My cousin Barbie in her December 1966 wedding.  She wore a fur-trimmed pill-box hat/veil and carried a fur muff. 

Barbie & Bob, December 1966, Saint Louis, Missouri

After my husband sent me a link detailing the history behind a groom carrying his bride over the threshold, (which you can read about here), I thought I would share interesting trivia and tidbits about weddings as I discover them.  I will try to post these weekly!  Please send in anything you’d like featured - or your own families traditions, superstitions and tidbits.

To kick things off:

Why do bridesmaids traditionally dress alike?

Originally, bridesmaids dressed alike to confuse evil spirits that may wish to harm the bride.  Bridesmaids often dressed identically to the bride, including a veil.  However, this superstition gradually faded and brides chose to stand out from their attendants.  Bridesmaids dresses maintained a similar style to that of the brides, yet were selected in a different color to provide a uniform background to the bride’s white dress.  Today’s bridesmaids dresses are as unique in color & style as the weddings in which they are featured.  

The journey of bridesmaids dresses through time:

Victorian Bridesmaids, image courtesy www.karenswhimsy.com

Gold Taffeta Ruffled Bridesmaids, c. 1986, image courtesy www.people.com

Aimee & Jerry's wedding; image copyright Berkemeyer-Hine Photography; image courtesy www.brides.com

My husband’s paternal grandparents on their wedding day.  Circa 1947.  The story goes that Matt’s grandpa, George, was set up by at matchmaker with a bride in China.  When he arrived in China to meet his betrothed, she was with her best friend, Chu Yi.  George immediately fell in love with Chu Yi, and offered a dowry to her father and asked her hand in marriage.  The story has mutated over the years, but the general consensus is that the dowry consisted of 50.00, peaches and a bar of chocolate.  Chu Yi accompanied George back to the States where they enjoyed over 50 years of wedded bliss.  I am so lucky to have known them both!!

George and Margaret (Chu Yi), c. 1947.

Since late last year, the I-64/US-40 construction has been tricky for maneuvering around St. Louis.  It can be especially tricky when providing directions or a map in your wedding invitations. 

Here are some sites that might help:

http://www.thenewi64.org/ - this is the official project site and has the most up to date information

MoDot sites:

http://dist6.modot.mo.gov/mapmytrip/

Other helpful sites:

http://dontgetstuck.org/ - Metro site - for alternate travel options via public transportation

http://post4trafficonline.com/ - The Post Dispatch & Channel 4 site; allows you to customize your route

http://getaroundstl.com/ - general site for info on getting to restaurants & shops, etc

I hope these sites help you provide up to date info for your guests, as well as make planning the routes to your wedding ceremony & reception sites a breeze!!  Remember, on your maps cards, I can design a custom drawn map to illustrate specific points and routes.

This is one of my favorite pictures of all time - my Granny & Gramps on their wedding day.  My grandmother is wearing a cameo necklace that every bride in our family since has worn - my aunts, my mom and me.  My sister will wear it next August in her wedding, and my cousin will wear it in 2010.

Peg & Ollie, February 1, 1947, Saint Louis, Missouri

photo courtesy Denash Photography

Amanda and Michael were great to work with!  Their titanium and eggplant color scheme was simple and elegant.  Here’s a couple of shots of of their accompaniments and a great shot of them at the arch.  Congratulations, Amanda & Michael!

Program; photo courtesy Denash Photography

Table Markers; photo courtesy Denash Photography

The many faces of my little monster:

Halloween 2006 - goldfish

Halloween 2007 - shark (he hated this costume)

Halloween 2008 - pirate

Have a spook-tacular day!!!

Scott & Bilyana - October 30, 2004

Nags Head, North Carolina

Excellent.

Jack the Pirate - lovin' Boo at the Zoo!

As an excuse to keep posting awesome wedding photos of my friends, family and clients, I have decided to make Monday the Official Slice of Lime Design Blog Wedding Photo Day.  Please, please, please send me your photos!!

For the first official Wedding Shot of the Week - my friends Des & Jay! 

Desiree & Jeremiah - May 26, 2001

University City, Missouri