Womanhood

Small H   DO YOUR OWN WEDDING     Weddings are spiritual.  They are a unit   DO YOUR OWN WEDDING     Weddings are spiritual.  They are a uniting of two persons into one.  God ordained marriage (Gen. 2:18-24).  God made the first man, Adam and felt that he should not be alone.  So he made him a helpmeet or woman, Eve.  Then God said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  (Gen. 2:24)   Marriage is a permanent bond. (Matt. 19: 9)  Marriage is a means of sexual love. (Prov. 5:18-19) “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as a loving hind and pleasant roe, let her breast satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.”  Marriage is a wonderful and honorable state. (Heb. 13:4)  Even Jesus went to a wedding and blessed it with his presence and first miracle.     Marriage in Bible times did not always include a religious ceremony, although it is probable that the betrothal was ratified by an oath.  (Ezek. 16:8—Mal. 2:14)  On the wedding day the bride dressed in white in an elaborately embroidered robe.  She was decked with jewels (Isa. 61:10) and wore a veil (Gen. 24:65).  The bridegroom attended by his friends and accompanied by musicians and singers went to the home of the bride. (Matt. 25:7)  After taking the bride from her home and receiving their blessing, the groom led his bride and the wedding party back to his house, as other friends joined them as they passed.  When they arrived at the groom’s house, there was a great feast.  In the evening the parents of the bride escorted her to the nuptial chamber (Gen. 29:23) the groom’s friends led him to the chamber.  The next day the festivities resumed and continued for a week or more. (Gen. 29:27—Judg. 14:12)     The purpose of marriage is to bring about the continuance of the race. (Gen. 1:28)  I Timothy 5:14 and I Timothy 5:14 says,” I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”       I have three daughters.  My oldest brought home Christian young man home one evening and announced their intentions to get married.  A few weeks later, she came home with a ring and a date.  I had six months to prepare for a wedding and to my knowledge, not a dime in my purse.  My husband was a poor preacher of the Gospel, who supplemented our income by substitute teaching during the school year.  She told me in April that the wedding date was to be in September.  This meant no extra income would be coming from teaching.  What would I do?  What else but begin working with what I had?  What did I need?  I made my list.  I got books from the library.  I searched for ideas in bridal boutiques and craft shops.  I realized that there was no way that we could finance a wedding.  The prices were unbelievable.  When I saw the prices, I began to visualize how the item was made in my mind.  I went home and tried my hardest to duplicate what I had seen.  I began with flowers.  I had  my daughters and some good Christian sisters, Jetty and Patricia Howard and Sis Kidd, that availed themselves to my service, and with their help we began.  I first secured books on flower making from the library.  Jetty Howard went to a craft shop and learned the art of flower making with ribbons.  She in turn taught us this art, and we were off to a good start.  What joy we received from our finished products.  We made flowers of all sizes.  (Check the following pages for instructions in flower making)                         WEDDING PREPARATION  First, find out the bridal colors, and begin with your flowers.  After your flowers are made, arrange them in baskets, etc., for decorations.  Flowers will be needed for head- pieces, brides- maid and bride’s bouquets and boutonnieres.  (Patterns for these are on the following pages)  Find out all the small things that will be needed.   Garters, Pillow for the ring, Flower-girl basketAccessories for brides-maids, Wedding invitations, Wedding favors and gifts for maids and groomsmen.  (Instructions on the following pages)The Bridal Gown and her Court Attire are your next items to think about.  Purchasing these items was unthinkable for us at that time.  So, what is the next best thing?  Make your own.  Select a simple dress that can be decorated to look like a beautiful bridal gown.  Make the brides-maid dresses on a similar scale.  How many gowns will you need?  Well, according to tradition (which you really don’t have to go by), there is a Maid of Honor, Brides-Maids, and a Flower girl.  The number will be according to what you desire.          Unfortunately, my daughter wanted two Maids of Honor, five Brides-Maids, four Ribbon Girls (little girls waving ribbons) and one Flower Girl.  And then there is also the Mother’s Gown.  Already being a seamstress made the task fairly easy.  But being a seamstress is not imperative.  When necessity comes into play, even a non-sewer can whip up a beautiful wedding gown.  Just keep the pattern very simple.  (Instructions for purchasing and following a pattern are in the sewing section).  Add to your simple garment lace, pearls, sequins, and any type decoration that meets your fancy.  THE CAKE           this is not as difficult as you may think.  My Christian sister found a wonderful recipe in the “Christian Woman Magazine” (March/April 1988 edition).  The title of the article was “Make your own wedding cake.”  The recipe was excellent.  I used it and made a most beautiful and delicious cake.  This was a real hurdle for me because I am not a baker.  And I certainly didn’t know how to decorate a cake.  We were expecting 200 or more guests and our lack of finances convinced me that I could be both baker and decorator.  With the help of my Christian sisters, we began our search.  Jetty located pans from Goodwill.  They were three tier pans, just what I needed.We chose a design from pictures of wedding  cakes.                                                                                                                                 We located the nearest Bakery supply store1.    purchased platters and pillars for stacking the tiers 2.    rented larger size pans from the bakery3.    purchased a Bride and Groom centerpiece for the cake top4.   I purchased small flowers for the decorations 5.  The cakes were baked a few weeks ahead of time and frozen6.  The day before the wedding the cakes were defrosted7.  The day of the wedding the cake was being frosted I didn’t know what I was doing)My best friend, Doris Carey (a beloved college friend) walked in from her travels from Georgia and took over.  She did a beautiful job.   Jobs you can’t do get a friend to do.The cakes were placed on pillars and a fountain was rented to flow underneath.            THE BRIDAL GOWN         A bridal gown does not have to be elaborate and expensive to be beautiful.  If you can sew at all, you can make your own gown.  First, select a style; flare, straight, empire waist, fish tale or princess.  Patterns for bridal gowns are usually quite difficult for beginner seamstress, so find the same style dress (as close to what you want as possible) in a similar pattern that is simpler.  It may be a dress that basically only needs to be made longer.  Choose the type sleeve you want and make a train, which can be separate.       Next choose your fabric.  Satin is most popular, it looks beautiful and sews well.  But there are many other fabrics that you can choose from.       The secret to making an elaborate gown is your decorations.  You make your basic simple long gown, then laden it with jewels, sequins, beads, pearls, lace, or what ever is stunning.    Purchase a piece of lace that has a distinct design in  it.  Decorate this and use it as your bodice front piece.  This will go on top of your satin fabric.  You will need lots of fabric glue.  Line the outline of the design with strung pearls.  Decorate the inner designs with sequins or   HANGING   PEARLS are strung onto heavy cord or thread.  A knot is put in the cord first, and then the drop bead is   threaded.  Smaller pearls follow this to your desired length and size.  These dangling pearls are then attached to your garment where you want them.            SEQUINS add sparkle and shine to your garment.  Try the large sequins.  They are easier to glue down.  If you can Tracy my daughter-in-lawonly find small ones, put down your glue and pour the sequins in place and press them down.  Then shake off the excess.  Continue this process until desired effect is acquired.                                                            TRAIN the flowing tail of your garment.  Measure out the amount of fabric you want to use for your train.  If the train will be attached at the waist, measure from the waist to the floor and beyond.  For a fishtail gown, the train will start at the tail.  Cut the fabric into the shape you desire.  Hem the train all the way around, except for where it is to be attached.  Decorate elaborately, or to your liking. Abigail my middle daughter.                                      This is our oldest child and first to be married.  I was so proud of this dress.  See the f lowers coming out of the shoulders.  I also made the headdress and the bouquet.  When finished, attach to the gown. You can use snaps, hooks, or buttons.  Be Creative.                           Ts  This is our youngest daughter with granddaughter Bethany sitting on the train.  Notice the lights in the headdress and train.                                                     BUTTONS  are the other items that beautify your gown.  You may want to cover your buttons, but I find pearl buttons to be very attractive.  If you don’t want to be bothered with lots of buttons down the back just put in a zipper.     Small pearl buttons are very beautiful at the end of the sleeves.  Taper your sleeve at the bottom to fit your wrist.  Stopping your sleeve seam five or six inches from the hemline does this.  Leave a nice size split to get your hands throw.  Hem the sleeve so no threads are seen.  Now place a small row of pearl buttons on one side of the sleeve split.  On the other side of the sleeve next to the buttons make loops to attach the buttons too.                                                 HEADPIECES can be very expensive.  But you can make your own very easily.  Almost all craft and fabric stores have a bridal supply section.  There you can find all kinds of items that you can put together to make the perfect headpiece.  You can find already decorated headbands.  There are an array of flowers that can be twisted together to make a head- piece.  There are decorative white leaves and ribbons that will make attractive headpieces.  After you select what you want, it’s time to select your tulle fabric.   Tulle comes in several widths.  I like the wide width.  Purchase enough to fall loosely over your face and upper body, and add enough to cover your back as you please.  Attach this tulle to your headpiece and add a clear comb if you need help holding it on your head.  The face covering and the back portion of the tulle should be attached to the back of the headpiece.  This way, the tulle can be draped over the headpiece and over the body, and can be lifted for the kiss.  Then it can be worn behind the head during the reception.   Look at the lights in Abby’s crown.  This headpiece was made from a collar of a blouse.  It was heavily beaded and sequined and shaped into this beautifully unique headpiece.                                    JEWELRY is another item that goes with weddings.  The most common jewelry worn in weddings is pearls.  These can be easily made.  You can purchase a package of loose pearls and some jewelry cord.  Then thread up for yourself and your maids, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Your craft store will have a large supply of screw on, clasp, and clips to help you with this project.  These can also serve as gifts to your maids.        SHOES are not a difficult project.  Just purchase a plain pair of white shoes.  Satin shoes are most common.  Then decorate them yourself.  Flowers, jewels, decorative leaves and sequins, whatever meets your fancy, can decorate your shoes.  These can be sewn, staples or glued in place.     GARTERS, BASKETS, AND SMALL PILLARS can all be purchased very in-expensively from your craft of fabric stores.    THE BRIDAL BOUQEUT is another item that you can make to your liking.  Choose the type flowers you desire.  They can be fake or real.  Buy clusters of them.  Add ribbon, lace, pearls, baby’s breath, and tulle fabric.  These can all be secured together with floral wire.  Purchase a bouquet holder or cut off the top of a milk jug.  Put your arrangement in the neck opening and cover the hanging wires with floral tape.  You can do the same for your maids, but on a smaller scale.  They need not be as elaborate as yours need.       RICE OR BIRDSEED FLOWERS make wonderful favors.  Some may open them and throw the rice.  But others will take them home for a souvenir.       Purchase satin fabric and cut pieces 6X6 inches.       Purchase green floral tape and floral wire.  (Light weight for wrapping the flowers and heavy weight for the long stem.    Purchase floral leaves              Take your satin fabric piece.  Roll it over several times to make a tube.  Gather one end of the fabric together.                  Stick a long piece of floral wire into the gathered fabric.  Take your thin floral wire and begin to wrap it firmly around the bottom of the flower bud securing the gathered fabric and the wire stem. Cut off the wire when bud is made.                   Put a piece of heavy wire under the base of the flower as shown.             Take your floral tape and begin to wrap it firmly around the base of the bud.  Pull the tape a little as you go.  This makes the tape stick to itself as you wrap.  After the bud base and a few inches of stem have been wrapped, add on a leaf.  Continue wrapping, incorporating the leaf with the stem.  Wrap to the end.  Now pour a spoon of rice or birdseed into the top of the bud.  Fold the fabric down with small folds and tuck the rest of the fabric down into the rice.  This will kind of hold the rice or seeds inside the bud.     BOUTONNIERES are very easy. These can be a single flower.  Sometimes a ribbon or a piece of baby’s breath is added.  This is all wrapped together with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in it.     CORSAGES FOR MOTHER’S AND GRANDMOTHERS can be made the same as the boutonnieres but on a more elaborate scale.  Use several flowers and add ribbons, lace, leaves, baby’s breath and tulle.  Wrap these together and cover the wire with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in back.     FLOWER GIRL’S FLOWER’S can be a flower with the petals taken apart.  These can be thrown down the aisle during the ceremony.     ALL EXTRA FLOWERS CAN BE PLACED ON THE WEDDING PLATFORM TO DECORATE IT.Get all of your good friends to help make flower, so that there will be many to decorate and many to give out as favors.  Some can be made into centerpieces for the reception room. ing of two persons into one.  God ordained marriage (Gen. 2:18-24).  God made the first man, Adam and felt that he should not be alone.  So he made him a helpmeet or woman, Eve.  Then God said, “Therefore    DO YOUR OWN WEDDING     Weddings are spiritual.  They are a uniting of two persons into one.  God ordained marriage (Gen. 2:18-24).  God made the first man, Adam and felt that he should not be alone.  So he made him a helpmeet or woman, Eve.  Then God said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  (Gen. 2:24)   Marriage is a permanent bond. (Matt. 19: 9)  Marriage is a means of sexual love. (Prov. 5:18-19) “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as a loving hind and pleasant roe, let her breast satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.”  Marriage is a wonderful and honorable state. (Heb. 13:4)  Even Jesus went to a wedding and blessed it with his presence and first miracle.     Marriage in Bible times did not always include a religious ceremony, although it is probable that the betrothal was ratified by an oath.  (Ezek. 16:8—Mal. 2:14)  On the wedding day the bride dressed in white in an elaborately embroidered robe.  She was decked with jewels (Isa. 61:10) and wore a veil (Gen. 24:65).  The bridegroom attended by his friends and accompanied by musicians and singers went to the home of the bride. (Matt. 25:7)  After taking the bride from her home and receiving their blessing, the groom led his bride and the wedding party back to his house, as other friends joined them as they passed.  When they arrived at the groom’s house, there was a great feast.  In the evening the parents of the bride escorted her to the nuptial chamber (Gen. 29:23) the groom’s friends led him to the chamber.  The next day the festivities resumed and continued for a week or more. (Gen. 29:27—Judg. 14:12)     The purpose of marriage is to bring about the continuance of the race. (Gen. 1:28)  I Timothy 5:14 and I Timothy 5:14 says,” I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”       I have three daughters.  My oldest brought home Christian young man home one evening and announced their intentions to get married.  A few weeks later, she came home with a ring and a date.  I had six months to prepare for a wedding and to my knowledge, not a dime in my purse.  My husband was a poor preacher of the Gospel, who supplemented our income by substitute teaching during the school year.  She told me in April that the wedding date was to be in September.  This meant no extra income would be coming from teaching.  What would I do?  What else but begin working with what I had?  What did I need?  I made my list.  I got books from the library.  I searched for ideas in bridal boutiques and craft shops.  I realized that there was no way that we could finance a wedding.  The prices were unbelievable.  When I saw the prices, I began to visualize how the item was made in my mind.  I went home and tried my hardest to duplicate what I had seen.  I began with flowers.  I had  my daughters and some good Christian sisters, Jetty and Patricia Howard and Sis Kidd, that availed themselves to my service, and with their help we began.  I first secured books on flower making from the library.  Jetty Howard went to a craft shop and learned the art of flower making with ribbons.  She in turn taught us this art, and we were off to a good start.  What joy we received from our finished products.  We made flowers of all sizes.  (Check the following pages for instructions in flower making)                         WEDDING PREPARATION  First, find out the bridal colors, and begin with your flowers.  After your flowers are made, arrange them in baskets, etc., for decorations.  Flowers will be needed for head- pieces, brides- maid and bride’s bouquets and boutonnieres.  (Patterns for these are on the following pages)  Find out all the small things that will be needed.   Garters, Pillow for the ring, Flower-girl basketAccessories for brides-maids, Wedding invitations, Wedding favors and gifts for maids and groomsmen.  (Instructions on the following pages)The Bridal Gown and her Court Attire are your next items to think about.  Purchasing these items was unthinkable for us at that time.  So, what is the next best thing?  Make your own.  Select a simple dress that can be decorated to look like a beautiful bridal gown.  Make the brides-maid dresses on a similar scale.  How many gowns will you need?  Well, according to tradition (which you really don’t have to go by), there is a Maid of Honor, Brides-Maids, and a Flower girl.  The number will be according to what you desire.          Unfortunately, my daughter wanted two Maids of Honor, five Brides-Maids, four Ribbon Girls (little girls waving ribbons) and one Flower Girl.  And then there is also the Mother’s Gown.  Already being a seamstress made the task fairly easy.  But being a seamstress is not imperative.  When necessity comes into play, even a non-sewer can whip up a beautiful wedding gown.  Just keep the pattern very simple.  (Instructions for purchasing and following a pattern are in the sewing section).  Add to your simple garment lace, pearls, sequins, and any type decoration that meets your fancy.  THE CAKE           this is not as difficult as you may think.  My Christian sister found a wonderful recipe in the “Christian Woman Magazine” (March/April 1988 edition).  The title of the article was “Make your own wedding cake.”  The recipe was excellent.  I used it and made a most beautiful and delicious cake.  This was a real hurdle for me because I am not a baker.  And I certainly didn’t know how to decorate a cake.  We were expecting 200 or more guests and our lack of finances convinced me that I could be both baker and decorator.  With the help of my Christian sisters, we began our search.  Jetty located pans from Goodwill.  They were three tier pans, just what I needed.We chose a design from pictures of wedding  cakes.                                                                                                                                 We located the nearest Bakery supply store1.    purchased platters and pillars for stacking the tiers 2.    rented larger size pans from the bakery3.    purchased a Bride and Groom centerpiece for the cake top4.   I purchased small flowers for the decorations 5.  The cakes were baked a few weeks ahead of time and frozen6.  The day before the wedding the cakes were defrosted7.  The day of the wedding the cake was being frosted I didn’t know what I was doing)My best friend, Doris Carey (a beloved college friend) walked in from her travels from Georgia and took over.  She did a beautiful job.   Jobs you can’t do get a friend to do.The cakes were placed on pillars and a fountain was rented to flow underneath.            THE BRIDAL GOWN         A bridal gown does not have to be elaborate and expensive to be beautiful.  If you can sew at all, you can make your own gown.  First, select a style; flare, straight, empire waist, fish tale or princess.  Patterns for bridal gowns are usually quite difficult for beginner seamstress, so find the same style dress (as close to what you want as possible) in a similar pattern that is simpler.  It may be a dress that basically only needs to be made longer.  Choose the type sleeve you want and make a train, which can be separate.       Next choose your fabric.  Satin is most popular, it looks beautiful and sews well.  But there are many other fabrics that you can choose from.       The secret to making an elaborate gown is your decorations.  You make your basic simple long gown, then laden it with jewels, sequins, beads, pearls, lace, or what ever is stunning.    Purchase a piece of lace that has a distinct design in  it.  Decorate this and use it as your bodice front piece.  This will go on top of your satin fabric.  You will need lots of fabric glue.  Line the outline of the design with strung pearls.  Decorate the inner designs with sequins or   HANGING   PEARLS are strung onto heavy cord or thread.  A knot is put in the cord first, and then the drop bead is   threaded.  Smaller pearls follow this to your desired length and size.  These dangling pearls are then attached to your garment where you want them.            SEQUINS add sparkle and shine to your garment.  Try the large sequins.  They are easier to glue down.  If you can Tracy my daughter-in-lawonly find small ones, put down your glue and pour the sequins in place and press them down.  Then shake off the excess.  Continue this process until desired effect is acquired.                                                            TRAIN the flowing tail of your garment.  Measure out the amount of fabric you want to use for your train.  If the train will be attached at the waist, measure from the waist to the floor and beyond.  For a fishtail gown, the train will start at the tail.  Cut the fabric into the shape you desire.  Hem the train all the way around, except for where it is to be attached.  Decorate elaborately, or to your liking. Abigail my middle daughter.                                      This is our oldest child and first to be married.  I was so proud of this dress.  See the f lowers coming out of the shoulders.  I also made the headdress and the bouquet.  When finished, attach to the gown. You can use snaps, hooks, or buttons.  Be Creative.                           Ts  This is our youngest daughter with granddaughter Bethany sitting on the train.  Notice the lights in the headdress and train.                                                     BUTTONS  are the other items that beautify your gown.  You may want to cover your buttons, but I find pearl buttons to be very attractive.  If you don’t want to be bothered with lots of buttons down the back just put in a zipper.     Small pearl buttons are very beautiful at the end of the sleeves.  Taper your sleeve at the bottom to fit your wrist.  Stopping your sleeve seam five or six inches from the hemline does this.  Leave a nice size split to get your hands throw.  Hem the sleeve so no threads are seen.  Now place a small row of pearl buttons on one side of the sleeve split.  On the other side of the sleeve next to the buttons make loops to attach the buttons too.                                                 HEADPIECES can be very expensive.  But you can make your own very easily.  Almost all craft and fabric stores have a bridal supply section.  There you can find all kinds of items that you can put together to make the perfect headpiece.  You can find already decorated headbands.  There are an array of flowers that can be twisted together to make a head- piece.  There are decorative white leaves and ribbons that will make attractive headpieces.  After you select what you want, it’s time to select your tulle fabric.   Tulle comes in several widths.  I like the wide width.  Purchase enough to fall loosely over your face and upper body, and add enough to cover your back as you please.  Attach this tulle to your headpiece and add a clear comb if you need help holding it on your head.  The face covering and the back portion of the tulle should be attached to the back of the headpiece.  This way, the tulle can be draped over the headpiece and over the body, and can be lifted for the kiss.  Then it can be worn behind the head during the reception.   Look at the lights in Abby’s crown.  This headpiece was made from a collar of a blouse.  It was heavily beaded and sequined and shaped into this beautifully unique headpiece.                                    JEWELRY is another item that goes with weddings.  The most common jewelry worn in weddings is pearls.  These can be easily made.  You can purchase a package of loose pearls and some jewelry cord.  Then thread up for yourself and your maids, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Your craft store will have a large supply of screw on, clasp, and clips to help you with this project.  These can also serve as gifts to your maids.        SHOES are not a difficult project.  Just purchase a plain pair of white shoes.  Satin shoes are most common.  Then decorate them yourself.  Flowers, jewels, decorative leaves and sequins, whatever meets your fancy, can decorate your shoes.  These can be sewn, staples or glued in place.     GARTERS, BASKETS, AND SMALL PILLARS can all be purchased very in-expensively from your craft of fabric stores.    THE BRIDAL BOUQEUT is another item that you can make to your liking.  Choose the type flowers you desire.  They can be fake or real.  Buy clusters of them.  Add ribbon, lace, pearls, baby’s breath, and tulle fabric.  These can all be secured together with floral wire.  Purchase a bouquet holder or cut off the top of a milk jug.  Put your arrangement in the neck opening and cover the hanging wires with floral tape.  You can do the same for your maids, but on a smaller scale.  They need not be as elaborate as yours need.       RICE OR BIRDSEED FLOWERS make wonderful favors.  Some may open them and throw the rice.  But others will take them home for a souvenir.       Purchase satin fabric and cut pieces 6X6 inches.       Purchase green floral tape and floral wire.  (Light weight for wrapping the flowers and heavy weight for the long stem.    Purchase floral leaves              Take your satin fabric piece.  Roll it over several times to make a tube.  Gather one end of the fabric together.                  Stick a long piece of floral wire into the gathered fabric.  Take your thin floral wire and begin to wrap it firmly around the bottom of the flower bud securing the gathered fabric and the wire stem. Cut off the wire when bud is made.                   Put a piece of heavy wire under the base of the flower as shown.             Take your floral tape and begin to wrap it firmly around the base of the bud.  Pull the tape a little as you go.  This makes the tape stick to itself as you wrap.  After the bud base and a few inches of stem have been wrapped, add on a leaf.  Continue wrapping, incorporating the leaf with the stem.  Wrap to the end.  Now pour a spoon of rice or birdseed into the top of the bud.  Fold the fabric down with small folds and tuck the rest of the fabric down into the rice.  This will kind of hold the rice or seeds inside the bud.     BOUTONNIERES are very easy. These can be a single flower.  Sometimes a ribbon or a piece of baby’s breath is added.  This is all wrapped together with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in it.     CORSAGES FOR MOTHER’S AND GRANDMOTHERS can be made the same as the boutonnieres but on a more elaborate scale.  Use several flowers and add ribbons, lace, leaves, baby’s breath and tulle.  Wrap these together and cover the wire with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in back.     FLOWER GIRL’S FLOWER’S can be a flower with the petals taken apart.  These can be thrown down the aisle during the ceremony.     ALL EXTRA FLOWERS CAN BE PLACED ON THE WEDDING PLATFORM TO DECORATE IT.Get all of your good friends to help make flower, so that there will be many to decorate and many to give out as favors.  Some can be made into centerpieces for the reception room. shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”  (Gen. 2:24)   Marriage is a permanent bond. (Matt. 19: 9)  Marriage is a means of sexual love. (Prov. 5:18-19) “Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.  Let her be as a loving hind and pleasant roe, let her breast satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.”  Marriage is a wonderful and honorable state. (Heb. 13:4)  Even Jesus went to a wedding and blessed it with his presence and first miracle.     Marriage in Bible times did not always include a religious ceremony, although it is probable that the betrothal was ratified by an oath.  (Ezek. 16:8—Mal. 2:14)  On the wedding day the bride dressed in white in an elaborately embroidered robe.  She was decked with jewels (Isa. 61:10) and wore a veil (Gen. 24:65).  The bridegroom attended by his friends and accompanied by musicians and singers went to the home of the bride. (Matt. 25:7)  After taking the bride from her home and receiving their blessing, the groom led his bride and the wedding party back to his house, as other friends joined them as they passed.  When they arrived at the groom’s house, there was a great feast.  In the evening the parents of the bride escorted her to the nuptial chamber (Gen. 29:23) the groom’s friends led him to the chamber.  The next day the festivities resumed and continued for a week or more. (Gen. 29:27—Judg. 14:12)     The purpose of marriage is to bring about the continuance of the race. (Gen. 1:28)  I Timothy 5:14 and I Timothy 5:14 says,” I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.”       I have three daughters.  My oldest brought home Christian young man home one evening and announced their intentions to get married.  A few weeks later, she came home with a ring and a date.  I had six months to prepare for a wedding and to my knowledge, not a dime in my purse.  My husband was a poor preacher of the Gospel, who supplemented our income by substitute teaching during the school year.  She told me in April that the wedding date was to be in September.  This meant no extra income would be coming from teaching.  What would I do?  What else but begin working with what I had?  What did I need?  I made my list.  I got books from the library.  I searched for ideas in bridal boutiques and craft shops.  I realized that there was no way that we could finance a wedding.  The prices were unbelievable.  When I saw the prices, I began to visualize how the item was made in my mind.  I went home and tried my hardest to duplicate what I had seen.  I began with flowers.  I had  my daughters and some good Christian sisters, Jetty and Patricia Howard and Sis Kidd, that availed themselves to my service, and with their help we began.  I first secured books on flower making from the library.  Jetty Howard went to a craft shop and learned the art of flower making with ribbons.  She in turn taught us this art, and we were off to a good start.  What joy we received from our finished products.  We made flowers of all sizes.  (Check the following pages for instructions in flower making)                         WEDDING PREPARATION  First, find out the bridal colors, and begin with your flowers.  After your flowers are made, arrange them in baskets, etc., for decorations.  Flowers will be needed for head- pieces, brides- maid and bride’s bouquets and boutonnieres.  (Patterns for these are on the following pages)  Find out all the small things that will be needed.   Garters, Pillow for the ring, Flower-girl basketAccessories for brides-maids, Wedding invitations, Wedding favors and gifts for maids and groomsmen.  (Instructions on the following pages)The Bridal Gown and her Court Attire are your next items to think about.  Purchasing these items was unthinkable for us at that time.  So, what is the next best thing?  Make your own.  Select a simple dress that can be decorated to look like a beautiful bridal gown.  Make the brides-maid dresses on a similar scale.  How many gowns will you need?  Well, according to tradition (which you really don’t have to go by), there is a Maid of Honor, Brides-Maids, and a Flower girl.  The number will be according to what you desire.          Unfortunately, my daughter wanted two Maids of Honor, five Brides-Maids, four Ribbon Girls (little girls waving ribbons) and one Flower Girl.  And then there is also the Mother’s Gown.  Already being a seamstress made the task fairly easy.  But being a seamstress is not imperative.  When necessity comes into play, even a non-sewer can whip up a beautiful wedding gown.  Just keep the pattern very simple.  (Instructions for purchasing and following a pattern are in the sewing section).  Add to your simple garment lace, pearls, sequins, and any type decoration that meets your fancy.  THE CAKE           this is not as difficult as you may think.  My Christian sister found a wonderful recipe in the “Christian Woman Magazine” (March/April 1988 edition).  The title of the article was “Make your own wedding cake.”  The recipe was excellent.  I used it and made a most beautiful and delicious cake.  This was a real hurdle for me because I am not a baker.  And I certainly didn’t know how to decorate a cake.  We were expecting 200 or more guests and our lack of finances convinced me that I could be both baker and decorator.  With the help of my Christian sisters, we began our search.  Jetty located pans from Goodwill.  They were three tier pans, just what I needed.We chose a design from pictures of wedding  cakes.                                                                                                                                 We located the nearest Bakery supply store1.    purchased platters and pillars for stacking the tiers 2.    rented larger size pans from the bakery3.    purchased a Bride and Groom centerpiece for the cake top4.   I purchased small flowers for the decorations 5.  The cakes were baked a few weeks ahead of time and frozen6.  The day before the wedding the cakes were defrosted7.  The day of the wedding the cake was being frosted I didn’t know what I was doing)My best friend, Doris Carey (a beloved college friend) walked in from her travels from Georgia and took over.  She did a beautiful job.   Jobs you can’t do get a friend to do.The cakes were placed on pillars and a fountain was rented to flow underneath.            THE BRIDAL GOWN         A bridal gown does not have to be elaborate and expensive to be beautiful.  If you can sew at all, you can make your own gown.  First, select a style; flare, straight, empire waist, fish tale or princess.  Patterns for bridal gowns are usually quite difficult for beginner seamstress, so find the same style dress (as close to what you want as possible) in a similar pattern that is simpler.  It may be a dress that basically only needs to be made longer.  Choose the type sleeve you want and make a train, which can be separate.       Next choose your fabric.  Satin is most popular, it looks beautiful and sews well.  But there are many other fabrics that you can choose from.       The secret to making an elaborate gown is your decorations.  You make your basic simple long gown, then laden it with jewels, sequins, beads, pearls, lace, or what ever is stunning.    Purchase a piece of lace that has a distinct design in  it.  Decorate this and use it as your bodice front piece.  This will go on top of your satin fabric.  You will need lots of fabric glue.  Line the outline of the design with strung pearls.  Decorate the inner designs with sequins or   HANGING   PEARLS are strung onto heavy cord or thread.  A knot is put in the cord first, and then the drop bead is   threaded.  Smaller pearls follow this to your desired length and size.  These dangling pearls are then attached to your garment where you want them.            SEQUINS add sparkle and shine to your garment.  Try the large sequins.  They are easier to glue down.  If you can Tracy my daughter-in-lawonly find small ones, put down your glue and pour the sequins in place and press them down.  Then shake off the excess.  Continue this process until desired effect is acquired.                                                            TRAIN the flowing tail of your garment.  Measure out the amount of fabric you want to use for your train.  If the train will be attached at the waist, measure from the waist to the floor and beyond.  For a fishtail gown, the train will start at the tail.  Cut the fabric into the shape you desire.  Hem the train all the way around, except for where it is to be attached.  Decorate elaborately, or to your liking. Abigail my middle daughter.                                      This is our oldest child and first to be married.  I was so proud of this dress.  See the f lowers coming out of the shoulders.  I also made the headdress and the bouquet.  When finished, attach to the gown. You can use snaps, hooks, or buttons.  Be Creative.                           Ts  This is our youngest daughter with granddaughter Bethany sitting on the train.  Notice the lights in the headdress and train.                                                     BUTTONS  are the other items that beautify your gown.  You may want to cover your buttons, but I find pearl buttons to be very attractive.  If you don’t want to be bothered with lots of buttons down the back just put in a zipper.     Small pearl buttons are very beautiful at the end of the sleeves.  Taper your sleeve at the bottom to fit your wrist.  Stopping your sleeve seam five or six inches from the hemline does this.  Leave a nice size split to get your hands throw.  Hem the sleeve so no threads are seen.  Now place a small row of pearl buttons on one side of the sleeve split.  On the other side of the sleeve next to the buttons make loops to attach the buttons too.                                                 HEADPIECES can be very expensive.  But you can make your own very easily.  Almost all craft and fabric stores have a bridal supply section.  There you can find all kinds of items that you can put together to make the perfect headpiece.  You can find already decorated headbands.  There are an array of flowers that can be twisted together to make a head- piece.  There are decorative white leaves and ribbons that will make attractive headpieces.  After you select what you want, it’s time to select your tulle fabric.   Tulle comes in several widths.  I like the wide width.  Purchase enough to fall loosely over your face and upper body, and add enough to cover your back as you please.  Attach this tulle to your headpiece and add a clear comb if you need help holding it on your head.  The face covering and the back portion of the tulle should be attached to the back of the headpiece.  This way, the tulle can be draped over the headpiece and over the body, and can be lifted for the kiss.  Then it can be worn behind the head during the reception.   Look at the lights in Abby’s crown.  This headpiece was made from a collar of a blouse.  It was heavily beaded and sequined and shaped into this beautifully unique headpiece.                                    JEWELRY is another item that goes with weddings.  The most common jewelry worn in weddings is pearls.  These can be easily made.  You can purchase a package of loose pearls and some jewelry cord.  Then thread up for yourself and your maids, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.  Your craft store will have a large supply of screw on, clasp, and clips to help you with this project.  These can also serve as gifts to your maids.        SHOES are not a difficult project.  Just purchase a plain pair of white shoes.  Satin shoes are most common.  Then decorate them yourself.  Flowers, jewels, decorative leaves and sequins, whatever meets your fancy, can decorate your shoes.  These can be sewn, staples or glued in place.     GARTERS, BASKETS, AND SMALL PILLARS can all be purchased very in-expensively from your craft of fabric stores.    THE BRIDAL BOUQEUT is another item that you can make to your liking.  Choose the type flowers you desire.  They can be fake or real.  Buy clusters of them.  Add ribbon, lace, pearls, baby’s breath, and tulle fabric.  These can all be secured together with floral wire.  Purchase a bouquet holder or cut off the top of a milk jug.  Put your arrangement in the neck opening and cover the hanging wires with floral tape.  You can do the same for your maids, but on a smaller scale.  They need not be as elaborate as yours need.       RICE OR BIRDSEED FLOWERS make wonderful favors.  Some may open them and throw the rice.  But others will take them home for a souvenir.       Purchase satin fabric and cut pieces 6X6 inches.       Purchase green floral tape and floral wire.  (Light weight for wrapping the flowers and heavy weight for the long stem.    Purchase floral leaves              Take your satin fabric piece.  Roll it over several times to make a tube.  Gather one end of the fabric together.                  Stick a long piece of floral wire into the gathered fabric.  Take your thin floral wire and begin to wrap it firmly around the bottom of the flower bud securing the gathered fabric and the wire stem. Cut off the wire when bud is made.                   Put a piece of heavy wire under the base of the flower as shown.             Take your floral tape and begin to wrap it firmly around the base of the bud.  Pull the tape a little as you go.  This makes the tape stick to itself as you wrap.  After the bud base and a few inches of stem have been wrapped, add on a leaf.  Continue wrapping, incorporating the leaf with the stem.  Wrap to the end.  Now pour a spoon of rice or birdseed into the top of the bud.  Fold the fabric down with small folds and tuck the rest of the fabric down into the rice.  This will kind of hold the rice or seeds inside the bud.     BOUTONNIERES are very easy. These can be a single flower.  Sometimes a ribbon or a piece of baby’s breath is added.  This is all wrapped together with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in it.     CORSAGES FOR MOTHER’S AND GRANDMOTHERS can be made the same as the boutonnieres but on a more elaborate scale.  Use several flowers and add ribbons, lace, leaves, baby’s breath and tulle.  Wrap these together and cover the wire with floral tape.  Then put a corsage pin in back.     FLOWER GIRL’S FLOWER’S can be a flower with the petals taken apart.  These can be thrown down the aisle during the ceremony.     ALL EXTRA FLOWERS CAN BE PLACED ON THE WEDDING PLATFORM TO DECORATE IT.Get all of your good friends to help make flower, so that there will be many to decorate and many to give out as favors.  Some can be made into centerpieces for the reception room. eading