If you’ve spent most of your life with your nose buried in a book, a library is the perfect place to tie the knot. This way, you can honour your love of reading without making it a wedding theme that you may deem tacky in a few decades.
There are beautiful libraries across the globe that also double as wedding venues. Here are a few of our favourites.
Centre for the Book – Cape Town
The Centre for the Book in Cape Town city centre has a mission is to promote a culture of reading, writing and publishing in local languages. The library is dedicated to providing book publishing information and advice as well as advocating for, and promoting the culture of, reading, writing and publishing in South Africa.
The building has a stunning domes strium for the central reading room, and a hall that is perfect for receptions.
George Peabody Library – Baltimore
Opened in 1878, this library is widely recognised as one of the most beautiful library spaces in the world. It was designed by Baltimore architect Edmund G. Lind, in collaboration with the Peabody Institute’s first provost, Dr. Nathaniel H. Morison.
Six tiers of stately cast-iron columns and ornate railings embellished with gold leaf encircle the Reading Room, creating an ambiance that is both enchanting and scholarly. Filled with over 300,000 volumes of books, the Library creates a stunning backdrop for ceremonies and receptions, providing each with a timeless and storied setting to create your personal memories.
The New York Public Library – New York
Founded in 1895, the New York Public Library is an historic institution and highly sought-after wedding venue. It was even featured in the Sex and the City movie as the place where Carrie got stood up on her wedding day.
The Library’s landmark Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is a quintessential New York City icon. Located in the heart of Manhattan, this magnificent Beaux-Arts building caters to intimate gatherings and lavish extravaganzas, lending a sense of grandeur and distinction to any occasion.
Chawton House Library – Hampshire
This stunning restored Elizabethan library located just outside of London was once owned by Jane Austen’s brother. The famous author would often visit the location, and would refer to it as the ‘Great House’ in her letters.
Licensed for civil ceremonies, Chawton House is one of the most unique wedding venues in the UK. As you sweep up the imposing drive, Chawton House welcomes you into an era of elegance, grace and wit. Follow in Jane Austen’s footsteps by dining in the Oak Room, dancing in the Great Hall or strolling across the South Lawn to a classic marquee with your own Mr Darcy or Miss Bennet.
The Signet Library – Edinburgh, Scotland
The Signet Library, situated in the very heart of Edinburgh, Scotland and just a stone’s throw from St Giles Cathedral, is the unique wedding venue of choice for brides and grooms who are searching for a magical combination of breathtaking setting, gorgeous design and details.
There are several rooms to accommodate nuptials of any scale. The Lower Library is perfect for a drinks and canapés reception. The Upper Library can accommodate 50-220 guests for any type of reception from a wedding breakfast to an evening affair.
The Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Missouri
What makes this venue truly unique is its giant display of books outside the library, which makes for the perfect backdrop for book-lovers.
The Central Library offers Kansas City’s smartest wedding venue that will make your day truly special. Simply choose from one of their unique space options that will wow and energise all of your guests. Ceremony rentals include the space, setup/teardown, furniture, bridal/groomsmen dressing rooms, and a rehearsal time.
West Dean College – West Sussex
With award-winning gardens and a gorgeous backdrop, West Dean College and Gardens in West Sussex is the perfect venue for a wedding reception. The unique historic character and beautiful surroundings create a perfect venue set in the picturesque South Downs countryside.
Be wined and dined in the Old Library, Music Room or Old Dining Room or, for larger celebrations, all three rooms are interconnecting. Dinners can be arranged for 10-90 guests. Glittering chandeliers and walls graced with original artwork provide a warm and elegant space with sense of occasion.
The Last Bookstore, Los Angeles
California’s largest new and used book and record store was featured in Flavorwire’s list of The 20 Most Beautiful Bookstores In The World, so it must be something special. It features tunnels of books and tons of open space. This venue is perfect for intimate wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Feature image: Instagram
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Dancing brings people together. Whether you’re a professional or you have two left feet, it’s always fun. At weddings, especially the westernized ones, everyone awaits the newlyweds’ first dance and as it happens they watch in awe.
In other countries around the world, however, there are other dances that are equally – if not more – important. Wedding dance traditions are more diverse and varying than you could ever imagine.
Here are 5 wedding dance traditions from around the world:
Halay
One of the most common folk dances for Turkish weddings, halay is a dance done to a song which is a cycle of the same melody which starts off slow and increases in speed. People hold hands or are intertwined in some way, and dance (commonly in a line).
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The Tsamiko, The Zeibekiko, and the Sirtaki
Traditional Greek wedding dances centre around guests holding hands and dancing in a circle.
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A Sword Dance
Scottish weddings come with a few traditions around dance. At the reception the first dance is the bride and groom dancing a traditional reel. Thereafter, the bride dances with a guest who has “the highest rank among the guests”.
The very last dance is the Sword Dance. As it is performed guests form a circle and sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’, a traditional song.
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Ceilidh dance
This is the traditional dance at Irish weddings. It is to be performed with a ceilidh band.
Some ceilidh dances are named after locations, for example “Seige of Ennis”. Many newly-weds opt for songs which pay homage to the heritage of their family or to their ancestors.
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The “Horah”
This is a Middle Eastern/Israeli style of dance usually played as a second dance set.
Dancing is a big part of Jewish weddings. Often, it is the tradition that guests at the wedding entertain the newly wedded couple through dance, rather than the couple being centre stage.
The “Horah” is only one Jewish wedding dance traditions. Others include The Krenzl, The Mizinke, and The Mitzvah tantz.
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Image: Pixabay
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Most, if not all, mothers dream of the day their daughters will walk down the aisle. Often, they also imagine that their little girls will be happy to wear their wedding dresses from decades passed.
While this is an easy ‘yes’ for some brides-to-be, others may be a bit on the fence. Don’t feel bad about it! There is nothing wrong with wanting to be completely original on your special day.
A practice of tradition for some and sentiment for others, wearing your mothers wedding dress can have a lot of meaning behind it. However, you may (like many others) be willing to give up this custom in favour of individuality and self-expression.
To help you weigh up your options, here are some pros and cons of wearing your mother’s wedding dress:
Pros:
– Your mom will be over the moon
This is a beautiful way to honour your mother, and it will definitely make her happier than words can explain. A mother loves to see herself in her daughter.
– Money and time saved
Finding a wedding dress takes a lot of time. It includes several trips to various bridal stores and many fittings too. All of this will vanish if you use your mother’s wedding dress.
You know what else will disappear? The hole in your pocket in the shape of a gown. The money directed towards your dress will dramatically decrease.
– Possibility of alterations
You could alter the dress to keep the pieces of your moms dress that you love, and include parts of a dress that you’d love personally. You could get the best of both worlds.
Cons:
– Less exciting
While shopping may be a big task, it is very exciting. Your girls and your mom, all the special ladies in your life, accompany you to find the dress of your dreams. You may miss out on that experience.
– May make you feel overly cautious
Of course all brides are careful when it comes to their wedding dresses. However, when it’s an heirloom passed down to you, you may feel extra-stiff on your wedding day as you don’t want to spill anything on it or damage it in any way. This could make you a bit uncomfortable on your special day.
– Lack of individuality and orginality
You may feel a bit like it’s not your dress. This will be unpleasant and can put a damper on the day.
Image: Unsplash
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Same-sex marriage hasn’t been legal worldwide for very long. Many partners lived together and held ceremonies but as the world has changed more and more countries strive for marriage equality.
Here are some of the first couples to marry in their country once they were allowed. These are the first legal marriages, people had been living together, in civil unions and holding unofficial ceremonies for years.
Netherlands, 2000
The Netherlands was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage. The law was signed in December and four couples simultaneously became the first to be legally married.
According to BBC, the four couples responded to an advert in Gay Krant, the magazine that led the campaign for equal marriage in the company.
They were married the moment the law came into effect, cementing them as the first.
Canada, 2003
In Canada, same-sex marriage was legalised in different provinces at different times but was made universal in 2005. In Ontario, it has became legal in 2003.
Michael Stark and Michael Leshner became the first couple to be married in June 2003 after the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld a lower court ruling to legally allow such marriages.
Spain, 2005
Spain has a documented same-sex marriage from 1901, and it was legal. This was only because one of the women pretended to be her partners male cousin.
Marcela Gracia Ibeas and Elisa Sánchez Loriga, were married in A Coruña (Galicia, Spain). Elisa took on the false name and male identity Mario Sánchez, which was listed on the marriage certificate.
However, the first legal marriage after a change in the laws was between Emilio Menendez and Carlos Baturin. The two had been together for thirty years before they got hitched.
According to Business Insider, Menendez’s 88-year-old mother Marina was so happy about the wedding she paid for their honeymoon.
South Africa, 2006
Despite having it in the constitution that South Africans can’t be discriminated against on the basis of their sexuality, same-sex marriage was only legalised in 2006.
The first couple to marry under this new law were Vernon Gibbs and Tony Halls who exchanged vows at the Home Affairs in George, Western Cape.
The occasion was joyous, despite the two death threats the couple received before the wedding.
Argentina, 2010
Alex Freyre and José María Di Bello were not only the first to be married but were actually legally married before same-sex marriage became legal across the country.
Their marriage sparked much debate as they were originally given permission to marry by a judge in Buenos Aires gave them permission to marry on November 20 2009, but that decision was overturned by a national judge on November 23. This was then again overturned by the Buenos Aires judge the next day.
Eventually they were given permission by the governor of Ushuaia.
The next year in 2010, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner officially signed equal gay marriage rights into law for the entire country.
England and Wales, 2014
England and Wales legalised same-sex marriage in March 2014.
United States, 2015
The different states in the United States legalised same-sex marriage at different times.
The first legal same-sex marriage happened in 2004 in Massachusetts after the state’s Supreme Court overturned its ban. Marcia Kadish and Tanya McCloskey married a year after this ban was overturned.
However, it was only in 2015 that same-sex marriage was legalised across the country after a landmark legal case.
Many took the opportunity across the country to get married on the same day as the ruling passed.
Germany, 2017
Germany legalised same-sex marriage in 2017, with the first same-sex wedding took place in the same month.
Karl Kreile and Bodo Mende, who had been together for 38 years, got married in the town hall of Schöneberg, Berlin.
Australia, 2017
Australia legalised same-sex marriage in 2017 after a voluntary postal survey of all Australians resulted in 61.6% of respondents supporting legalisation of same-sex marriage.
The first same-sex wedding was held on 15 December 2017 when Jill Kindt and Jo Grant tied the knot. Sadly, they were only married for 48 days as Jo had been terminally ill with cancer and died in January 2018. The two had been together eight years before their wedding.
Taiwan, 2019
In 2019, Taiwan became the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage. Hundreds of couples got married a week after parliament passed the new law but Marc Yuan and Shane Lin were the ones to sign the first wedding certificate.
Feature Image: @promuzi/Twitter