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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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.
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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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Finding the perfect wedding gown is a dream come true, and whether you’re buying yours off the market or having it designed specifically for you, there are a couple of things to look for in a wedding dress, aside from it looking amazing.
While style is important, there are a number of elements to consider when choosing a gown that will greatly impact on how it looks on you. Here is what to keep in mind:
COMFORT
It is so important to ensure that you feel comfortable in your dress. You will be spending a fair amount of time in it and besides the wedding nerves, you don’t want to aggravate any stressful feelings by having a dress that is heavy, painful to wear or inconvenient on the dance floor.
For example, if you love the look of a corset but find its boning is affecting your ability to breathe, you need to have that refitted or simply opt to not have one.
SIZING
It is common for brides to order a dress in a smaller size to motivate them to lose some weight before the big day. We advise against this, as it can bring unnecessary stress and pressure. There is always room to pinch in some extra fabric at a later stage, but there is little you can do about a dress that is too small.
FABRIC
Choosing the right fabric can make all the difference – it can change the look, feel and cost of your dress. Be sure to know what fabric you want and why before deciding on your dress. Stay away from fabrics that won’t wash well, are too hot, see-through or will reveal any sweat stains.
You have to consider where you will be holding your wedding and the weather of the day. A velvet dress isn’t the best choice for a summer beach wedding, and a strapless chiffon number might leave you feeling frosty during an outdoor winter wedding in the mountains.
SEASONAL
Remember to keep the season in mind when picking your perfect gown. You may want to add sleeves if you’re having an autumn/winter wedding or opt for less fabric during a summer wedding. Whether your big day will be outdoors or not is also a factor to keep in mind when thinking about style, especially if you don’t want a low hem or long train to get dirty outside.
MOVE ON
Once you have settled on your gown, stop looking for other options. This will only cause unnecessary stress. If you’re ever feeling unsure, sneak a try-on (carefully, of course) or look at some snaps of you in the gown to remember why it’s perfect and why you love it.
Your dress should be one that captures your personality while emphasizing your best qualities, but it’s not all about the looks. Try to remember all of the smaller details about the dress that will make it perfect for you and your wedding.
Feature image: Unsplash
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You’re engaged and you want to flaunt your ring all day, every day, we don’t blame you. But wearing a new and expensive piece of jewellery 24/7 takes some getting used to and there are times and places not to wear your engagement ring to keep it safe and sound.
Here are some places you might want to go ring-free:
The beach
You want to take a selfie in your stellar bikini and show off your gorgeous ring but there’s a risk of losing it in the sand or the water. Sand can also easily get into the ring setting or under your stone.
The gym
You could probably wear your ring during cardio but if you’re doing weights don’t even try it. The strong pressure of the weights could bend the band and if you have a pavé band it’s possible that the smaller stones may fall out of the setting if it takes too many knockings.
The shower
This one may be obvious but it’s easy to forget to take off your ring if you’re in a rush to shower. Shampoos, body washes, soaps, hair and beauty products all cause a residue buildup either on or under your stone which is difficult to clean. Also remember to be careful when you’re applying lotion or hair serum with your ring on.
The pool / jacuzzi
Chlorine in pool water can cause damage to your ring, and over time it will discolour the metal of your ring band.
While cleaning
Whether you’re cleaning the oven or your car or even just washing the dishes, take your ring off! If you have a coloured stone you need to be even more careful because the chemicals from the detergents can erode the finish and polish of the stone.
Feature image: Pexels