FEBRUARY 2002
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NO MEAN CITY OF LOVE
In early February, as the hurricane force winds whipped across Scotland, the Lord Provost of Glasgow launched the city's bid to be the City of Love in the Blessed John Duns Scotus Church - where the relics of St. Valentine are said to rest.
The events around St. Valentine's Day include a recital by singer Eddi Reader, fashion shows in Princes Square and a wedding exhibition in the People's Palace. The adjacent Winter Garden is a popular place for wedding receptions.
There will also be poetry readings, concerts and an art exhibition featuring Valentine cards dating back as far as the Eighteenth Century. The film From Here to Eternity will be shown at the Grosvenor cinema and there is a St Valentine's Dinner Dance at the Hilton Grosvenor Hotel.
No Expense Spared For Royal Wedding
Research by historians for a new exhibition to be held later this year at Stirling Castle, has shown that the wedding of Margaret Tudor (sister of King Henry VIII of England) and King James IV of Scotland cost in the region of u500,000 at today's prices.
Margaret's dress of white damask and flowered with gold and bordered with red velvet would have cost nearly ulOO.OOO. After the marriage the guests were treated to a 15-course banquet.
The marriage was to set the seal on the "Treaty of Everlasting Friendship" between Scotland and England, signed in 1502. In 1513, James IV was killed at the battle of Flodden, in the English county of Northumberland.
But it was as a consequence of the marriage that the Union of the Crowns was to take place in 1603. The exhibition at Stirling will run from March 20 to May 20.
A Couples Guide To Current Celtic Wedding Trends
By JULIA EDEN VIDAKOVIC
When asked recently about the main trends in Celtic weddings, I was initially thrown into a panic. Working so closely with brides, it's not always easy to see the main themes emerging - a bit like not seeing the wood for the trees!
First, let me say there is no such thing as a typical wedding; every single one is unique. As couples arc on average older and more independent than they were five years ago, they now look for more personal ways to celebrate their marriages.
What I have been seeing with nearly all the couples I'm working with is a move towards expressing their heritage in some way; there's simply more meaning in what people are choosing to do - a sprig of heather in the button holes or bride's bouquet for example.
So down to the specifics: Claddagh rings are making a big comeback. Brides and interestingly enough grooms are choosing to wear them in favour of the plain wedding band; either buying them ready made from a store, or if they have the budget, having a Caddagh-themed ring designed and made by a local designer.
Family tartans are also beginning to be used extensively; The groom choosing cither traditional Scottish dress or a waistcoat in his or the bride's family tartan; and brides incorporating either her family tartan (or if the groom's family has a tartan) adopting her husband's family tartan in her outfit.
A sort of welcome to the family - usually it appears as a garter or sash but if she's feeling really adventurous she'll plump for a custom designed gown with the whole bodice, skirt trim or headdress in the family colours. And, I must say that these gowns really do look spectacular.
Where the weddings are historically thenied, the renaissance is very popular. Tight bodices, full skirts, rich brocades and hooded velvet cloaks (especially in Whistler or for winter weddings) definitely being in vogue and adding a definite feel to the whole affair.
And finally, where the bride chooses a more traditional white or ivory gown, there is definitely a move away from too much fluff, frou, frills, lace and bows; the general silhouette being clean, simple and elegant.
Within these clean lines however, there could be a detail of a custom designed Celtic knot, hand-embroidered over the bodice, hem or around the waistline. These gowns are so elegant that the bride literally gleams as she walks down the aisle, and who can blame her -she looks lantastic!
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Julia Eden Vidakovic is a local wedding gown designer. She can be contacted at (604) 738-8164, by E-mail at: julia@chrysalisdesign.com or through www.chrysalisdesign.com.
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