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    Wedding traditions that sybolise unity
    In Weddings

    Wedding traditions that symbolise unity

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    A wedding is often considered the ultimate show of unity, between a couple. Two people are taking the biggest step that they can, to show that they are committed to living a life together, no matter what comes their way.

    Some might say that a wedding ceremony on its own is enough celebrate this massive step. But what of symbolism and gestures?

    If you’re the type of couple who appreciates a good symbolic gesture, then read on. Across the world, different cultures have developed various wedding practices that indicate unity. These are carried out at ceremonies and celebrations.

    Here are some examples from around the world:

    Blanket wrapping

    In general, Native Americans partake in the practice of wrapping a newlywed couple in a quilt, to symbolise warmth and togetherness.

    However, when it comes to the ancient Cherokee’s specifically, each partner is individually wrapped in a blue blanket, before an efficient blesses their marriage. Thereafter, they are covered in one white blanket.

    The colour blue is said to represent their past lives and the white is symbolic of their dedication to ensuring there is peach in their new life.

    Lighting a fire 

    An old tradition in Africa uses fire to show the union of two families, by joining the embers of two flames from each family’s hearth.

    These days, newlyweds may use a modification of this tradition, by lighting a fire together.

    Circle the Groom 

    Or the bride, for that matter.

    In one Jewish tradition, one partner circles the other seven times to break down barriers between them, ensuring that they are unified. In the past, it was customary for the bride to circle the groom, however, these days each partner circles around the other.

    Handfasting 

    This ancient Celtic practice requires the couple to tie their hands together. The bride and groom hold opposite hands, which means their arms make an 8 (or infinity). Thereafter, their hands are tied together with a ribbon.

    Other

    Other practices, which are not connected to regions, cultures, or religions, can also be cute ways to show unity at your wedding.

    Couples have planted trees together, created time capsules and painted one picture on one canvas together,

    Image: Unsplash

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    The popularity and controversy of "Here comes the bride"
    In Weddings

    The popularity and controversy of “Here comes the bride”

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    The first thing you think when you picture a bride making her way down the aisle is “here comes the bride, all dressed in white”, right? It is probably the most popular wedding processional song out there. But did you know it wasn’t actually meant to be a wedding song, and in fact there has been lots of opposition to its use?

    The song was not written with the intention of it being a wedding song. “Here Comes The Bride comes from Richard Wagner’s 1860 opera called Lohengrin. At the beginning of Act Three, the song appears. In the opera, it is sung as members of a wedding party escort the bride and groom to their bridal chambers. The story ends in tragedy, however, as the bride dies of grief after the groom is forced to leave her. Strange that a song with this history would become attached to weddings forever, right?

    “Here comes the Bride”, also known as the “Bridal Chorus“, is commonly believed to have first been heard at Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise’s wedding, 162 years ago, according to Time. The princess, who was Queen Victoria’s oldest child married Frederick William IV of Prussia on Jan. 25, 1858, in the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace.

    While the tune is still popular at weddings today, although slightly less common than it used to be, there has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding it.

    Some members of the Roman Catholic Church, and more conservative-leaning denominations frown on the use of “Here comes the Bride” for a few reasons including: the fact that it comes from a secular body of work, the original context of the song was not that of a wedding professional, and that Wagnerian operas tend to incorporate “pagan” elements.

    In addition, the composer of the song is known for his anti-Semitic views. The Jewish Virtual Library details the controversy around Wagner, and why the bridal chorus is often not used in Jewish weddings. They include the fact that Wagner was of the opinion that people of the Jewish faith lacked the ability for elegant and sophisticated musical expression.

    Many are unaware of the unsavoury history of the song. It is true that many things get trivialised as time passes. However, it is always good to know the background of something before going with it.

    If the Bridal Chorus feels uncomfortable now, there is always the Wedding March, which is also believed to have first been heard at Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise’s wedding. The song was also not intended for weddings, but rather was the product of composer Felix Mendelssohn’s hard work for an  1842 production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, according to Time.

    In fact, these days most couples opt for popular songs on the circuit or songs which mean something special to them and are significant in their relationship.

    Picture: Unsplash

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    Lupita Nyong'o joins brother's wedding virtually
    In Celebs

    Lupita Nyong’o joins brother’s wedding virtually

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    As we all know by now, the virtual wedding has taken the world by storm as coronavirus prevents families from joining their loved one’s ceremonies in person. While some are saddened by the fact that they must join the party via video, others are grateful that technology allows them to stay close even when they’re far away.

    Lupita Nyong’o is one of those who fall into the category of being happy that the technology exists. Without it, she wouldn’t have witnessed her brother’s wedding.

    The actress tuned in to her younger brother, Peter (Junior) Nyong’o’s nuptials via video this week. Lupita is in the US, and her brother is in Kenya.

    Like a proud big sister, Nyong’o shared snaps from little bro’s wedding (including her setup), captioning it: “Yup, he is off the market, folks! Sharing a moment of joy in my family’s life when my sweet, gentle, loving baby brother @juniornyongo made his declaration of love to his new bride @wanjawohoro this week.”

    “I still cannot believe I was not physically present, but thank God for technology! Welcome to the family, Wanja” she added.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRMsdKpYpf/

    In a post to Instagram, Wanja Wohoro, the bride, said of their wedding: “Not the wedding we planned originally, but ultimately even more perfect and intimate than we could have ever imagined.”

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDQ4-hKgh2V/

    Of course, congratulations came pouring in for the pair. Those sending their love included Star Wars actor John Boyega, who commented on both Lupita and Peter’s Instagram post’s.  He wrote, “Yessss brooo congrats” on Peter’s upload.

    Image: Instagram / Lupita Nyong’o

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    Woman spontaneously photographs strangers' intimate wedding
    In News

    Woman spontaneously photographs strangers’ intimate wedding

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    With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, most couples are significantly scaling down their wedding ceremonies. This means that many are not making use of traditional vendors such as photographers.

    One New York couple decided they would marry on the Brooklyn Bridge, with nothing but an officiant and a stunning view. However, they were in luck as a woman passing by decided it would be a terrible shame for them to go without a single wedding photo to remember the day by.

    Nevona Friedman took a stroll on the Brooklyn Bridge on Sunday, 26 July. Along the way, she stumbled upon a couple getting married all by their lonesome, apart from the officiant. She decided she would help out by snapping some shots of the special moment.

    “I realized there was no one else there — no family watching or photographer. I really can’t imagine getting married with no photos,” she told the New York Post.

    Excited to share what she’d done, and hopefully find the couple to gift them with the photos, she took to Twitter.

    “If you were getting married on the Brooklyn Bridge this evening, I’ve got some photos for you!” she wrote.

    According to the New York Post, Friedman went on a search for the couple, tagging as many journalists as she could and posting the photo to various social media groups. She eventually found a mutual friend who put her in touch with the bride, Nikolina Kovalenko, a 32-year-old artist from Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

    After getting engaged last month, Kovalenko and her now-husband, Stefan Ponova (30), decided they would have a wedding without all the fuss.

    “We knew we wouldn’t be able to have a wedding where all our friends and family could attend,” she told The Post. Their lack of photographer was in an effort to keep to social distancing regulations and not put anyone at risk.

    Another Twitter user seems to have captured the ceremony too and posted his photograph in the comments of Friedman’s post.

    Other Twitter users responded overwhelmingly positively, with one saying that this is all you need for a wedding.

    Image: Twitter / Nevona

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    Bridal beauty from around the world
    In Beauty

    Bridal beauty from around the world

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    It’s easy to think that popular bridal fashion, including makeup, attire, accessories and more is the same everywhere. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Across the world, bridal beauty looks differ depending on where you go.

    Of course, they’re all stunning. But an Indian bride, a Chinese Bride, and a European bride, for example, are all likely to look and be dressed completely differently on their big days.

    That being said, you’re probably wondering how exactly bridal beauty looks on different parts of the globe. Well, wonder no longer, here are 6 different ways brides are styled from around the world:

    Japan

    The look Japanese brides go for will differ depending on their religion. However, modern brides often opt for a red or white kimono. Traditionally, a Japanese bride would paint her face white, but now they go for more natural makeup looks. An up-do with floral accessories are common for their hairstyles on their big day.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BfQhJyYH5EN/

    Djibouti

    In this East African country, brides adorn the faces with gold chains. Often the nose is pierced before the wedding, and is decorated with a chain.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BXS6Aw_H4U0/

    Nigeria 

    Nigerian bridal looks differ widely within the country, as Nigeria has about 250 ethnic groups within it. For this reason, traditions differ. However, it is common for Nigerian brides to wear bright colours and to wear a head tie called a Gele.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B3EUD32g8fY/

    Yemen

    In Yemen, brides start their beauty regimes up to five days before the wedding. Included in this is the Hammam Turkish bathing tradition. Yemeni brides wear henna on their hands and feet, and they don gold or silver jewellery and veils.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BMHwwitBby7/

    India 

    Indian brides, specifically those who are loyal to Hinduism, wear red on their wedding day. Nose rings are considered a mark of beauty and thus they are very popular for brides in India. Henna decorates the bride’s hands, and black Kajal emphasises her eyes.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CDOe4NBAIJk/

    Armenia 

    In Armenia, it is common for brides to thread the entirety of their faces before the wedding. This is to ensure a smooth looking profile on the big day. Their style is similar to that of an American bride.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZbVpSH6Qn/

    Feature image: Unsplash

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    A chance encounter: Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka's love story
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    A chance encounter: Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka’s love story

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    As far as love stories go, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka’s definitely rank on our list of favourites. Starting with a chance encounter and ending in happily ever after, one might echo the famous character Barney Stinson’s sentiments and call it legen-(wait for it)-DARY.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B8j5-4hFwBQ/

    At the time that the pair met, Harris was sure he’d be alone forever. In an interview with Out magazine, he said, “I remember being in my mid-twenties, lying in bed thinking… that the rest of my life would be solo.” Burtka was in a long-distance relationship at the time.

    Their first meeting in 2004 is recounted differently by both men. Burtka remembers running into Harris on the streets one day, and introducing himself as he was familiar with Harris’ work. “I thought it would be nice to know him, but I didn’t think in a million years I’d start dating him,” said Burtka.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BhCyMmThRgw/

    On the other hand, Harris recounts the meeting to Out Magazine like this: “I ran into my friend Kate one day and she was with this brooding, James Dean–type guy in a leather jacket who gave me the head nod and then turned away. I assumed he was Kate’s boyfriend and said, ‘Nicely done.’ And she said, ‘David? He’s not playing on my team, but he has a boyfriend.’”

    Shortly after, the pair began hanging out with each other platonically, and eventually Burtka called it quits with his long-distance partner. About a week after that, Harris and Burtka went on their first date to see  Taking Lives starring Angelina Jolie. Thereafter, they quickly became inseparable.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BYta_93BdzU/

    In 2005, after they’d officially become a couple, the pair moved to Los Angeles as Harris had landed the role of Barney Stinson in the hit show “How I met Your Mother”.

    Two years later, in 2007 Burtka proposed to Harris on the street corner where they met for the first time. “We were on our way to an event at an Indian casino 45 minutes out of town in a limousine, and David wanted to stop for some reason that I didn’t quite get … And then he got on one knee and proposed, and I was so freaked out by it that I said, ‘Yes,’ but I didn’t know what it meant. Then I got the ring and loved it,” Harris told Out Magazine.

    Since they hadn’t yet married, Harris proposed to Burtka the next year on Valentines Day. After two years of being engaged, the pair welcomed their twins, son Gideon Scott and daughter Harper Grace.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B0mULuflffM/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B1CCIpCB_1h/

    Finally, in 2014, they tied the knot in a wedding ceremony in Perugia, Italy and Elton John performed. Both wore Tom Ford Tuxedos and looked amazing.

    “We happily confirm that Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka were married in Italy in an intimate ceremony surrounded by their close friends and family,” Harris’ representative told People magazine.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZQILmB0oo/

    Today, the couple are known for being fun-loving and goofy, and their Halloween outfits are particularly anticipated every year.  Their love seems only to grow stronger by the year.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B6OsN-zlo-E/

    Image: Intsagram / Neil Patrick Harris

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    Man shocks girlfriend with proposal during game of Taboo
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    Man shocks girlfriend with proposal during game of Taboo

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    When we hear the phrase “your future is written in the cards”, we never expect it to be very literal. However, for this couple it was. A man used the card game called Taboo to propose to his girlfriend, completely taking her by surprise.

    Taboo is a word guessing party game. The point of the game is for a player to get their partner’s to guess the word on their cards, without using the word written on the card and without using 5 other words written on the card.

    Daunta, the man proposing, pre-arranged the Taboo cards “will”, “you”, “merry”, and “me” to come up. “Merry”, was there to ensure that his girlfriend didn’t catch on to the marriage proposal that was on its way.

    Christina, his now-fiance, had the job of ensuring that Daunta didn’t use any of the words on the card in his attempt to get others to guess the word.

    His partners guessed the words correctly, and Daunta threw the cards on the ground as they guessed each one. At the end of the round they tried to remember how many of the words they guessed correctly. In order to examine this, Daunta got down on one knee to look at the cards he threw on the floor.

    As he picked them up he read each one, “Will. You. Merry. Me”.

    It took her a while, but once she understood she was absolutely shocked!

    Watch it all happen here:

    Image: Screenshot from video

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    5 Options for your first dance as newlyweds
    In Advice

    5 Options for your first dance as newlyweds

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    The couple’s first dance at a wedding is one of the most memorable moments. All eyes are firmly glued to the newlyweds as they hold each other in a tight embrace and glide across the dance floor. It is a highly anticipated moment at any wedding.

    Since it’s such a popular part of the celebration, couples often spend days or even weeks fussing over the perfect song to dance to. Even celebrities ensure that they’ve got the perfect tune to sway to.

    Another consideration, of course, is the style of dance. There are so many options it could make your head spin (and that’s before you start practicing). Here are some of the top styles, to help you make your decision:

    The Waltz 

    Nothing really compares to the classics, and that goes for dance styles too. The Waltz has always been a popular option. There are a few different forms of this style, including American, International, French, and Viennese.

    There are some steps you’ll have to learn, of course. A few moves are what make the dance a Waltz. These include box steps and turning patterns.

    The Salsa 

    Although it is fast-paced and a bit complicated, if you’re willing to learn, the Salsa will definitely add some flavour to your wedding celebration. Its a sensual dance, perfect for newlyweds. You may, however, have to account for a costume change, to allow for extra freedom of movement, if you decided on this style.

    The Sway 

    This one is for the couples who’d prefer to not spend too much time getting to know the steps of a dance. It’s extremely simple, and even those who claim to have two left feet can easily get the hang of it.

    The Swing

    For couples who are comfortable with more complex dance moves, and are looking for something more upbeat, the swing is a great option. It fits in with a vintage style, if that’s what you’re going for with your theme, but may require you to ensure that your outfits are more comfortable than the average wedding attire, as jumps, lifts, and kicks are common in this dance style. Of course, you don’t have to add all the theatrics, you could just stick to the basics.

    The Foxtrot 

    The playful couple would most likely opt for the foxtrot. It’s a medium tempo, and takes a bit of practice, but will be well worth it.

    Image: Unsplash

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    Couple who refused small wedding contracts COVID-19
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    Couple who refused small wedding contracts COVID-19

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    Despite rules and regulations on public gatherings due to COVID-19, many are still going about their lives as usual. While many couples have significantly scaled down their weddings and others have cancelled their celebrations altogether, others refuse to do so. Now, a San Francisco couple is realizing the error of their ways.

    A couple celebrated their wedding in early July with approximately 100 guests at the SS Peter and Paul’s Church in San Francisco, California. Guests came from across the US, including Texas and Arizona. The large gathering has led to the newlyweds, along with eight of their friends, contracting coronavirus.

    The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the couple also held a rehearsal dinner on the evening before their wedding, which was attended by over 40 people.

    Despite being aware of the restrictions implemented, including a governmental order on the closure of indoor operations including religious services, the couple still held their wedding as planned. They were reportedly ware that they were breaking rules according to the Daily Mail, who claim that the father of the bride instructed guests to enter the venue from the back door so as to ensure that the event was not obviously visible.

    According to the Independent, a city official arrived at the event as guests made their way inside and instructed those participating that the wedding should not continue due to the high number of guests.

    Thereafter, the couple had a smaller ceremony with most guests watching online and some still in the church.

    However, within five days of the ceremony the couple and eight of their guests started showing symptoms and tested positive for the virus.

    According to a Pastor involved with the church,  the church had agreed to the wedding but had not agreed to the number of guests.

    “I had said to them they had to comply with the minimum number for the service and when they showed up with more people, they agreed with sending them away,” he said.

    Image: Unsplash

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    Metro FMs Lerato Kganyago gets proposal on her birthday
    In Celebs

    Metro FM’s Lerato Kganyago gets proposal on her birthday

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    Birthdays are a special day for many people. We get to feel our best, be spoiled, and we’re celebrated just for being born. Adding a proposal to a day as special as this makes it all the more amazing. Metro FM show host Lerato Kganyago had this fairytale experience last week.

    Following social distancing rules, Kganyago is currently hosting her Metro FM show from her bedroom. On Wednesday, July 22 she stuck to her routine and got on with her work. But little did she know, a surprise awaited her after.

    Once she left her room, she found her home covered in balloons and flowers. As she made her way down the staircase, words describing her covered them. “Hard worker, self-motivated, kind, joyful, strong, lovable, content, generous, intelligent, nurturer, blessed, compassionate, loving, Lerato”, were written on the steps.

    With music playing in the background, she eventually found “Will you marry me again?” written in gold on the floor.

    Kganyago was completely taken by surprise. “While I was in my bedroom doing my radio show!!! This was happening downstairs and I had NO CLUE!” she wrote on Instagram.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8VyfCpid_/

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8naCbpEAz/

    In May, Kganyago announced that she had split from her partner Thami Ndala, after they had been married for two months. In a statement, she wrote, “It is with sadness that we announce that Thami and I have decided to go our separate ways. We have come to realise that our different priorities and workloads have not afforded us the time to invest in our relationship. We will continue to care deeply for each other, and look forward to growing our friendship. We have nothing more to say on this subject and hope that our privacy will be respected during this difficult time.”

    Shortly thereafter, there was speculation that they had gotten back together.

    Now, it seems clear that the pair have reunited and are planning another trip down the aisle since the words read “will you marry me again” appeared in the video, indicating they had been married before.

    Kganyago prefers to keep her private life to herself and out of the spotlight, and she made it clear in May that she was frustrated with all the speculation about her private life. She has not tagged or mentioned her groom to be in her Instagram posts recently either.

    Image: Lerato Kganyago

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