Each item on the Sofreh in the Persian Ceremony has a symbolic significance:
Mirror and candles – purity, light and fire
Herb, spices, incense – to guard against evil spirits
Flatbread – prosperity
Eggs, almond, nuts – fertility
Honey – first taste in new life
Sugar cones – to shower couple with sugar symbolizing sweetness & happiness
Flowers – beauty
Rose water – to purify the air
Esfand – special incense burned to drive away the evil spirits
Coins – wealth
Crystallized sugar – to sweeten life for the newlyweds
Pomegranate and apple – for joyous future
Sweets and pastries – to be shared with guests (whoever eats them will have good luck)
Koran or poem – symbolizes blessing

While the Persian Officiate performed this ceremony, the bridesmaids held a cloth over the bride and groom while happily married women rubbed the two sugar cones together. After the ceremony concluded, Chad and Saura dipped their fingers in honey and put them in each other mouths to ensure a sweet and happy life.

Grandfather Henry, in true Texas flare, wore Patent leather cowboy boots purchased in Mexico and of course, a cowboy hat.

We would like to thank Rock N Robin, Lexis Florist, Kasia of Chateau Polonez , Savannah with EnVogue Events and Michaelle Janet of Trésor Photography for making the couple’s special day a wonderful success. To view the couple’s wedding slideshow, please click here: MacDonald-Sugarek Photo Slideshow.

Best wishes to Andrew & Trish for a lifetime of happiness and love!

Designers, such as Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta, featured various colored gown selections in their Spring 2012 wedding lines this year; however, blush pink seems to take top billing for popularity among this year’s modern bride.

Whereas in years’ past, the strapless gown seemed to dominate the runways and aisles of wedding culture, 2012 brides seem to be embracing long or cap sleeves and high or illusion necklines in their gowns of choice.

This year’s gowns will feature more seductive styling, such a high slits, front or back plunging V-neck lines or dramatic off-the-shoulder looks.

Sequins, beads, lace, and other sparkling embellishments appear destined to make a huge impact as the busy wedding seasons kick into high gear during the summer months of 2012.

Colored sashes are still a huge hit for dressing up even the most simplistic of wedding gowns this year. Available in many colors and adorned with everything from feathers or crystals, the most popular sash colors for this year are deep purple, blush pink, ivory, black, and champagne.

Regardless of your style or color preferences, the 2012 wedding gown trends look to equal the excitement of the brides — like YOU — that are loving every moment of their wedding planning!

Tammy and John - February 27, 2011

Tammy‘s daughter, Brooke who was married in our office February 11, 2011, introduced the couple in June of 2010. A year after their “I Do’s,” Tammy admits they both still “love it.”

What are some of Tammy and John’s secrets to a happy marriage? Keep nothing from each other, do not play games with each other’s emotions, appreciate all of the little things that your partner does, and always be considerate of each other’s feelings. Tammy says, “Being appreciative and considerate while choosing your words sweetly,” is the best advice she could give. What great advice that is!

Tammy and John enjoy riding motorcycles, competing at cook-offs with their award-winning team “Outcast Country Cookers,” and spoiling their three grandchildren: Kayleigh “Bug,” LaLa, and “Little Man” Bobo.

Happy Anniversary from all of us at Weddings Performed and Best Wishes for many more years of happiness and love!

Then.....

...and Now

Perhaps you are planning your wedding during next year’s Mardi Gras season. The possibilities are endless when it comes to incorporating a Mardi Gras theme in your wedding. Here are some examples:

Use colored Mardi Gras beads and masks for your reception tables or other areas of your venue. Another idea is to have a Mardi Gras themed costume party for your wedding and reception, giving masks and beads to guests in advance and then playing games to guess who’s who.

Zydeco and Big Band music highlights the annual celebration in New Orleans (and in Galveston, on a smaller scale). Incorporating this style of music into your wedding ceremony or reception will bring the feel of Mardi Gras to your wedding day.

For Mardi Gras themed food possibilities, consider popular Cajun or Creole dishes such as jambalaya or shrimp creole. The foods need not be spicy to be celebratory. You could also offer vegetarian dishes, such as vegetarian gumbo or red beans and rice. Your caterer can assist you with the planning of your meals.

Another possibility is planning your wedding early in the day and having a reception picnic. Baked catfish and sweet potato fries can bring a piece of New Orleans flare to any special luncheon for your wedding guests. If liquor is served, offer bourbon instead of other popular drinks. Non-alcoholic choices such as iced tea, sweetened with sugar syrup, and café au lait are wonderful choices for everyone.

You and your guests will undoubted have a great time celebrating your “I do’s” Mardi Gras-style.

Laissez les bon temps roulez! (Let the Good Times Roll!)

Source: Wedding & Romance

The couple’s story is as sweet as the two of them. Tim worked for Coca-Cola as a delivery driver; Rachel worked at a portrait studio. Rachel approached him to say “Hello,” Tim asked her out, and this began a love story that has spanned the last 7 years.

Rachel’s viewpoint regarding the wedding vow is quite memorable. She said that in marriage, disagreements are often inevitable; however, if you approach each day, “vowing” to show your children that forever is possible and focus on providing your children a better life than they could imagine, your life will be incredibly blessed. Indeed, it will, Rachel; indeed it will!

Keeping with the tradition of the Annual Valentine’s Day Wedding, SUNNY 99.1 Program Director, Marc Sherman, offered the “Irish Wedding Blessing” as a toast for the happy couple. We salute them too with well wishes for a long and blessed life together!

Blog photos courtesy of SUNNY 99.1.

Even if you are not planning to marry on Valentine’s Day this year, you can still turn your Valentine’s Day engagement into a day of beautiful wedding preparations.

For example, you could write your fiance a beautiful love letter to honor the holiday and your love. You could share the reasons you fell in love, why you’re still in love, or sweet things that you enjoy about your relationship. (This could also help you to jot some notes if you are planning personal wedding vows!)

Sample some champagne. Valentine’s Day and a little bubbly are a perfect match and this provides you the ideal opportunity to sample possible wedding day drink choices to ensure you choose the best.

If you have chosen your first dance song, you could use Valentine’s Day to slow dance around your living room, envisioning your wedding day. If you have not picked your song, what better day for sappy love song choices than Valentine’s Day? Turn on your radio and see what inspires you!

After you write the love letter, sample the champagne, and have your sweet slow dance with your love, practice your first kiss. Valentine’s Day was meant to be sealed with a kiss. You could use the holiday as an opportunity to practice your first kiss as husband and wife. Close your eyes, imagine the beauty in the moment, think about your happiness and dreams for your future together. What better mood setter could there be for “kiss practice?”

However you plan to spend Valentine’s Day this year, we hope you tune in and listen to our Valentine’s Day Wedding with Dana & Marc in the Morning, performed by our very own Minister Lynn Turner, a week from Tuesday morning – Valentine’s Day – on SUNNY 99.1 in Houston and online at http://sunny99.com!

Head over to SUNNY99.com for more details and to register! Good luck!

If you want the question that YOU must ask to be as memorable for your bridesmaids as the one your husband-to-be asked you, you can implement a little creativity and achieve your goal. For example, you could write your request in a poem, such as “Roses are red, Violets are blue, I need a great bridesmaid and thus, I pick you.”

Another idea, if your bridesmaids-to-be live far away, is to visit a local crafts store and purchase little cigar boxes that you can decorate with your wedding colors and enclose photos of your friends with you (or use photos of you and your sweetheart), placing a note in the box that says something to the effect of, “My wedding day will be the happiest day of my life and I want to share this with you. Will you be my bridesmaid?”

Other ideas include buying her a bridesmaid handbook or a T-shirt that says “Bridesmaid;” plan a champagne dinner for your bridesmaids-to-be and you; choose the flowers you plan to carry on your wedding day and send one bloom to your bridesmaids, letting them know you want them to carry these on your wedding day; or rent the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding or Bridesmaids and have tissues on hand as you ask your bridesmaids during or after the movie.

The possibilities for asking your friends to be a part of your bridal party are as endless as the ways that men can choose to propose. Think about your friends and their personalities and then prepare for that special moment where you’ll ask the most important question of your life, “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?”

There is no cover charge to attend the event, held Sunday, January 29th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Open Gallery will feature many of the Houston Area’s leading wedding professionals and provide a wonderful opportunity for brides and grooms to mingle, eat, drink, enjoy some live entertainment and most importantly, plan their weddings in a fun, stress-free environment.

Hoffland Studios is located at 300 E Main Street in Humble. For more information, you may call 281-359-7486. We look forward to seeing you there and wish you “Good luck” in advance as you vie for our door prize!