Wedding in green: ideas on how to decorate, tips on how to organize

Color meaning

Green color calms the nervous system and is very pleasant to the eye. Interestingly, the wedding day itself is called a green wedding .
This is another good reason to decorate the main holiday in the life of two loving hearts in green. Traditionally, this color represents life, nature and naturalness . In medieval times, a bride might choose a dress in a green hue as a symbol of fertility.

In China, this color means youth and great potential, in Ireland - fun and rejoicing, in India - peace and hope, and in Islam it is even associated with the Gardens of Eden.

A wedding in green will be an ideal solution for calm and stable newlyweds who are not afraid of difficulties and easily overcome them. In addition, a green theme will appeal to a couple who is seriously concerned about environmental issues.

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12 TRADITIONS OF ARMENIAN WEDDING

From the huge number of wedding traditions that took place in different eras and in different regions of Armenia, this article selects the 12 most important, as well as the most surprising and interesting. Matchmaking has traditionally been done by men: it’s not a woman’s job to negotiate. And they went in the evening, after dusk, so that none of the neighbors would know about it. After all, if they refuse, the rejected groom’s rating in the eyes of the villagers will fall. It was impossible to agree to marry off your daughter from the very first visit of the matchmakers. This would mean that the bride has some kind of flaw and the father wants to get rid of her as soon as possible. Since the issue was very sensitive, a special language code was formed over the years. For example, if the matchmakers were told: “We still need to think about it, and in general, our uncle decides everything, but he’s away right now,” then this meant a refusal, which after a visit or two could develop into agreement. And the excuse “They are still too young” implied that going to them a second time most likely made no sense. Moreover, there were a lot of ways to motivate refusal and pseudo-refusal. If there were several contenders for the girl’s hand, then the matchmakers could agree among themselves and show up at the chosen one’s house at the same time. The men sat at the table and laid out gifts for the bride - jewelry, sweets, shawls, fabrics that testified to the wealth of the groom's family. The final decision was up to the bride - whose gift she would prefer would be her husband. True, the girl did not have the right to utter words in front of men. Etiquette ordered her to communicate with gestures. Often, a shy bride would choose a gift without finding out who it was from, and then the groom would be chosen by lot. The more agile girls managed to negotiate with the guy they liked and confidently settled on his offering. When the choice was made, the table was set.

The conclusion of an agreement between the fathers of the bride and groom was supposed to be carried out even before the engagement. In some regions of Armenia, for example, Shirak and Alashkert, it was furnished in a very unique way - the heads of the family shared the lavash. In this case, as a rule, a priest was present, who stood between the men, and they began to pull the lavash rolled up with a whistle by the edges. Performing this ritual was tantamount to signing a marriage contract, since it meant that from now on they had common bread. And, as you know, our ancestors treated bread with reverence.

The third visit of the matchmakers, with successful negotiations, actually became an engagement (hoskap - literally “to seal the word”). From that moment until the wedding, the girl was not allowed to see her betrothed. The yearning groom had to secretly sneak into his bride's house to see her. The bride's mother received her future son-in-law secretly from her husband, on the condition that he would keep his distance and would not touch the girl under any circumstances. In some regions, the groom, if he stayed overnight, was even allowed to lie down next to the bride, but the condition not to touch her remained unshakable. Unlike the mother, any self-respecting father of the family, having learned that the young man was trying to break into his house before the wedding, should have thrown thunder and lightning. However, sometimes the father of the bride, who remembered himself well in such a situation, could pretend that he did not notice how the future son-in-law climbed through the window or into the erdyk (a hole in the ceiling that serves as a chimney and light source in a rural house) and knew nothing knows. The engagement was followed by betrothal (nshandrek - literally “to put a mark”) - a mini-wedding that took place in the girl’s house. The groom's side always brought a gift to the bride. By the way, it became customary to give a diamond ring as an engagement gift only in the second half of the 20th century.

Not a single wedding was complete without baking wedding bread (lavash), which took place both in the house of the groom and in the house of the bride. The day of ritual baking was called tashtadrek (literally “putting a trough”). The ceremony began with sifting flour, to which young men and women close to the bride and groom were involved. Sifting flour was accompanied by songs, playing various musical instruments and dancing, and then turned into a game - boys and girls sprinkled flour on each other. Guests put sweets, dried fruits, and nuts into the sieve. You could enjoy them when all the flour had been sifted. In some regions, she sifted the priest's flour, silently and always with her face covered, so that the bride would be laconic and... so that she wouldn't go crazy. People believed that connections with smart, educated people (and in the village they were considered priests and priests) protected against sudden madness. In other regions of Armenia, sifting flour was done exclusively by women, and they always observed subordination. The eldest of the women began this important procedure first, then the imprisoned mother (kavor-kin), and then the rest of the ladies. Salted and kneaded the dough in the same order.

An important ritual in preparation for a wedding was the slaughter of an ox, from which meat was then used to prepare dishes for the festive table. Moreover, in fact, as a rule, they slaughtered a bull, but they called it an ox, and the sacrifice was eznmortek (ez - ox, mortel - slaughter). This happened because the ox was associated with the plow, plowing and, as a consequence, seedlings and fertility. A purely male company gathered - friends and relatives of the groom. The groom and the cavor approached the tied bull lying on the ground. The groom always struck the first blow, then he triumphantly placed his foot on the defeated beast. By the way, the groom was called nothing less than tagavor - king, and the bride, respectively, tagui - queen. The ritual of sacrifice was performed on Friday. In the Soviet years, it became customary to buy a calf (bull) in advance, say, when a son left to serve in the army, and fatten it until the young man’s wedding. Moreover, they looked after the bull in every possible way, realizing that he was ritual, and if he was sick, they were very worried, because they connected everything that happened to him with the fate of their son.

The groom was prepared for the wedding in the Cavor's house. A kind of bachelor party was held there, during which the groom’s ritual bathing took place. Cavor himself bathed him. The groom and the azabbashi, the main friend, were seated in a basin with their backs to each other and water was poured over them. The essence of the bathing ritual was that a stream of water symbolically separated the groom from his single friends. In the house of the Cavora, they also performed the ritual of dressing the groom and at the same time decorated the wedding tree (arsaniki tsar), which was usually built from willow branches. Each piece of clothing was solemnly announced, greatly exaggerating its merits: “But here is a chukha, bought in Tiflis, tailored in Paris, sewn in Bombay!” After putting another piece of clothing on the groom, they made a dance circle around him. Then they decorated one tier of the wedding tree and performed a dance circle around it. Arsaniki king symbolized fertility, it was traditionally decorated with sweets and fruits - apples, pomegranates, nuts, raisins, and the top was crowned with candles. At a modern Armenian wedding, the sword held by the azabbashi is decorated in a similar way - with money and sweets. In former times, the Azabbashi served as a bodyguard and had to protect the newlyweds: he had a saber in one hand and a wedding tree in the other.

One of the most striking rituals of a traditional wedding was chicken stealing. The main role here was played by a carnival character - the wedding messenger, or the so-called wedding Fox - Agves. Having bypassed the youth who were putting obstacles in his way, he had to secretly sneak into the chicken coop belonging to the bride’s parents and steal the chicken, then appear with it - certainly first - to the house and notify that the wedding procession was already on the way and the groom would arrive soon. The bride's parents were supposed to reward the young man with a valuable gift. The most dexterous young man was appointed Agves, and so that he could be recognized, a real fox tail was attached to his clothes. It was believed that just as the Fox steals the bird, the groom steals the bride. On the way back, when they were already driving with the bride to the groom's house, the Fox again had to get ahead of everyone - be the first to come to the groom's mother and notify her that the newlyweds were coming. For this he was awarded a second time. In Soviet times, Agves transformed into a young man with a chicken in his hands, riding in a car whose hood was decorated with fox fur.

For the wedding, the bride had to appear in the attire that the groom’s side had prepared for her. At home, in the presence of women - relatives of the groom and two friends of the bride - under the guidance of the imprisoned mother, the bride was stripped naked, then dressed in new clothes. It was dressed by one of the young married relatives who had a first-born son. The most important part of the ritual was the replacement of a girl's hairstyle - one or more braids - with a woman's hairstyle - two braids. And from now on the girl had no right to go out in public with her head uncovered. Throughout the ceremony, women sang songs of praise in honor of the bride. In many cultures, nudity is a symbol of death. This is the basis of the dressing ritual. Symbolically, the girl had to be killed and then revived as a woman from the groom’s family. Now this ritual has practically become obsolete - the bride is dressed when the groom arrives and she is solemnly presented with a veil, gloves and shoes

On the way to the church, participants in the wedding procession sang songs, danced and, in order to ward off evil spirits, shot in the air. The musicians walked ahead of the procession, behind them was the groom, accompanied by a cavor and azabbashi, and the bride was led behind them. The bride's friend or brother carried the hem of his robe behind the groom, holding it at the bride's chest, and no one was supposed to pass between the bride and groom so as not to interrupt the connection between them. In the church, the priest performed the wedding ceremony and tied a narot - intertwined red and green threads, sometimes with a cross - around the bride and groom's neck, arm or forehead and secured the ends with wax. They walked home from church along a different road to deceive evil spirits. Along the way, relatives of the newlyweds carried trays outside, or even set tables and gave gifts to the newlyweds. 3 or 7 days after the wedding (depending on the region), the tagveratz ritual (removal of the crown) was carried out: the priest came to the newlyweds’ house, put the bride and groom on their knees opposite each other, so that their heads touched, read prayers and removed them from people At the same time, they cut the red and green ribbons on the wedding tree and removed all the fruits and sweets from it. Only after this could the young people ascend to the marriage bed.

A wedding should be fun. To achieve this, serious rituals were interspersed with carnival scenes. One of these was played in the courtyard of the groom's house when welcoming the newlyweds. A comic fight broke out between the groom's father and mother. In an unequal struggle, a woman had to win. Young guys helped her, they literally threw the groom's father onto his shoulder blades and placed the winner on him. Everyone laughed in unison, because it was believed that there was nothing more incredible than a wife beating her husband. They also sang comic songs and fables. For example, when addressing the groom’s mother, they sang that the young daughter-in-law would help her mother-in-law clean, cook, run the house, and also... would beat her. Now this ritual game is almost forgotten, and if it is played, the spouses imitate a fight, after which the wife kisses her husband on the cheek - the one who kissed is considered the winner. But another tradition - when the groom's mother greets the newlyweds with bread and covers their shoulders with lavash - has survived to this day. And from the roof of the house, sweets, grain, and coins were poured onto the newlyweds, symbolizing well-being and prosperity.

A luxurious table and generous food were not only the key to a fun wedding, but also a matter of honor for the parents. Especially the groom's family. So the issue was approached with all seriousness. First, respectable old men with impressive experience in organizing feasts were chosen from both sides, who were supposed to calculate how much food and drinks would be needed. Moreover, the groom’s parents had to give the bride’s side everything that was required to prepare the feast, not only during the wedding, but also during the engagement. According to surviving records, the average betrothal cost: 1 ram, 1 pound of millet, 10 pounds of butter, 8 bottles of vodka, 60-70 bottles of wine. And for the wedding itself, all this was needed 3-4 times more. The toastmaster and musicians were responsible for ensuring the good mood of the guests.

The institution of virginity has existed in Armenian society since time immemorial, and there was a rational explanation for this. The husband, as well as all his relatives, had to be sure that the first-born child was their descendant. In the absence of DNA analysis, only the bride’s virginity could serve as a guarantee of this confidence. By the way, the red apple ritual, which many consider one of the oldest, began to be performed only in the Soviet years. In the morning, after the first wedding night, as a sign of the bride’s innocence, red apples and a bottle of cognac tied with a red ribbon are sent to her mother. And in the old days, during the first wedding night, the bride’s eldest married friend or cook stood outside the door, and then notified everyone that the bride was a virgin, and received gifts for this, and the men climbed onto the roof and shot in the air to spread the news across throughout the area.

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Green wedding - ideas

Thanks to the use of green shades, you can make your celebration themed not only in color, but also in content . There are a lot of interesting ideas:

Irish style wedding;
holiday in the style of the Scottish Highlanders;
a piquant celebration in the spirit of the Renaissance;
cheerful apple wedding;
holiday in eco style;
exotic celebration;
wedding in military style.

Holiday decoration

When decorating a banquet hall in green, remember: a little of every good thing! You should not turn the venue of the celebration into a forest clearing. A win-win option is a combination of green and white colors.

Drape the hall with fabrics, decorate with satin ribbons and floral arrangements . Hang green and white pom-poms, lanterns, balls or paper garlands with hearts gathered on a string above the tables.

Put white covers on the chairs and tie large green bows. Cover the tables with snow-white tablecloths, place light green candles, as well as decorative vases with limes or green apples.

Prepare green bonbonnieres with sweets or nice souvenirs for your guests. Also decorate the invitations in green tones, but read here how to make them yourself.

The main attribute of the festive table - the wedding cake - decorate with cream flowers, petals, apple or kiwi slices, pistachios . You can cover the dessert with mint glaze or even paint the sponge green.

In the warm season, nature itself will become the main decoration of your holiday. White tents buried in emerald grass, a magnificent flower arch for the newlyweds (how to make it with your own hands?), an abundance of green plants will make your wedding bright, beautiful and unforgettable!

Dress code for guests

Guests' outfits are chosen at their discretion. Olive sundresses are ideal. To match the theme of the event, newlyweds should stock up on green accessories for guests in advance:

ribbons;
boutonnieres;
handkerchiefs;
scarves;
bracelets.

Accessories should not merge with clothing into a single spot of color, so they should be chosen one or two shades darker.

Bridesmaids decorate their hair with green satin ribbons or malachite wreaths made from living plants. You can give them flower bouquets made in emerald shades. If the bride is wearing an emerald dress, they should dress up in light green sundresses.

Bridesmaids

The groom's friends are given green ties, bow ties or vests. You can also prepare stylish hats for them in the same color.

Bride's dress

A bright green dress will perfectly reflect the theme of the celebration. Moreover, the palette of green shades is surprisingly rich and multifaceted : it includes grassy, olive, apple, emerald, pistachio, and mint colors.

Choosing a wedding dress in the right tone is not so difficult. True, not every bride is capable of such a bold experiment. So what should we do then?

There is a solution! You can set off a classic white dress with a green belt , emeralds in jewelry, as well as satin shoes of the appropriate shade. Often there are combined outfits with green accents.

Special attention should be paid to accessories . If you are planning a wedding in the warm season, replace the tiara with a lush wreath. In winter, you can wear a tiara with emeralds or weave green silk ribbons into your hair.

If you expect an abundance of green at your event, you should not use these shades in your outfit and makeup. Otherwise, finding the bride in wedding photographs will be a very difficult task.

Banquet hall in olive tones

Greenery is a universal decorative element: with the help of wreaths you can decorate the backs of chairs and tables, with olive branches and flower garlands you can weave an arch for the newlyweds. Actively use olive draperies and ribbons.

To make the design more interesting, add floral or geometric prints and bright accents - fruit vases, flower arrangements, tubs with live plants, etc. Candles and decorative lighting will make the atmosphere relaxing and pleasant. Also a win-win design option is a light tablecloth and olive tableware. Napkins and plates can be decorated with small compositions with olives and herbs.

Groom suit

A groom with a sense of humor can wear a green suit or even a real Scottish kilt. However, if creating a comic atmosphere is not part of your plans, it is better to opt for a suit of classic colors. Traditional black, dark blue, gray, white and beige tones look more noble and elegant.

You can play along with the style of the celebration using shades of accessories . A tie, cufflinks, neckerchief and boutonniere will help create the necessary contrast.

A green shirt could also be a good solution, but here you need to be especially careful when choosing the shade, otherwise you might inadvertently slip into a sports theme.

Living room decoration: walls, floor and ceiling

When talking about the green design of a living room, we usually mean the walls, because the floor is usually covered with wood material, and the ceiling with white paint or stretched fabric. Most often, walls painted in one of the shades of the grassy palette remain monochromatic. Only the accent surface is decorated with a pattern. Then you can choose a pattern for the living room wallpaper in the most suitable style.

The accent surface can occupy a strip or the entire space from corner to corner.

It may be more saturated than the background, but more often it contains a characteristic ornament.

Green wallpaper in the interior of a living room in a classic style usually contains a repeating rhythmic pattern with large rosettes of a damask pattern - ornate or floral. The design can be a tone darker than the background of the coating or gilded, mother-of-pearl, or silver.
In an oriental setting, “paisley” - “Indian cucumbers”, reminiscent of a drop with a curled tip, is appropriate . In such a composition it can be soft pistachio coverings, and with a pattern in brown tones, with red nuances or burgundy. In the Moroccan direction of oriental design, the “quatrefoil” pattern is also often used - 4 intersecting circles, sometimes with right angles at the joints. This pattern also looks good in shutters, screens and light facades. Then, together with the accent surface, such details look harmonious, and the composition looks complete.
or, conversely, rich emerald coverings with a contrasting houndstooth pattern look interesting The same pattern looks great in the upholstery of armchairs, sofa cushions, and lambrequins, if one of the shades in the pattern matches the color of the curtains.
A living room in a Scottish or classic English style will look great with green wallpaper and a tartan pattern - the well-known check pattern. In the Victorian direction, an emphasis on diamonds in two or three shades would also be appropriate.
In the Mediterranean style, you can decorate surfaces with wallpaper with a “scales” pattern , which looks especially characteristic in a light turquoise shade - a direct association with the summer sea.

Of course, you can accentuate the surface with the help of panels, modular paintings, mosaics and mirrors on a basic neutral or pastel green background.

Green wedding bouquet

It is impossible to imagine the image of a bride without a wedding bouquet. Flowers in delicate white-green shades are best suited:

Green tulips - the gradient color of their petals looks very touching and original.
Gladioli in green shades are extremely rare, but they make bouquets of marvelous beauty.
Green Succulents – These extraordinary plants look fantastic! In addition, after the wedding, such a bouquet can be planted in a flowerpot and admired for a long time.
Orchids, roses or calla lilies in green shades - you can order them in advance at flower boutiques.
Hellebore is a bush consisting of many bell-shaped flowers. Ideal for a round wedding bouquet.
Unblown chrysanthemums look charming in a wedding bouquet, filling it with the breath of spring.

Don't be afraid to experiment with green wedding decorations. You may have an interesting, original idea - so why not bring it to life? After all, this is your and only your holiday!