Ah! It's the wedding night. You've cut the cake, drank the toast, danced the dance, and now, at last you are completely alone. Unlike the bride and groom of the past.
In those days the wedding night was deemed to be very much a part of the wedding day celebration. In some cases the couple would be literally placed in the bed by their friends. In others, while the two were seemingly alone, the beating of instruments or domestic utensils, together with encouraging advice bellowed at full blast outside their window, never let them forget their wedding guests' presence.
The necessity for all this hullabaloo was explained as keeping bad luck away from all that happiness that the couple had acquired in finding each other. But everyone knew it was all meant to aggravate and frustrate the newly married couple. It has been suggested that Henry V111 was never quite as potent on his honeymoon as he could have been because of the lack of privacy that went hand in hand with being a ruler. Give him an anonymous inn and a comely wench, and he was twice the man, creating little Henrys with no trouble at all.
The romantic lover understood that the fortitude of the bride in the face of the previous night's outrage, deserved some consideration.
Waking up in the morning after a good night, the husband would hand to the object of his passion, something that would be a reminder of the experience for the rest of their life. It could be an extravagant piece of jewellery ? perhaps a family heirloom worth a small fortune. Or it might be a deed to a prized piece of real estate. In any case, the generosity of a husband at such a time was legendary and not often repeated there after.
The less bashful bride would have thought deeply about it long before the wedding day, and was not beyond asking for a specific gift. At such a time it was always, "Whatever your heart desires is yours, my dear." He might have added, as some of them did, "Ask wisely." We've all seen those operas or read those myths and fairy tales where the bride would ask for a favour that eventually, and sometimes immediately, turn her life into a disaster. But if the headstrong bride didn't know her own best interest, it was hardly the fault of her lord and master, be he a Bluebeard or a husband with a past.
Democracy and income tax has pretty well put a stop to these extravagant, and sometimes deadly gestures. Though, for all we know, perhaps the very rich and famous are still into tossing a chateaux or a directorship at their brides. But for the rest, to commemorate that first night as they should, all they need is a little bit of creativity.
Vlady Peters, who is a Civil Marriage Celebrant, is an author of three books, "The Complete Book of Australian Weddings", "The Small Organsiation Handbook", and an ebook "Honeymoon! A Sizzle or a Fizzle" which you can see on her website http://www.vlady-celebrant.com
maide service in Bannockburn ..Many spouses carry heavy suitcases filled with a collection of... Read More
Getting Married? Congratulations! You just set the date for the... Read More
Marrying for love, financial security and/or companionship does not guarantee... Read More
Looking for beach theme wedding cake ideas?When it comes to... Read More
You have your band (around your finger), now it's time... Read More
How do you handle arguments that lead to heated exchanges... Read More
One of the most joyous occasions in life is a... Read More
Have you heard enough about the "Runaway Bride" yet? Well,... Read More
Asian-themed weddings are on the rise, and at first this... Read More
Wedding favors are as unique and varied as the couples... Read More
As most of you know the evening festivities for a... Read More
Just the thought of all the expenses that come with... Read More
As the story goes, a Cherokee elder was sitting with... Read More
Getting married is one of the most stressful events anyone... Read More
Not only do individuals who follow Time Magazine's "Eight Steps... Read More
Here comes the bride! Walking through the alley confidence holding... Read More
Let's face it retirement is a time of great transition... Read More
The Cancun honeymoon vacation comes with its bagage of sweet... Read More
Your Wedding Favors are a little bit of your wedding... Read More
The vows you take to become husband and wife are... Read More
Wedding favors are a delightful detail for any wedding shower,... Read More
All brides want that one photograph that perfectly captures the... Read More
Computer printed labels are a time-saver, but they make the... Read More
The symbolism of Celtic Diamond Rings is relevant to all... Read More
A wedding planned in the spirit of nature provides the... Read More
Airbnb cleaning service Mundelein ..Every marriage needs a healthy dose of on-going romance to... Read More
For some couples, jetting off to their dream location would... Read More
That first wedding was a dream, a gorgeous long white... Read More
Bridal showers are one of many pre-wedding parties and are... Read More
There is nothing more romantic than a wedding by water... Read More
You've probably heard about Save the Dates since they have... Read More
Traditionally at weddings the speechs are made after the wedding... Read More
To paraphrase a song, "Are you doing it more, but... Read More
Being disc jockeys, we get the opportunity to evaluate many... Read More
If you've been around long enough, you're aware of the... Read More
It's important that your makeup look its absolute best for... Read More
Often when you are looking for wedding vendors who suit... Read More
Every woman in the room agreed that Crichton was a... Read More
If you've always dreamed of flying in a helicopter, Las... Read More
The most unique beach wedding reception ideas are sparked by... Read More
These days, many people take wedding bands and engagement rings... Read More
There's no way to absolutely guarantee that your marriage won't... Read More
"Las Vegas hotel weddings give you tons of options. You... Read More
Deik and Kim, remember that marriage is a COVENANT relationship.... Read More
While signing a prenuptial agreement can be one of the... Read More
The most enjoyable part of the wedding reception is the... Read More
The tradition of hosting a bridal shower for the bride... Read More
Ritual symbolism abounds in everything we do; this is particularly... Read More
There's no one simple answer to the question that I'm... Read More
Mexico, a country rich in arts and ancient cultures and... Read More
Marriage & Wedding |