Subscribe Contact Us Press
Highlights: In the Spotlight Get the Look Ivana: Model Apprentice Highlights: Know Your Role Highlights: It’s all Greek	Ask WD all of your wedding day questions and have them published in the next issue of Wedding Dresses. I am a mother who wants my son's wedding to be as beautiful as possible. Our family is African-American, and I'd really like to incorporate some African-American traditions into the wedding. Do you have any ideas on how we can celebrate our culture on my son's most important day? African-American weddings generally borrow from elaborate and meaningful African rituals. Newly married couples are considered the cultural carriers in Africa, representing the link between ancestors and unborn generations. Here are some ideas for an Afrocentric celebration: Select traditional wedding garb made of Kente cloth, a popular material used all over West Africa. The weave and patterns represent different symbols, so ask about their special meaning. Be sure to use traditional African colors, such as red, green and black. Invite African dancers to come down the aisle before the bride, creating a spectacular entrance for her. Include the tradition of "jumping the broom," a ritual that stems from a time when slaves were forbidden to marry. This is a symbolic gesture that sweeps away the past and welcomes the future, and is a powerful ritual of African-American pride and endurance. Complement the reception with a variety of African instruments, such as drums, chekeres (large gourds with beads strung around the body) and mbiras (thumb pianos made of forged iron keys bound to a wooden box). There are hundreds of ideas to share with the wedding crew, in accordance with the thousands of African tribes, cultures and traditions that have flourished around the world. Pick as many as you like for a vibrant, meaningful ceremony that celebrates both your ancestors and the future ahead. Help! I am a brother of the bride, and I just found out that I need to be out of town when she gets married. I originally was supposed to be the best man, since I introduced them both. I feel terrible that I'll be away on this occasion, but since I still have a few months, is there anything I can do to let them both know I'm there in spirit? While there won't be a substitute for your presence, a special gesture you can proffer to the bride and groom might be a video letter, which can be played during the reception. The great thing about this is that you can be as creative as you want, so it needn't be merely a speech on camera. Ideas for a video letter might include the bride and groom's favorite songs, snippets from choice films, on-camera visits to significant places in the happy couple's history, and inspired quotes from fellow friends and family members. It's an inspiring way to show your support and love-in a form that can be enjoyed on more than just the big day. My best friend, who will be married in a traditional Hindu ceremony, just asked me to be her maid of honor. She's pretty busy so she's going to be leaving bridesmaid garb in my hands. Since I'm not very knowledgeable about Hindu wedding attire, I thought it might be a good idea to get dresses that reflect my friend's culture in a modern and fashionable way. Any ideas on how I might be able to do this? Indian wedding attire offers a plethora of options for the savvy fashionista. The lengha is a stylish outfit comprising a choli, or midriff blouse, and a long, often intricately embroidered skirt made of silky sari material. It's a gorgeous, easy-to-wear garment that's easy to accessorize. Fun accents might include Pashmina shawls, jeweled bindis, colorful chandelier earrings and necklaces, flowers like jasmine or orchids braided into your hair, and mehndi tattoos in elaborate patterns adorning the bridesmaids' hands and feet. All of these tips are sure to curry favor with your friend. Indian wedding saris are often stunningly multi-hued, so be sure you color-coordinate with your friend before making final decisions on dresses. I'm a bridesmaid who wants to throw my cousin a bridal shower. Lots of people have suggested spa dates or "Tupperware party"-style gatherings at someone's house. I would prefer to do something that reflects my cousin's eclectic style-she's an artist who appreciates cultural activities like going to museums and performances. Do you have any suggestions on how I can create something meaningful and fun for her that isn't too outrageously costly? For culture vultures like your cousin, the signature style of a bridal shower should be chic yet intimate. After all, this is an event for traditional female camaraderie, so while it's important to make it stylish, creating an atmosphere of warmth and pre-connubial sharing is the most important thing you can do. If sitting around in a circle on your couch and gossiping about sex tips isn't your thing, there are plenty of classy options you may want to consider. Create a tranquil, meditative environment for your cousin with a simple tea ceremony-if you want to take it up a notch, try a formal Japanese tea ceremony. A ritual that has been practiced for centuries, this elegant, leisurely practice (which also happens to be a Buddhist method of achieving harmony with the universe) has garnered more attention in the West of late. Read up on the ceremony so you can clue your friends in on what's required, throw in some sushi and sake for good measure, find a rock garden, gather your coterie of close gal pals, and voila! It's a recipe for success. I am a father who was estranged from my daughter for 25 years-in other words, most of her life. We recently began talking and have established a supportive and loving relationship. Not too long ago, she asked me if I'd like to walk her down the aisle for her big day, which is right around the corner. There's nothing more I'd like to do, but her mother, stepfather and other family members think it might be a bad idea, for reasons I can understand. I'd really love to be there for my daughter, but I'm afraid that my guilt or tension with other members of her family will get in the way. What should I do? Your reservations are understandable, but since it's obvious that your daughter sincerely wants you to be the one to walk her down the aisle, I probably wouldn't worry too much about the naysayers. The fact that you are considering the rest of her family's sentiments is admirable, though. If your discomfort is really nagging at you, you may want to have a conversation with your daughter. Make it very clear that you are ecstatic to have been granted such an honor. If you feel that you'd rather not be the target of bad feelings from your daughter's family, there might be alternatives you can suggest. For example, in the post-traditional glow of the 21st century, many brides choose to have both parents or multiple family members walk them down the aisle. If more people are involved in the symbolic gesture of "giving away" your daughter, that could very well be a motion that draws you closer into the fold rather than alienating you. Whatever your daughter feels is most appropriate, try to focus on the marital bliss that she and her fianc‚ will share.