There is a story in Maori folklore that tells of a great love that had been planted by the ancestors, Hinemoa and Tutanekai, on the Island of Mokoia. Their endless, amazing love is accepted as one of the greatest love stories ever told, and the tale is passed down from one generation to the next.
Today, this love is evidenced in their traditional weddings, which they are performed with a blessing from a priest (Maori Tohunga) and their sacred ancestry Takitimu Canoe.
It is interesting to note that before they were colonised, the Maori people did not have a marriage ceremony for low-ranking tribe members. However, hapū (clan) and whānau (extended family) were required to approve unions. Maori marriage became legally recognised in 1909.
Despite its history, Maori weddings have quite a few traditions. Here are some of them:
The Welcome Call (Te Karanga)
Just before the couple enters the Maori Village or the wedding location, a traditional welcome call echoes across the courtyard. Its purpose is to invite the bride and groom onto the sacred land.
There are only a few locations where Maori weddings are allowed to take place, traditionally. Included in the list of locations is Mokoia Island, Tamaki Village, Pohutu Geyser, Aorangi Peak, Four Canoes, and Fairy Springs, according to Weddings Guide.
Song and Dance (Te Powhiri)
Once they enter the location, a local tribe will perform a traditional song and dance for the bridal party.
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This is followed by a practice called the Hongi, or the touching of the nose. It is a gesture that indicates goodwill and friendship between parties, according to Maori Weddings.
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Wedding ceremony and Vows (Te Marena)
There are two different ways the ceremony and vows are reported to take place.
In the first instance, the priest commences the ceremony and the couple exchange vows, after which they are serenaded with a love song called “Pokarekare ana”.
In the second instance, the ceremony (called the Korowai Ceremony) is performed, and it is followed by a romantic gesture in which the husband places a Korowai (cloak of love) around his new wife. This is said to symbolise how his love will surround her for the rest of their lives.
Priest Blessing (Te Manaakitanga)
Thereafter, a priest blesses the couple, and people give Toanga (gifts) to the couple. Finally, the ceremony is closed with Hongi.
According to Weddings Guide, the Maori people believe that when God created humans, he breathed life into their nostrils. When Maori couples perform Hongi they unite their breaths of life as one.
Departure (Te Haere Atu)
The bridal party are sent off with a traditional song and dance.
Feast and Celebrations (Te Hakari)
In celebration of the special day, they organise a night of food and entertainment. They have a Hangi feast (a traditional Māori meal is essentially a feast cooked in an earth oven for several hours) and the Maori tribe honours the bride and groom. Festivities continue until late into the night.
Read the story of Hinemoa and Tutanekai here.
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Buttercream, fondant, and frosting are great, but a naked wedding cake is just as good. As we all know, its what’s on the inside that counts.
The naked wedding cake trend grew in popularity around 2013. It’s rustic look, creating a refined and elegant vibe on confection tables around the world is what drew people to it.
Not only is it visually pleasing, the naked cake comes with other advantages too. Since they dry out quicker than cakes with frosting or fondant, they are often made as close to the time of the celebration as possible. This means you’ll have the freshest cake for your wedding. It also is often significantly cheaper, as intricate frosting details cost much more since they’re labour intensive.
For those who are less of a sweet-tooth type, the naked cake also provides the perfect balance between fillings and spongy cake.
Whether you’re looking for a twist on the common wedding cake, or you’re just not into the sweetness, the naked wedding cake is perfect for any wedding theme. Find your inspiration from these cakes that bare it all:
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Feature image: Unsplash
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The groom’s attire often seems much less important than the brides look for the day. However, the suit is an indispensable part of the wedding.
While we all know the suit is a key element, its history is much less documented than the wedding dress. However, there is a short story of where it all began.
According to the TM Lewin blog, back in the 1650s, men’s wedding attire was all about tight-fitting breeches and frock coats. This trend, however, quickly made its way out.
When King George IV married Princess Caroline of Brunswick in 1795, the trends of the time required that groom’s dress just as extravagantly as brides. He wore silks, velvet, and pearls to the wedding, and even sported some stockings. It was not uncommon for grooms to wear furs, silvers and golds, and even precious gems. Of course, not everybody could afford this, so those who couldn’t dressed very simply, wearing their everyday clothes. This continued until around the early 1800s.
Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha married Queen Victoria in 1840. This moment marked a massive change in groom’s attire. The prince donned his Field Marshall’s uniform, and this is a tradition that persists until today in royal weddings. Prince Albert also wore a morning suit on the day. The suit takes inspiration for its cut and tails from the Field Marshal uniform, which meant more clean lines and precision.
Morning suits then took off and became very popular. From 1850 onwards, the tailcoat was only worn on special occasions.
In the 1920s the Stresemann style suit was created, and it became a popular alternative for grooms.
According to M. Muller & Sohn, it was around the 1930s when the tuxedo came onto the scene. The British creation was, at first, only worn by men who attended men’s clubs. This quickly grew in popularity and became the picture of presentability.
From here, different shapes, cuts and colours were incorporated. In the 1940s grooms preferred wide-peaked lapels and in the 1960s bell-bottomed trousers were all the rage. The double-breasted suit became popular 20 years later, in the 80s.
Today, the options are endless and the style of the suit depends, mostly, on the theme of the wedding.
Feature image: Unsplash
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A wedding photoshoot should be magical, as you capture yourselves looking your best, feeling your best, and deeply in love on your most special day. An unexpected dip in the ocean, however, may turn things upside down a bit.
A newly-wed couple took to Laguna’s Treasure Island Beach in California for their wedding photoshoot. Things were going well, until they were unexpectedly hit by a wave and pulled out into the water.
Luckily, an onlooker witnessed the entire incident from a lookout close to a hotel by the beach, and alerted authorities, who rushed out to help the couple. Several lifeguards made their way into the water, and rescued the bride and groom.
According to abc7, both the bride and groom had no serious injuries.
In a video captured by an onlooker, the couple can be seen going about their business until a wave hits them. Thereafter, the video cuts to the couple being rescued from the ocean.
See it happen here:
Image: Screenshot from video