Thursday, October 31, 2013

Dia de Muertos

Yellow Canary had the pleasure of being a part of Lizzie and Mike's Dia de Muertos inspired wedding.  It was a fresh and creative event so full of color and imagination! (More photos to come)... 





About Day of the Dead 



Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated on November 1. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los Muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.

Dia de los Muertos honors the dead with festivals and lively celebrations, a typically Latin American custom that combines indigenous Aztec ritual with Catholicism, brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores. (Dia de los Muertos is celebrated on All Saints Day and All Souls Day, minor holidays in the Catholic calendar.)

Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones.




                               The Masks


The most familiar symbol of Dia de los Muertos may the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

The mask to the right is the work of local artist Robyn Roth. You can see more of her work and masks here.












Monday, October 21, 2013

Yellow Canary Couple: Rene and Matt

Such a vibrant wedding for Yellow Canary couple, Rene and Matt.  Their early August wedding was bright and original with plenty of fun and romance.  Their reception, or "Matt - Ne" was held at the 20th Century in Oakley; photos by Geradine Ciulla Wedding Photography. 











Monday, October 14, 2013

Mum's the Word

Who doesn't love mums?  They are an earthy, vibrant bloom and versatile to boot!  They are equally suitable for a bridal bouquet or for a barn dance and oh, the array of colors and style.


With a history that dates back to 15th century B.C., chrysanthemum mythology is filled with amultitude of stories and symbolism. Named from the Greek prefix “chrys-“ meaning golden (its original colour) and “-anthemion,” meaning flower, years of artful cultivation have produced a full range of colours, from white to purple to red. Daisy-like with a typically yellow centre and a decorative pompon, chrysanthemums symbolize optimism and joy. They’re the November birth flower and  the 13th wedding anniversary flower.
In Japan, there’s even a “Festival of Happiness” to celebrate this flower each year. A symbol of the sun, the Japanese consider the orderly unfolding of the chrysanthemum’s petals to represent perfection, and Confucius once suggested they be used as an object of meditation. It’s said that a single petal of this celebrated flower placed at the bottom of a wine glass will encourage a long and healthy life.


Monday, October 7, 2013

Weddings in Film

Taking a look at films today.  In no particular order here are a few favorite clips of weddings in film.  Be it romantic, silly, fairy-tale or just preposterous, who doesn't love a good wedding scene?

1) Love Actually- All You Need is Love.   This is a favorite film for many reasons, but who didn't love the surprise recessional at the beginning of the film?



2) 27 Dresses.  As a bridesmaid many times over, I loved the final scene from 27 Dresses, it was a definite reply to the "you can use it again" that comes from many brides!





3) Father of the Bride- Franck.  Martin Short as a wedding planner; classic!!!




4) The Wedding Planner.  I have a "planning crush" on the efficiency and military precision of the wedding at the beginning of the film!  If only I can be as prepared for anything.




5) The Princess Bride- Mawwrage...  This is a classic movie on all accounts, but who doesn't love this scene?