Veselé Svatba Den!

Somewhere mixed in that Jarmolowicz side of Brad's family is some Czechoslovokian blood, so we thought we'd look at some of their wedding traditions to see what you might be interested in incorporating into your weddings.

Guests are invited to the wedding via cookie. The bride makes kolache - one of our favorite cookies - with at least three different kinds of filling. Ours look like a baby in a blanket, but they cab also be round with the filling in the center. This shows the bride's culinary skills. (I think Ayla could skip this, since we're all aware of her culinary skills). Cookies are then passed out to family and friends as invitations to the wedding. Yummy invite.
 
The bride creates a wreath of rosemary which she may wear in her hair (meaning she'll either smell like Christmas or roast chicken - pretty much what I think of when I smell rosemary). Apparently it symbolizes wisdom, purity, loyalty and love. Sometimes the wreath is sent as a gift to the groom who saves it for the rest of his life.

They follow the "something old, something new" tradition pretty closely with the something borrowed coming from a happily married person and the something old being a family heirloom or piece of jewelry.

I read on many sites about a  "pulling" where a rope will hang after the wedding ceremony decorated with flowers, ribbons and empty bottles. The groom needs to pay to get by (to rid himself of the sins of his youth). Sometimes the rope will block his way and he must lift his bride over it.

The bride throws her bouquet right after the wedding ceremony to single ladies. She needs to throw it over her left shoulder.

At the beginning of the reception,a plate is broken at the feet of the couple with the belief that "shards bring luck" (this is also a German tradition, though done the night before the wedding). The couple sweeps the pieces up together showing how they work as a team.

At the reception they are served a bowl of soup and one spoon which they use together, again showing their cooperation and unity. Sometimes the couple's hands are tied together during this challenge to eat the soup.

At the end of the reception, sometimes the bride will be kidnapped  with the groom having to find her and then pay to get her back.

The groom carries his bride over the threshold of their new home while guest throw nuts, figs and coins to ward off evil spirits and provide the couple with luck. Sometimes the couple will then plant a tree a their new home to symbolize their new long life together.

So there you go. Lots of different traditions to try. It is interesting to us to see the way some traditions are found in so many different nationalities, but may be tweaked just a little bit different. Have fun picking and choosing what you want to use!  Veselé Svatba Den! (Happy Wedding Day!)

Discussion: What do you think of the groom having to pay off his sins or pay to get his bride back? How well do you think you'd do in serving soup to each other with your hands tied? What are your thoughts on the Czech traditions?

Prayer: Lord God, we are yours in all our uniqueness. We are so thankful that regardless of what traditions are included in the ceremony or reception, that being united in You in the most important part. In Christ we pray, Amen.