Emma's answers to Traditional English wedding

Question

I'm planning a small reception for a friend at a local pub here in Southern California. She's from London and we want to decorate with an English theme. We're going to use red, white and blue balloons - have you got any other traditional ideas?

Answer

Here are few traditions of an English reception that you might like to look at:
*The wedding cake - traditionally a three-tiered fruit cake with white icing.
*If you are sitting down to eat then you'd have a top table. Sitting on this would be the bride and groom, both parents, the best man and bridesmaids.
*Favours - you would give each guest a small gift. Traditionally this would have been five sugared almonds, given to symbolise the bitter/sweet life of a married couple. Each one had a meaning.
1. Health
2. Wealth
3. Fertility
4. Happiness
5. Long life
*Toasts and speeches. The father of the bride would give his speech first, followed by the a toast to the bride and groom. Then the groom would make a speech saying how wonderful his new wife is and how lucky he is, he would then make a toast to the bridesmaids. Next would be the turn of the best man, he would tell lots of stories about the groom and end with a toast to the happy couple.
* The cutting of the cake is witnessed by everyone and the bride and groom cut the cake together, (make sure they leave the knife in and someone else removes it, this will bring the couple good luck.)
* The first dance, a song that the bride and groom have chosen that is very dear to them. The dance floor is cleared whilst the new Mr and Mrs dance their very first dance.
* Leaving the reception. The car is usually decorated with foam, toilet paper, and tin cans on string hanging off the back.
* The first night hotel would usually have been visited by the best man and bridesmaids and the bed filled with rice and confetti!

Another fun idea could be to have a cake decorated with red, white and blue icing, or even with the 'Union Jack' design!

Emma x