Trend....Gypsy Theme

If I were a gypsy, this is what I would wear....

They do not.

At least when it comes to weddings.

Gypsy....Traveller

'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding'

This reality show from the UK is quite intriguing to say the least.

Easy to mock, easy to be offended for the young women's role in life.

But the truth is, this is a culture struggling to keep tradition alive.

They will eventually lose.

How do the parents pay for these very expensive weddings???

No one really dares ask.

It is based on Irish Travelers not

Romany Travelers

and both spell it 'Travellers'.

Young women leave school very early and are trained at home

to be a housewife and mother.

They dress scantily with parental approval and dance equally

so even at a very very young age.

This is to show their physical attributes to young suitors, who will then perform

a 'grabbing' rutual against the young woman's will in order to steal a kiss.

Most will marry shortly after 16.

18 is old.

22 is matronly.

Despite their attire and dance, they are quite moral.

And often scared when the reality of marriage hits on their wedding day as

the ladies have really never left their parents home or even held a job.

The couples live in trailers once married.

I prefer the old caravans by far.

Seriously, they are like little sex dens.

I would go glamping with these.

And the interiors....

Thelma Madine designs the gowns at least for the show.

Some call them 'frothy horror'.

Would I wear one.

Oh God no!

I am not into feminine.

Or tripping.

For a costume party?

Perfect.

Frothy Fantasy is the term often used for the wedding dresses.

A giant puffball of crispy netting - a pumpkin shaped

maxi pouffe of glittering nylon gauze.

And yes, ooooh, it lights up after dark.

The poor girl can not even sit down without help.

God I hope she doesn't have to pee before the night is over.

Dead classy alert....

Then of course have the fabulous family.

Spray tans, shiney fabric and hats.

Always hats.

I am glad I am American.

Now how does a gypsy girl arrive at her wedding in humble style?

By pumpkin of course.

Him?

Don't worry.

Just drive.

It is sort of like 'pimp my bridesmaids'.

In America you would hate a bride who made you wear these.

And pink.

Sooo much pink.

I will say this.

This is every little girls dress up dream.

And the wedding party includes lots of little ones.

Even the babies bring the bling and fluff.

It is like the Kentucky Derby of Gypsydom.

I mean check out this dudes shoes.

He is like a little Elvis.

Let them eat cake.

With a cake this big, they will eat cake for days.

I'm not sure if these last two are from the show.

But they are big and actually quite pretty.

And for a fun extra, Strolling Tables.

Not at all classy but could be fun at a party.

I got a lot of information from Daily Mail.

You gotta love the English for their snobbery and sass.

Oh, and their hats.

God love their courage regarding hats.

Info here

Trends....Jumping

What is with all the jumping in wedding photos?

Jumping for joy?

Jump from Van Halen?

Jumping the Broom?

That is a tradition of Gypsies and Africans.

And usually thru a door or threshold.

Masai grooms participate in a jumping competition to prove his true-warrior strength.

The whole jumping in a kilt seems a bit risky.

You know, nothing underneath.

I will jump if Fred takes me to Bimini.

Sick, sick, sick.

Nope.

I am a chickenshit.

And I puke.

In a wedding gown?

Really?

Shop for months.

Diet like hell.

Spend way too much.

Then jump in a lake.

Maybe that is where the saying 'go jump in a lake' came from.

I like this.

Neat, orderly, all together now.

A Little Something Naughty

I think every woman wants to feel sexy, especially for the man she is marrying.

Feeling sexy is very much about owning yourself, knowing yourself.

It is not about being perfect.

Most men find the sexiest thing about a woman is confidence and her responsiveness in bed.

They don't care if you are not perfect, you are naked and willing and they love you.

Fred wants me to wear a garter when we get married.

If I am going to wear a garter, it is going to be a sexy one.

To hell with price.

Okay, $100 max.

And hopefully less, but it will be the one I want.

He also doesn't get to see it beforehand, it is part of the mystery.

And no, we are not tossing it.

I am not sure I want my father and everyone to see Fred up my dress taking my garter off with his teeth.

It just seems a bit private.

Okay, and more fun in private.

More often than in the past this is a tradition that is being skipped.

Whatever works for you though.

I do think these photos give reason to consider what fits you, but they are quite hilarious.

This is a nice change, but you know there is no underwear under

a kilt, so plan where to stand to avoid the whole view.

And then the most likely drunken tom cat

crawling his way to under her dress.

I think this tops them all.

Yeah, I might skip that in the middle of the floor.

We will see.

Garters can fit your theme and/or colors, with prices all over the board.

After writing this post, I went to one of the large bridal stores online, don't waste your time unless you do not really care about a nice garter, they were really really sad and very boring.

All but one of these below were found on Etsy and have the links, except one, sorry.

Often they come with two, one to keep and one to toss.

There were so many different garters and also a ton that were so very typical.

If you don't know about Etsy, you should.

Send me a finders fee.

These are my favs....

Burlesque feather

I do love feathers.

All white

Simple feather drop

Crap, I lost the link for this one.

Somewhere on Etsy.

Beaded rhinestone

Pretty pink

He gives me butterflies

Very sexy, just exchange crystals for the pink bow and cameo

Maharaja

Love the roses, not the lace

Heirloom lace

Pretty lace.

Gray jeweled

Anyways, enjoy your search.

And the rewards of your choice.

Trends....Bicycles

These are happy bikes.

I used to cycle.

Distance.

360 mile trips.

I used to have amazing legs because of it.

Cycling was my only transportation for years.

I loved it because you see everything and it is really quiet except for the wind.

Until a huge dog decides that you should die by his jaws or a heart attack.

Bicycles are now a trend for weddings.

And they can be a fun theme.

But seriously everyone, themes should make some sense.

Or absolute nonsense just for the fun of it.

Themes can be based on a color, an item, an era, a book, whatever strikes your fancy.

And yes, we girls have been planning our weddings since we were 5 years old.

But I feel for some of these grooms.

God bless them for going along with their bride when she picks a rainbow butterfly sparkle theme.

This is not a wedding bicycle photo.

But the idea could be used by stacking it up with flowers,

or clowns, or something.

It is just too cute not to add to this post.

Bicycles AND a balloon bouquet?

See my post on balloons.

This is a couple in Russia I think.

Beach cruisers at a beach wedding?

Transportation that make sense.

Kidding.

I just had to add it.

These two actually look like real cyclists.

In China it makes sense to ride a bike.

Too many people means too many cars means too much smog.

This is cute.

Plus she has nice legs.

She is laughing because he can't get the bike with

two bodies to move in a dead grass meadow.

We haven't decided a theme for our wedding yet.

Still need to decide the venue.

But it won't be bicycles.

I will be damned if I am going to get my dress caught in the chain.

Now I realize that you will probably all say WTF when I post our wedding photos and you see our theme.

That was a reaction I heard more than once regarding my like of graffiti for a background for our venue.

Don't get me wrong, I abhor graffiti for the most part.

If you don't own the building it is not your canvas.

Keep your stupid spray can on your own stuff, your car, your room, your house.

Yes, I am being hypocritical.

I leave you with a final bicycle photo.

Chained.

I swear if someone stole this happy bike

the Karma Gods would cut their feet off.

Trends....Balloons

A nice thing about getting married at this age, is I am free to choose to skip any traditions that I do not like.

And since we are paying for it ourselves, we get to make all the decisions and I am to the point in life where I stand up for myself a bit better.

I am not a big fan of wedding trends partly because most are for younger couples.

Hence no unity candle to dust for the next 35 years.

No unity sand to find a place for on the mantle.

I would most likely knock it over along with Fifi's ashes and that would just be so sad.

I don't have to throw a bouquet to young women who don't want to catch it anyways.

We don't have to cut the cake for a photo, hell, we don't even have to have cake.

Really, what is the big deal with cutting a cake?

And no, I am not having those cute little adorable cupcakes that make you wish they were 3 times as big.

I still prefer the bride to save the first look for her walk down the aisle.

And I don't want to sit at a table by ourselves at the reception.

I am also not a fan of stuffy and staid.

I might be 54 but I am neither matronly nor proper.

A wedding should be a celebration of whatever is the true to the heart of the couple.

Not what is popular or what is expected.

As a woman there is a level of dignity which is so lovely.

As a girl there is fun.

The two can work together

There are many things that do not fit my personal wedding style, typewriters, suitcases, mason jars, bunting, balloons, cupcakes, candy stations, bicycles, mustaches.

Well maybe balloons as decor if they are done right, but I am not going to hold them for a photo.

And jumping.

Why does everyone jump now?

What I do love is chandeliers, draperies, long tables, lighting, burlap, peonies, hydrangeas, baby breath, and Fred.

Yeah, he is the guy I am marrying.

So, let's begin with the balloon trend.

Balloons are for birthdays.

And children.

And clowns.

Okay, balloons in pretty colors make me happy.

Perhaps I could deal with balloons at my wedding IF....

I were getting married in Paris.

Paris France.

Not Paris Texas.

And this is fun and festive.

Daytime outdoor wedding.

The balloons look like flowers in the air

I don't believe I have ever seen balloon sellers hanging around the farm.

For color yes.

Otherwise I just don't get it.

Up, up and away in my beautiful balloon.

It is a song.

You had to be there.

Hence my being old.

Yeah, they are a sweet couple in love,

but where did the forest balloons come from?

Like I said, it is a trend.

In 5 years I don't think you will see balloons at weddings.

Or a lot of things that are cool at the moment.

Tried and true traditional are always beautiful and classic but a bit impersonal.

Or maybe I am just old.

I do love the humor of this one for an engagement shoot.