As we near Valentine’s Day, reds, pinks and hearts dance freely among us.  Of course this day of “LOVE” is often chosen as a theme or even date for many weddings.  Something that always stands out to me as a very February or Valentine’s symbol is of course, the heart shape.  And that is my inspiration for today’s monologue…..The sweetheart Neckline!

No one is exactly sure of the origins of the sweetheart neckline. There are those who claim the scalloped trip necklines of the Renaissance age in Italy were the first true sweetheart necklines.  Others credit 18th century French designers with creating the attractive contours of the design.  A third school of thought places the first sweetheart neckline as appearing in the court of Isabella in 15th century Spain. Whatever the origins, the design has made a powerful impact on ladies’ formal wear for quite a long time.

The curved neckline of the sweetheart design features two curves over the bust line, which drop and meet at a point in the middle of the bust area. The result is a heart-shaped neckline that helps to provide modest coverage for the bust, while still drawing attention to the figure. This neckline provides smaller framed brides a focal point that helps to enhance the bust and give a romantic feel to the bodice of the dress.  While a more curvy bride may find it is a wonderfully soft neckline that shows just a touch of cleavage for a slightly sexy feel.  Making the sweetheart neckline one of my personal favourites as well as a wonderful neckline for every size and shape of bride.

I have selected 3 stunningly beautiful, sweetheart neckline options available here at Lisa’s Bridal Salon.  There are of course, many available options here at the store.  So if this has sparked your interest please feel free to call us and book your own personal bridal appointment to find the perfect dress for you!

Each and every bride thinks about the possibility of rain on her wedding day.  It can influence the venue, time of year, attire and feel of the entire wedding day.  Especially if you are planning to host your wedding on the South Coast of British Columbia.  As most of us know it rains a lot on the south coast.  In fact from October to April we receive on average 136mm of rain each month! That means that in that time there is an average monthly total of 8 days/month receiving more than 5mm.  So pull out your galoshes, or animal print rubber boots and your pretty pink umbrellas because your day can be special even if it rains!

There is a lot of superstition regarding rain on your wedding day.  Rain represents many things in different cultures, most of which include fertility, cleansing, unity, renewal and tears. Since this superstition seems to pop up in many different cultures for different reasons, it is hard to pinpoint where it actually began. Most records tend to list Hindu customs, traditions, and beliefs, so perhaps its origin resides there. Honestly, though, superstitions tend to have been tweaked by many different cultures, making what we hear today a mixture of many ideas and beliefs!

Fertility: Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies that you will have children. This belief came about since rain ultimately waters the ground and lends to fertility, thus allowing growth of plants and vegetation. This was always a big deal in communities based around agriculture.

 Cleansing: Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies the cleansing of tough times or sadness in your past. People began saying this since rain tends to wash away dirt and even pollution.

Unity: Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies that your marriage will last. As you know, a knot that becomes wet is extremely hard to untie – therefore, when you “tie the knot” on a rainy day, your marriage is supposedly just as hard to unravel!

 Renewal: Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it signifies washing away of bad memories or occurrences giving you a completely new, fresh chapter in your life. You know that refreshing scent after the rain, just when the sun starts peaking back through the clouds? That “new day” feeling is where this belief came from – that your wedding will truly be the beginning of a new chapter in your lives.

Tears: Rain on your wedding day is good luck because it symbolizes the last tears that the bride will shed for the rest of her life. But wait…. Rain on your wedding day is bad luck because it represents the number of tears the bride will shed during her marriage.

No matter which superstition you choose to believe, I suggest following the Roman Catholic belief that hanging a rosary outside on your clothes line if it’s raining on the morning of your wedding will ensure the downpour stops in time for the big event.  Plus, because it rained, everything will be more lush in colour and your photographs will have elements you just won’t see on a dry day!