We Require a Kiss To Pass

In some military weddings, the newly married couple exit the ceremony under an impressive archway of swords, sabers or rifles. This unique tradition is perhaps one of the most defining differences between a military and civilian wedding. It is also sure to rate three tissues for tears of pride.

US Naval Academy Wedding  Gea and Chris    Dennis Drenner Photographs

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For commissioned officers, the ceremony is referred to as the Arch of Sabers. Non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel use a variation of it is known as the Arch of Rifles.

Generally speaking, after the I do’s are exchanged, the bride and groom leave the service and enter the archway lined by honor guards holding the ceremonial weapons. They may stop to kiss and then pass through. Before completing the symbolic safe passage into marriage, the last two members of the honor guard block their journey while one of guards gives the new military spouse a rather un-ceremonial swat on the rear accompanied by words of welcome to whatever branch of service she has married into. You won’t find it written down anywhere, but perhaps those blocked weapons of choice and swat are also quite symbolic of the challenges military couples face! [source Military Weddings 101].

Below a video of what that ceremony looks like.

If You Didn't Know

Here is a fact about June weddings you may not have known:
This does seem like the perfect month for weddings. The weather is usually flawless. Your vacation time will be granted during summer months. As the saying goes, " Marry when June roses grow and over land and sea you'll go." Sweet, very sweet.

BUT!

Fruit From Washington.com

A wedding in June, was formulated so the "worker wife" would conceive early and would be able to help out during the harvest season. The birth of the child is early enough that the "worker" I mean "wife" will have recovered from childbirth. Gives labor another meaning, it is so romantic.

Do You Know Ann Lowe?

Ann Lowe
Designer

I recently received an email reminding me of this great woman.

"Being that this is black history month I thought you would enjoy this and know the legacy that you are carrying on when I think about it there are not that many African American wedding dress designers that I know about but after seeing this it just made me proud"

Did you know this woman designed one of the most famous wedding dresses in American?

Jacqueline Bouvier just married to John F. Kennedy

Ann Lowe designed and made Miss Bouvier's dress for the wedding of the century. In addition to the wedding gown she made all of the bridesmaids dresses too. What's even more amazing is that 10 days before the wedding a flood ruined all the dresses and Miss Lowe recreated every single dress in time for the big day.

Read more about Miss Lowe

Newport Weddings

Some more interesting facts:

According to Wikipedia, Ann Lowe also made the dress Olivia de Haviland wore for Academy Award win of Best Actress for To Each His Own. The name on the dress was Sonia Rosenberg.

It was tough finding a picture

Click here:

Olivia de Haviland Oscar Win

Miss Lowe was considered societies best kept secret and even though this sounds like a compliment, it is not one good for any business to be a secret. Do not keep Ann Lowe a secret anymore. Her creativity, skills, and legacy must be kept alive.

Pass this on.

Do You Remember?

Upon Napoléon Bonaparte return from Moscow, defeated, busted, and worn out, he says "There is one step between the sublime and the ridiculous".



Hydarnes, Commander of the Immortals: [Xerxes has sent an emissary to demand the Spartan surrender] yesterday, we only probed your positions. When we attack today, our arrows will blot out the sun! Leonidas, Spartan King: Good; then we will fight in the shade.





Oral history is good when it's good. Even Alex Haley's Roots was based on this same tradition. But what will your grandmother say when she catches the bouquet. Or will you really remember what your dad said to you during the first dance? Who said what to who and was it profound, funny or did it have everyone on the floor laughing. Life On Record makes sure all the good lines are safely stored for historians to retell it just like it was, when it happened,way back when. After the CD is created from your event you don't have to worry if something is lost. They have a backup for you to retrieve a new CD. Those loving voices of family and friends can never be silenced. What's really beautiful is being able to hear loved ones voices when they are gone.


It's easy to use, priced well, and preserves' family memories.



Life On Record

Afrocentric Style

Wedding gown styles have varied through the centuries. From the cotehardle, a close fitting dress that laced up the back or front, of the 1300's to the lavishly designed gowns that royalty favored in the 1500's. Not until Queen Victoria married in the late 1800's did the white wedding gown make a strong statement.
The gown was for sure the dream dress of that era. One of a kind lace created from an antique pattern. This dress also was used as a marketing tool. The heavy satin was woven in Spitalfields and lace in a Devon village. It kept hundreds employed, promoted the textile industry, and established the white wedding gown as the standard.
But African women have always favored color. Massai women are draped in their finest jewelry of handmade necklaces and earrings. These pieces are bright and festive. A Moroccan bride wears an elaborately embroidered white robe. Her hands and feet have henna applied, a reddish brown color in an intricate pattern. In Ghana, Kente cloth is the primary woven fabric. It's repeated motif of liberation colors of red, gold, and green are an important feature to this popular textile.

Consider color as a way to express yourself. I've created dresses from gold to red. Each bride wanted to say something different. You may just want a touch of color in your gown say in trim or beading. You can make a powerful statement just by expressing yourself colorfully.