrequited.  Today, decorated wooden spoons are often given to newlyweds as a symbol of their love – let’s hope none of the spoons are returned! 

Lucky sixpence

Everyone knows the rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue”, but did you know that the rhyme finishes, “and a silver sixpence for her shoe”?  As you’re probably aware, it’s considered lucky if the bride wears something to symbolise each of the components of the rhyme, and traditionally the bride’s father should provide a lucky silver sixpence to go in her shoe, to symbolise prosperity within the marriage.

Horseshoes

Horseshoes have a long history of being associated with good luck, and are probably the most well known of good luck charms to give to the bride and groom.  The Romans believed that the ‘U’ shape protected against evil, and there are also stories relating to mythology, such as iron being a good luck metal and a crescent moon shape symbolising prosperity.  Remember, a horseshoe should never be turned upside down in case the good luck falls out!

Modern twists of luck

In the run up to my own big day, I took up the craft of Fimo clay modelling, making my wedding cake toppers and also keepsakes for my two bridesmaids.  Having not been able to give up my new found love of this craft, my creations have branched into lucky horseshoes to give to friends on their wedding day.  My horseshoes are not just any old horseshoes however; they are horseshoes featuring the bride and groom (or at least a cartoon version of them!)!  These have been such fun to make, and I’ve enjoyed having different styles of wedding dress to create, different hairstyles and different suits!

Here’s one I made for our good friends Sim and Charlotte.  I especially enjoyed making the groom’s top hat for this one!

And this is my latest creation for our friends Louise and Dan, who get married this Jubilee weekend.  The ‘Cadbury’s’ purple ribbon is designed to match their wedding colours:

The beauty of the above is that they can be created to suit any bride and groom’s colours, themes and styles, so each one is different, and I like to think they give a unique and personalised keepsake – and hopefully bring a little bit of luck to the newlyweds along the way!

The Centre of Attention - Inspiring Wedding Centrepieces

There’s a reason that so much thought and attention goes into the table centrepieces at weddings.  As the name suggests, they really are the centrepiece of your reception venue decorations, and therefore hold the power to make or break your theme.  Bearing this in mind, centrepieces don’t have to be just about flowers – or at least not flowers displayed in the traditional sense – if you don’t want them to be.  Here are just a few ideas to whet your appetite on the road to making your centrepieces the centre of attention:

Tutti-fruity!
If you want an alternative to flowers, but still want to keep your centrepieces looking natural and organic, how about using fruit and vegetables for your centrepieces?  Bowls of lemons or oranges will look beautiful for a citrus-coloured summer wedding, and small pumpkins and squashes will add a touch of rustic colour to autumnal wedding days.  Small pots of herbs clustered together have a beautifully natural feel, and they have the added benefit of making your reception venue smell divine.  Even every day fruit and veg displays such as small baskets filled with multi-coloured tomatoes will work well – and they make delicious favours to boot!

The object of your desire
Often our wedding theme says something about who we are as people.  Therefore, why not think about tying your theme together with some strategically placed objects as your table centrepieces?  For example, if you’re avid readers, how about a stack of beautiful antique books covered in a paper to match your theme?  Or if your day will reflect the fact that you’re film fanatics, how about a centrepiece made from film reels and a clapperboard displaying the table number?  Centrepieces such as these will make your theme instantly recognisable to all of your guests!

Bowled over

The simple, yet effective, idea of filling a bowl or a vase with small objects is easy, inexpensive, and works with a variety of wedding themes.  Having a relaxed beach wedding?  Fill vases of different sizes with pretty shells.  Looking for an idea for a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration?  Buy tall, clear vases and pile up the heads of silk roses inside.  Having a rustic autumnal affair?  Load pine cones and horse chestnuts into large, shallow dishes.  Planning a sparkling Christmas celebration?  Fill fishbowls with sparkling baubles in your wedding colours.  The beauty of the filled-bowl centrepiece is that it can be made by anyone, days in advance – and yet the overall look is so effective and works with any number of themes! 

Real-life Bride and Groom Jess and Barry filled vases tall and small with cute button flowers!

Paper-chain

Although not a traditional material for centrepieces, paper shouldn’t be overlooked as inspiration for your centrepieces.  Colourful paper pompoms lined up in the centre of long trestle tables will add a cheerful look to a summer event, and vases filled with branches adorned with origami swans and cherry blossoms will really give your wedding an original look – and what’s more, you can use whatever paper takes your fancy and matches your wedding colours!

Light of my life
Don’t dismiss candles as boring centrepieces – there’s still original ways of using candles to light up your tables.  Think about using lots of long, tapered candles in a variety of colours that match your wedding colours, either lined up along the centre of long tables or clustered together in the centre of round tables.  Alternatively, how about using lots of tealights in a variety of vintage-inspired holders to add interest?

With a little imagination, you can create centrepieces which will really be talking points.  Who says your tables have to be traditional?  Your centrepieces can really reflect you and your groom – reflecting the fact that you’re the centre of attention on your big day!