At a friend's wedding, they had empty vases set up along the head table, so the bride's and bridesmaids' bouquets became the table centerpieces. It was really gorgeous.

I never had any idea that the bouquet was linked to virginity. One lives, one learns.

A lot of the wedding stuff is sorta gross now. Virginity, transfer of property, fertility all over the place... and its weird how people will do some of it unthinkingly still (as opposed to re-defining).

Chocolate bread should not exist.

points finger

Heretic!

Seriously - when done right? It's all chocolate-y and not-sweet, just bready-chocolate goodness. Yum. I should make some.

I am also pro-quickie, but not to the exclusion of the take-your-time-y.

The Scandinavian name change wasn't really related to coming to America. The Olaf Olafson thing became unwieldy when the government had to keep permanent records for things like Army service, and people were required to pick a last name by the 1850s. It might have been a current last name, the name of an ancestor or just something they liked. This is why Swedish geneologists curse a lot.

I never had any idea that the bouquet was linked to virginity. One lives, one learns.

Me either. I just thought it was an evil plot put forth by the producers of America's Funniest Home Videos.

My next wedding I want to be a Vegas style affair, with singing Elvii and all the attendant cheesy rituals. It'll be a hoot. No cake smooshing, though. That's just nasty.

This is why Swedish geneologists curse a lot.

But in a very organized and polite manner, complete with lingonberries and meatballs.

its weird how people will do some of it unthinkingly still.

Unthinkingly, or unknowingly? I can't see any way to know the bouquet symbolism (for instance) without being exposed to the facts. It's hardly intuitive.

Some of the other stuff is more obvious--the giving away, the kissing the bride.

Even the garter toss-doesn't bother me in the least. I didn't know what it symbolised--I just thought it was funny.

But not at Ellis Island: there was no "name choosing" there.

You had to list a family name. Most Scandinavians did not have a family name when they arrived. How did they get one if they did not choose it?

I'm realizing that I've never given notice at a real job. I don't know how it's done!

shrift: You write up a two-line letter to your boss that says you are resigning, effective on X date. Then you panic for a little while and finally walk it into your boss's office and tell them you're leaving. Then you feel an ENORMOUS FUCKING SENSE OF RELIEF. Then you have booze at lunch.