Aisle Files – Premier Wedding Blog for Saratoga and the Capital Region

Traditions: Hand Fasting

May 16th, 2013

Hand Fasting is an ancient European tradition that many couples are incorporating into their wedding ceremonies. Fun Fact: this traditional ceremony is where the phrase “tying the knot” actually comes from!

In a traditional handfasting ceremony, the ceremony would symbolize a joining together for “a year and a day” (almost like an engagement period) or a “lifetime” and sometimes took the place of a wedding entirely. In modern times, some couples are introducing the idea hand fasting in place of a unity candle or a sand ceremony or because it is a throwback to one of the couple’s heritage (mainly Celtic, Scottish, or English).

In a more modern take on the hand ceremony, couples will cross their arms and clasp hands, which in essence will make an infinity symbol with their arms. Their hands are then tied together with a series of cords (you can use ribbon, twine, theme it to your wedding colors) to symbolize their bond to each other for the rest of their lives, usually right after the vows. Hand fasting is a great idea to incorporate because it’s all encompassing, and doesn’t discriminate!

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Anniversary Gifts: Paper

May 2nd, 2013

As wedding season approaches, it’s easy to forget that it’s also anniversary season! The traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper, we’ve discussed this before and those ideas are here, but we love these ideas too that are different and out of the box!

After the first year of marriage, many couples may have purchased a house, or combined homes, and are in desperate need of decor items. These canvases are super easy and fun to make and can be ordered online from companies like Shutterfly or Canvas on Demand. The couple took their vows (which they wrote themselves) and transposed them onto a canvas! So adorable, and such easy and meaningful artwork for your home!

We are sure you have tons of fabulous photos from your wedding that you want to showcase, but keep in mind, your wedding and your marriage is about the two of you and the life you build together, not just one day! This is such a cute way to remember the first year of your marriage, photos from every day of the first year. I am sure this will tell an amazing story as not every day will be sunshine and rainbows and there will be some hard moments captured in there as well, but what a powerful way to say happy anniversary! (keep in mind, you’ll need to order it after the anniversary in order to capture an exact year.)

Posted in Anniversary Gifts, Paper Products & Stationary, Real Weddings, Tips | No Comments »

Ask us Anything: All About Stationary!!

April 30th, 2013

Wednesday May 1st from 6:30-7:30pm we are all about stationary!! Ask your questions from save the dates to invitations to stamping to stir sticks with Rebecca Ashby of The Pink Orange! The next step in your wedding planning details, get all your answers in one place and find out when you should be thinking about the most fun way to personalize your wedding day!

Posted in Ask us Anything, Paper Products & Stationary, Real Weddings, Tips | No Comments »

Real Wedding Spotlight: Mark and Meghan

April 24th, 2013

Words cannot express how excited we are to blog this wedding! Mark and Meghan were a great couple to work with, but also good friends of their planner, Emily at Key Hall. They created a wedding day that was perfectly suited for the couple!

Meghan and Mark had Taia Younis of Inspired Occasions on hand that day to help with coordination and make sure every little detail was taken care of. I loved these adorable details, a sixpence in Meghan’s shoe for luck. Also, Mark had cufflinks made for all of his groomsmen with the latitude and longitude of the place where he met them- his had the latitude and longitude of Key Hall. So fun and unique!

Check out these amazing first look photos from Jeff Foley Photography!! Meghan and Mark are from Virginia and choosing a late March date, we never knew what the weather would be like. The day before the wedding it was looking cold and Meghan said “You know on blogs when they show a bride and she doesn’t look cold and they say ‘she’s a trooper?’ I’m not a trooper!” She totally was a trooper and the sheer joy and love shines through these images (plus with a shrug she knitted herself and a cute fur coat, she kept warm!)

Sometimes when you’re lucky at key hall, if there’s no show, or if the sound check is amenable to it, you can take photos in Proctors Theatre. Look at how amazing these images are!!! The show that night was a 60′s spectacular so as we were getting these photos the band was playing motown like “going to the chapel” and it just made for some unbelievable and completely unique shots!

Mark and Meghan’s ceremony was at key hall as well as their reception, what a gorgeous backdrop and amazing decor from Anthology Design Studio! And we have to mention the Mike Garassi of Music Man Entertainment! He kept the dance floor packed!

I love this idea for a guestbook, Mark and Meghan found vintage postcards of Schenectady and had guests write messages for them and then put them in a custom mailbox! (They also named their tables after places they’ve been together and used vintage postcards of each location as table numbers with an explanation of their visit on the back)

Having gone to college at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY- Mark made sure to include Utica Club on the bar for those guests who would be sure to miss it otherwise. It was definitely worth it, as you can tell from the groomsmen- because really, who doesn’t like UC?