Divine Decorum: Expert Advice for Parties and Weddings

Q: I am planning a
mid-summer wedding and am totally lost when it comes to choosing season appropriate flowers! My wedding colors are Tiffany blue, white, and chocolate brown. What would you recommend to keep things fresh and light?

-Abby, Hoffman Estates, IL

Dear Abby,

The elements of your wedding should reflect you not the season of the year. From flowers to candles, tableware and some unexpected props, your choices should add up to a cohesive picture that reflects you and your groom. To keep it fresh and light, trying working with flowers that are delicate such as Peonies or Lilies of the Valley.

Q: I am looking forward to tossing my bouquet at my wedding reception. It’s such a fun tradition however I am not sure why brides even toss it and why the groom tosses my garter. What is the meaning behind all of this?

-Michele, Elgin, IL

Dear Michele,

The tradition of tossing the bouquet and garter date back to the 14th century. Any piece of the bride’s attire was considered fortunate, so guests were eager to claim their own bit of good luck. Overeager well-wishers would dash to the bride to seize at her bouquet. So the brides started to protect themselves from being attacked, they started tossing their bouquets to the crowd.

The garter came from the “bedding ceremony”. Guests from the wedding would accompany the newlyweds to their bedchamber, and the groom’s friends would try to remove the bride’s garters. As you can imagine this was not a comfortable situation for the brides. To steer clear of being groped by a bunch of drunken men, brides began tossing their garters away from the bedchambers so the men would run away. Over the years, the men took over the tradition of tossing the garter out to crowd of single men, hoping to bring them a bit of luck finding a lovely lady.

Q: I have never been a wine connoisseur, but want to create a luxury cocktail party, pairing wine with small bites. Where do I start to figure out white vs. red, dry vs. fruity, and how it all works together? I’m completely baffled!

-Jim, Milwaukee, WI

Dear Jim,

It’s such a lovely idea to throw a luxury cocktail party for your friends. Educating yourself on wine could take you months or even a year. I would highly recommend you hire a party planner to guide you through the wines and foods that complement the wines. I would also recommend that you hire a local wine connoisseur for your party. They can give your guests some tips and advice on wine; also they would be considered your entertainment for the night.

Christina Currie would love to answer your party inquiries! She can be reached at Christina@christinacurrieevents.com or at 224.558.1764.