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30 FASCINATING WEDDING FACTS!

1. In 1878, the New York Times ran its first wedding announcement for a black couple: Senator Blanche Kelso Bruce, the first black American to serve in the Senate, and Josephine Willson.

2. Speaking of law and order, in 2000, 120 inmates at Carandiru prison in San Paulo, Brazil married their fiancees, setting the Guinness world record for the largest wedding in a prison.

3. The longest-married couple on record is Herbert Fisher and Zelmyra Fisher. They were married for 86 years, 9 months, and 16 days, until the bride passed away in 2011. Their marriage advice? “Remember marriage is not a contest — never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win.”

4. The phrase “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe” symbolizes continuity, optimism for the future, borrowed happiness, fidelity, and wealth or good luck, respectively.

5. Because white is the color of mourning in Eastern cultures, white wedding dresses are uncommon.

6. Las Vegas is the top wedding destination with over 100,000 weddings a year, followed by Hawaii at 25,000 weddings a year.

7. Early Roman brides carried a bunch of herbs, such as garlic and rosemary, under their veils to symbolize fidelity and fertility and to ward off evil. These herbs served as a precursor to the modern bridal bouquet.

8. Wedding rings are often placed on the third finger of the left hand because ancient Egyptians believed the vein in that hand (which the Romans called the “vein of love”) ran directly to the heart.

9. Flower girls traditionally threw flower petals in the bride’s path to lead her to a sweet, plentiful future.

10. Guests in ancient times would tear off part of the bride’s gown as tokens of good luck, leading to the tradition of the bride throwing both her garter and her bouquet.

11. The phrase “tying the knot” initially came from an ancient Babylonian custom in which threads from the clothes of both the bride and bridegroom were tied in a knot to symbolize the couple’s union. Literally tying some type of ceremonial knot at a wedding ceremony can be found across cultures.

12. A wedding cake is traditionally a symbol of good luck and fertility and has been a part of wedding celebrations since Roman times, when a small bun, symbolizing fertility, was broken above the bride’s head at the close of the ceremony. During the Middle Ages, custom required the bride and groom to kiss over small cakes.

13. Pope Innocent III (1160/1-1216) declared that a waiting period should be observed between betrothal and marriage, which led to separate engagement and wedding rings. The first recorded account of a diamond engagement ring was in 1477 when King Maximilian I of Germany (1459-1519) proposed to Mary of Burgundy (1457-1482) and offered her a diamond to seal his vow.

14. Throwing rice at weddings symbolizes fertility, prosperity, and bounty. In some countries, the bride might even carry or wear sheaves of grain. However, some modern churches and wedding locations discourage rice throwing because of the pervasive, yet mistaken, belief that rice can be fatal for birds who eat it. 15. To ensure fertility, the Irish would take a hen that was about to lay an egg and tie it to the wedding bed.

16. Oriental wedding dresses often display embroidered cranes, which are symbols of life-long fidelity. At Japanese weddings, the presence of 1001 white paper origami cranes is considered good luck.

17. In Europe during the Middle Ages, the lord of the manor had a legal right to spend the first night with any non-noble bride on his land (“le droit du seigneur” or “right of the lord”).

18. In Ethiopia, women from certain tribes, place plates in their lower lip in order to entice a rich groom. The larger the protruding lip, the more a groom will pay.

19. Some scholars claim the word “honeymoon” comes from the Teutonic custom when newlyweds would hide out and drink hydromel (a fermented honey and water mixture) for 30 days until the moon waned.

20. More than 40% of couples now plan their weddings together, and three out of four grooms help select items for their wedding gift registries.

21. The superstition that the bridegroom must not see his bride before the wedding stems from the days when marriages were arranged and the groom might never have seen the bride. There was the chance that if he saw her, he might bolt. Other sources say that to see the bride in her dress is peering into the future, which can bring bad luck.

22. Queen Victoria’s wedding cake was three yards wide and weighed 300 pounds.

23. Queen Elizabeth II had 12 wedding cakes. The one she cut at her wedding was nine feet tall and weighed 500 pounds.

24. Wedding bells are an important symbol of a wedding. Traditionally, it was believed that demons were scared off by loud sounds, so following a wedding ceremony, anything that could make noise was used to create a diversion.

25. The bachelor or stag party supposedly started in fifth-century Sparta where military compatriots would feast and toast one another on the eve of a wedding, like warriors going to battle.

26. Before the 1500s, couples in Europe were free to marry themselves. It wasn’t until 1564 when the Council of Trent declared marriage was a sacrament that weddings became the province of priests and churches.

27. In the United States, June is the most popular month for weddings, followed by August.

28. Nearly $72 billion is spent on weddings every year in the United States.

29. Before the church declared marriage a sacrament, couples often sought sacred places in nature to wed, such as a hilltop or cliff, where the earth supposedly meets heaven.

30. In England, before literacy rates were high, invitations to weddings were shouted out by “bidders,” who were old men hired to announced the details of the wedding.

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5 HELPFUL TIPS TO MAKE YOUR WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING THE BEST EVER

You know you’ve been waiting for this moment your whole life, and he finally did it, he proposed! You couldn’t be any happier, surrounded by your friends and family and sharing this once-in-a-lifetime moment! Now, the time has come to handpick this fairytale tailored wedding dress. To get this right, here are a few tips to ensure your dress shopping experience goes the way you want.

Time

Wedding styles and trends are always on the rise. Most designers will have their new collection out twice a year. A good time to start looking for a dress will be 16 to 12 months ahead. Starting early will give you the chance to visit different boutiques and designers and have a wide variety of options until you choose your fairytale dress.

Budget

The prices for wedding dresses might vary in a very wide range, from the low hundreds to tens of thousands or more. The price tag of your dress should not be the most important part of your dress. However, knowing what you will be able to afford will make your shopping experience a lot more enjoyable for you. This will eliminate trying on several dresses, taking time and the excitement out of your experience.

Try on Styles Not Just Dresses

Going to the bridal shop and looking for one specific style of dress might not result in what you are seeking. For instance, if you like mermaid dresses, you can definitely give it a try. To make the best out of your time, don’t waste it on trying the same dress, give other styles some chance as well until you find you perfect tailored match.

Bridal Party

Having a large group of friends and family is definitely a great thing. If you take your family and friends to make a decision about your dress it is because you can trust them. The thing about having too many people making a decision about your dress is that they all have a different vision of you, and they all have different taste and styles of their own. But it’s not that they don’t like you in the dress, just that they had pictured something different. But going dress shopping by yourself is not for everyone either. So have the closest people to you, the ones you can trust to help you make a decision, but most importantly the ones who will make sure it is YOU who loves your dress. At the end of the day, everyone will love how you look on your wedding day.

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The Biggest Celebrity Weddings of 2018

Who does not love a celebrity wedding? The year, 2018, has already hosted some huge A-list weddings! From surprising 'I do's to that massive royal wedding, have a look at some of the celebrity couples who've tied the knot this year!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

No other wedding in 2018 could ever compete with the royal occasion of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s one. The famous Suits actress chose a magnificent gown design by Givenchy’s creative director Claire Waight Keller made of white silk with a bateau neckline and a sophisticated veil featuring flowers from all 53 of the Commonwealth countries.

The royal wedding took place at St George’s Chapel in Windsor. This occasion witnessed a guest list worthy of the Oscars, with Oprah, The Beckhams, George and Amal Clooney, and Idris Elba invited. This day was all about memorable moments that neither the Royals nor us could ever forget; Prince Harry whispering, “You look amazing. I’m so lucky,” to his new bride Meghan, and the cutest Princess Charlotte’s happy wave to the crowd, and the cherry on top was the legendary Bishop’s speech!

Felicity Jones and Charles Guard

The “Theory of Everything" actress, Felicity Jones tied the knot with her boyfriend of three years Charles Guard in Sudeley Castle in Glouchestershire in June this year. Among the numerous attendees were A-list pal Tom Hanks and her on-screen husband Eddie Redmayne and his wife Hannah. The bride wore a Victoriana-style full-sleeved white dress with a sheer décolletage and a frilled neckline, while the groom dressed in a three-piece classic suit. 

The Rogue One star did ditch tradition in one way, by reportedly giving a bride's speech (following in fellow 2018 bride Meghan Markle's shoes perhaps...).

Hugh Grant and Anna Eberstein

Matthew Lewis and Angela Jones

Harry Potter star Matthew Lewis, who played the role of the chubby student Neville Longbottom tied the knot with his girlfriend Angela. Lewis, who grew up to be a handsome man, revealed the news of his marriage in a witty Twitter post by sharing a picture of him and his new partner with the caption, “Not only did I miss @ArcticMonkeys in LA but they were performing in Italy at the same time we were there and my wife made me get married instead. Fuming.”

The couple celebrated their union in a magical garden ceremony in Portofino, Italy. The Harry Potter actor was destined to meet his lifetime partner at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando, where Angela was an event planner. Matt looked sophisticated in a black tuxedo, while Angela chose a two-piece lace dress. The couple stole a moment after exchanging vows in a 'Just Married' boat that took them to their wedding reception.

Emily Ratajkowski and Sebastian Bear-McClard

While every woman dreams of a fairytale white gown, model Emily Ratajkowski decided to wear a beautiful Suit from Zara to her wedding at City Hall. The seducing Gone Girl actress posed with her husband Sebastian at New York City Hall in an amazing burnt yellow ensemble for just £120, crowned off with a black hat and veil.

This couple who had only been dating for a few months now, were surprised when Emily broke the news through an Instagram Story to stunned fans that read, “So I have a surprise, I got married today.” Emily’s pet pug was among the wedding’s tiny number of attendees, which also included Instagram personality The Fat Jew, better known as Josh Ostrovsky, as a witness.

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ONLINE GIFT LISTS ARE ON THE RISE… HERE’S WHY!

Traditional wedding lists are so last decade. If you come to think about it, our grandparents and ancestors had no choice but to keep the gifts they were received; whether they like it or not, these goodies will be stuck with them forever. Forwarding to the 21st century, online is taking over everything and online gift lists is the new trend. Here’s why!

No More Unwanted Gifts

With Wonderlists, you have a wide variety of choosing whatever your heart (and mind) desires for your brand new home. You don’t have to worry about the antique candleholder gifted from a relative, or the hand-engraved statue, or the never ending list of all unwanted gifts.

Your online wedding gift list will be the ultimate chance to sort out all things you actually need; it’s time you hand pick what YOU want … It’s now or never. 

Unrivalled flexibility and choice

It’s tempting to think that a department store gift list is a catch-all solution, but once you see the endless list of items online, you’ll know how flexible this is. Not only you can use an online list to get everything you need, you can peel off some of the budget for anything else you want, whether it’s a holiday, a family getaway or even a smart TV for your bedroom.

No hassle for your guests

Part of the fun of planning your gift list is assembling a carefully curated list of gifts for your idyllic newlywed home, and that is still part of the online gift list – your guests are thrilled to buy you these personal items you will be actually using. Whether it’s a pasta machine, new bed sheets, a waffle maker, or a brand new set of cutlery, your guests are one click away of buying you these gifts. With Wonderlists, no more hassle for your guests, no more traffic, and no more waiting in the cue at the bank or store; it’s the easy way around in gifting.  

Every budget is catered for

In addition to the extensive variety of products, Wonderlists has a wide range of price as well. People have the option to gift items ranging from 5$ up to 10K $ or even cash gift with the amount they desire. None of your guests will feel pressured to gift you something expensive, but instead, they have the choice to contribute in any item you chose for them on your wedding list!

WONDERLISTS is the most flexible online wedding gift list. We’re free to set up, free to use, and free for your guests. Cash gifted by your loved ones can be spent in an unrivaled selection of places, from premier department stores to dream holidays – the choice is entirely yours!

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A 1960’S GIFT LIST VS. A MODERN DAY GIFT LIST

If you come to think about it, marriage during our grandparent’s era was quite different from today's’ marriage. How is that?

Back in time, when our grandparents got married, their wedding gift list was restricted to some traditional and antique items their guests chose for them. We got the chance to ask our grandparents, great aunts and uncles and some relatives about some of the items they were gifted and here’s a list of the few things they received:

•   “Monet” paintings

•   Mysterious birds’ statues  

•   Silver trays

•   Hand-engraved mirrors

•   Porcelain tea cups

•   Vintage candleholders

•   Everyday china

•   Jerren Kebbeh

•   Immortal antique clocks

The list above clearly illustrates the fact that these objects are rarely used and inconvenient to nowadays’ needs. Your great relatives might probably gift you one of those traditional items which will be scattered in your attic along with a bunch of stuff you barely use or even think of unwrapping.

Today, although couples may already have the essentials, they will certainly use their gift list to upgrade to items that are of better quality and designer branded. Below are a few of the items that couples request for their wedding gift list:

•   Sheets and blankets

•   A set of saucepans

•   Honeymoon accommodation

•   Honeymoon flight upgrades

•   Garden and BBQ goodies

•   Department store gift vouchers

•   High-end dinner service

•   A set of wine glasses

•   Tilt-head stand mixer

•   Coffee & espresso machine

•   Smart TV & surround system

In today’s digital era, technology has become an indispensable source, making our lives easier and practical on all levels. Wonderlists, being an online wedding list platform, is designed to provide modern couples with the greatest choice, flexibility and convenience in building a gift list tailored to their tastes. Wonderlists CEO quoted the following: “We are reinventing the traditional wedding gift registry and providing an easy-to-build, easy-to-manage and an easy-to-share online registry full of products you actually want; your guests will love buying them for you!”  

At Wonderlists, it is guaranteed that any item you choose and receive will fit your desires and necessities for your brand new home.

Hence, choose wisely!

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YOUR NEW PERSONAL SHOPPER, AT YOUR SERVICE

If you haven’t been told already, we are glad to announce that you have won the golden ticket! How is that?

Getting married is pretty much close to celebrating your 5th birthday party with your family and best friends; in other words, receiving everything you wished for! A new home means a brand new surround system, new kitchen appliances, a set of shining cutlery, the biggest smart TV for your new living room, and even a brand new ice cream maker for your exquisite summer gatherings.

We are aware of the fact that there are new products every single day. The wider the variety, the more difficult it becomes for you to choose the brands and products that match your style and home!

Wonderlists is here to make your life much easier and hassle-free. With our experienced team members, your wedding gift list can be perfectly tailor-made, fitting your personal taste and style. All you have to do is ask for their help and they’ll be happy to assist you. Our personal shoppers will prudently choose the gifts your hearts have always desired through our extensive list of brands and products. Their ultimate goal is choosing gifts that match your personal style through our wide list of products. Not to mention that if you have already checked out a product that might not be available on the website, our personal shoppers can easily find if for you!

Wonderlists’ personal shoppers are continuously seeking new brands and products, exploring the market and adhering to new trends and upcoming products.

“Trends come and go, but these reputable brands have co-existed for centuries and are still surviving with the new eras, new trends and new technologies. The more we open our eyes, the better we serve our customers!”, stated one of our professional personal shoppers.

Your wedding day is approaching and you are still drowning in all this ‘wedding-hassle’ thing, our personal shoppers are one phone call away to advise you and guide you through your wedding gift list and even manage the list on your behalf.

At the end of the day, your wedding gift list might be a tiny detail on your big day, but we guarantee that it will be a memorable experience!

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GIFTING FROM YOUR GUESTS’ PERSPECTIVE

In our first blog, we shared some top tips to help couples create their perfect gift list. However, it is ultimately your friends and relatives who will be going through your list and choosing a gift for you; so this blog helps explain how the gifting process on Wonderlists works - we hope this will make it simple and easy for each of your guests!

Review the list

Whether it’s your first time using Wonderlists or not, we’ve found that, as a guest, you tend to scroll through all the couple’s selected gifts before making a decision about which one to buy. When making this decision, you will usually consider budget, taste, personal preference or previous experiences. You could end up choosing one gift, a cash gift, several smaller items or an expensive gift you want to contribute to along with other guests. All that’s left to do is checkout and pay online using our secure payment gateway, or any of the 800+ Bank of Beirut finance Western Union branches. 

Choosing the perfect gift

The good thing about this gifting method is that you don’t need to worry that the couple might not like your gift because all gifts on the list are handpicked by the couple themselves.

Since money is not the gift here, the biggest number isn’t the winner. The couple will enjoy the fact that you took the time to scroll through the gifts and chose the gift which resembles you the most. A wedding gift is a gesture made to wish the couple well on their new lives together, so choose one which will remind them of you always!

Testimonial

Finally, here’s what one of the guests who bought a gift on Wonderlists last year had to say about his experience:

‘My first experience using an online wedding registry was last July when I was invited to my friend’s wedding and they had chosen Wonderlists for their wedding gift list. It was completely different from the traditional registries available in Lebanon. I found using Wonderlists very user-friendly, time efficient and heartfelt. I scrolled through the gift list, found a gift which caught my attention, signed the guest book, entered my credit card details, and a minute later I was done. I would definitely recommend Wonderlists to anyone looking for a registry which would make both the couple’s and the guests’ lives easier. Hopefully I will be able to use it soon myself!’

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HOW TO PREPARE YOUR WEDDING GIFT LIST: TOP 5 TIPS

After choosing the perfect wedding venue, finding your dream dress, deciding which of the dozen cakes you’ve tasted is ‘the one’ and finalizing your seating plan, it’s now time to tackle your wedding gift list. At Wonderlists, we believe this can be one of the most fun and memorable parts of planning your wedding and have provided our top tips on preparing the perfect wedding gift list.

Start Early

Preparing a personalized and carefully thought through gift list can be time consuming but means that the gifts you receive will remind you not only of your wedding day, but also of all the friends and family who shared it with you for many years to come. Give yourselves time to pull together your perfect wedding gift list - start early (ideally a couple of months before you send out the invitations) and remember you don’t need to do this all in one go! Once you’ve created an account and begun to build your gift list, you can always come back and add more items later. Your guests will be able to use the link you share with them to choose a gift for you and can also leave a special message in your guest book. Finally, don’t forget to go through your list a week or two before your wedding day in case you want to make any final changes.

Add Variety

Keep in mind to include a wide variety of additional items on your list because your guests will appreciate having a broad range of gifts to choose from – your list should be varied both in terms of price and product range to cater for your guests’ different budget categories. Wonderlists can provide you with a selection of over 2000 gifts, making it easy to choose items which match your taste and style and which you feel you can benefit from. You also have the added flexibility of adding gift cards or charity donations to your gift list.

Choose Things You Love

Don’t restrict your choices. Whether you are looking for furniture, home decor, high-end cookware, or any other products, make sure what you are adding reflects both your tastes. Remember those gifts will soon become part of life together, and hopefully serve as a reminder of your wedding for many years to come!

A Helping Hand 

We understand that not all your guests will be technology savvy or comfortable buying gifts online. Wonderlists provides an offline payment solution, 24/7 live chat support and customer support over the phone in order to help you make the gifting process as smooth and simple as possible for your guests.

Say Thank You

It can be easy to forget to thank your guests amidst the wedding and honeymoon hype. Don’t worry, we have taken care of that for you and will make sure that it is easy and quick to thank your guests for their generous gifts. When purchasing a gift for you, your guests will be asked whether they would like to sign the guest book. You will then get an instant notification, and can reply to each of them separately or set an automatic reply message to all your guests!