The bride's scarf is considered the most canonical and strict addition to the main wedding dress. A veil is an analogue of a scarf, but it is worth remembering that since ancient times it could only be used by innocent persons. And if we take into account the fact that marriage registration occurs after a secular procedure, a veil is often out of the question. Many note that scarves have their own special appeal and add chastity to the image, unlike a veil. Which is an important proof of the sacredness of the wedding ritual.
The nuances of a traditional wedding
In Orthodox culture, a wedding is a sacrament, the purpose of which is to turn two lovers into a family, into a single whole. Symbolically, the ritual is presented in the form of two main components:
- the groom in the image of Christ, taking an oath to love and protect the girl;
- the bride symbolizes the church, which makes a promise of fidelity and submission.
Any church ritual has its own requirements for the appearance of the participants in the process. In a wedding, the image of the bride herself and its details, sometimes having a deep meaning, are very important.
The most well-known rule of the dress code of the Orthodox Church states that you should not come to a place pleasing to God with excessively exposed parts of the body and uncovered head. On the contrary, men must take off their hats when entering the temple; ladies must put on a scarf, veil or other headdress depending on the occasion and weather. The need to abandon fluffy floor-length dresses is due to banal fire safety and is quite logical. There are a lot of candles in the temples and any careless movement in such an outfit can lead to dire consequences. Also inappropriate during the sacrament are excessively martial makeup and massive, pretentious types of jewelry.
It is important to remember that brides should not paint their lips before going to the temple; even colorless glosses and hygienic lipsticks are not approved. The fact is that during the ritual they will have to kiss the image of the icon, on which, ideally, no traces should remain. Therefore, this requirement is also partly rational and logically justified.
The main meaning of the scarf for the church
Women are required to come to the temple with their heads covered. In modern society, some churches are lenient to circumstances and allow parishioners to be present without clothing and in the same jeans. However, this was previously prohibited, and a scarf was considered the main attire. First of all, unlike a veil, a scarf is a universal decoration and will suit all girls, regardless of the degree of innocence. Also, the scarf is quite diverse and allows you to play with shape, design and color, giving the bride’s image new notes.
According to church canons, a girl should have her hair covered, but her face open. It will be more difficult to secure the veil in this way, especially if you have a tall hairstyle. When choosing a veil, brides choose a multi-layered version and throw it forward in a special way. Which, due to its length, is very inconvenient. A wedding scarf relieves girls from such discomfort.
Types of headdress
The most popular color scheme for a scarf is the white version. But some ladies prefer more delicate shades, such as ivory, cream or the increasingly popular champagne. The Orthodox Church does not prohibit the choice of free color, the main thing is that it is not flashy or provocative; these shades should be left for another occasion.
The materials most often chosen are satin, silk or lace. In terms of compatibility, lace is considered a universal fabric. With the help of openwork patterns you can add femininity and mystery to the bride's image. The wedding scarf should be matched to the dress in such a way that the patterns on the models match or at least overlap, then the image will be complete. If the patterns conflict with each other, then the image will turn out to be at least sloppy.
As a fabric, some resourceful brides choose materials such as organza, satin, chiffon or tulle. Additional decoration in the form of rhinestones or favorite stones is allowed. It’s just important to remember moderation in this matter, otherwise the image will turn out vulgar and heavy.
When it comes to stylistic decisions, the most popular models are bonnet, cloak or bolero. A very popular type of scarf in the bolero style with a hood. The model is usually fastened with elegant buttons. This version of the scarf can not only hide overly exposed shoulders, but also add femininity and elegance to the image. A more closed version of the style involves a cloak-shaped model that smoothly flows down and sometimes has an additional train. This choice is made either by conservative and modest brides, or by those who want to feel like a real princess at the celebration.
If the dress is of a chaste, closed style, then you can safely choose an open model of a scarf, for example, a stole, which covers only the hair. Traditionally, the model is made of lace, but it can be made to order from any other suitable materials.
The simplest and most popular model is a scarf-style scarf, which can be tied both in the front and in the back. The main advantage of this solution is that it can not only emphasize the image of the bride and make it feminine. Also, such a scarf will not distract the attention of guests from the ceremony itself.
A wedding scarf can have several clasp options. They can be either buttons or ribbons made from a variety of materials. When choosing a scarf with a hood, you can do without fasteners at all, except to secure the model to your hair using bobby pins.
Features of a headdress for a bride
Since ancient times, a veil has been considered the main headdress of a bride. It could be worn both at secular evenings and at church sacraments. Moreover, the veil is the headdress that is used all over the world.
It is generally accepted that with its help you can protect a defenseless bride from the evil eye and bad thoughts. Currently, when registering with the registry office, a headdress is not a mandatory attribute, but for visiting church it is simply necessary. The church does not make special conditions for the bride when visiting the temple.
Scarves for church weddings.
Choosing an accessory is not always easy. Because it should fit perfectly with the dress as a whole. Therefore, stylists advise that when choosing a veil, you should start, first of all, not from your taste preferences, but from the design of the dress itself.
Fortunately, nowadays wedding salons provide a variety of hats for the bride. It can be a veil, a shawl, a veil, or a small hat. In all cases, the bride will look stunning if she correctly composes a harmonious and complete image.
Many women still do not understand why they have to wear a scarf on their heads in the temple. In fact, the apostle Paul said that the headdress is the personification of spirituality and submission. A girl simply must be under her husband, thereby she expresses respect not only for those present, but also for her beloved, wearing a scarf as a sign of consent and humility.
It is quite difficult to choose the right accessory. Its task is to completely cover the head. Unfortunately, not any type of veil can cope with this purpose.
In this regard, there is a need for a different headdress. This could be a scarf. It is unique and good because it allows you to hide bare parts of the body.
Recommendations for choosing a head scarf
If the wedding is planned in the winter season, you can opt for a model with a hood, framed with fur. It is only important to take into account the heat factor in the church and the possibility, if necessary, to remove additional insulation. When choosing a scarf model with lace, you should choose a dress that is smooth or has a similar decor. As mentioned earlier, different decor styles will separate the image, making it visually inferior.
It is also worth considering the moment of attaching the scarf to the hairstyle. If you choose the wrong method, the scarf can slide to the side during an important moment, causing inconvenience and ruining your mood.
It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the tone of the dress and scarf should look harmonious with each other. A scarf of a darker shade than the dress will look inappropriate and unkempt. The choice of a colored scarf is not prohibited. The main thing in it is restraint and design that matches the image.
Accessory options for a wedding in a church
The head accessory itself can make a real accent. For example, it would be appropriate to wear a white modest wedding dress and a lace scarf. In this image, the woman will look both mysterious and modest, as the church desires.
Designers provide women with several accessory options to choose from:
- A stole is an ideal way to hide the bareness that exists on clothing. The good thing about a stole is that it is long and voluminous. It can be made from either very thin fabric or wool. In both cases, the scarf is always patterned, interesting and original in its design.
- The hood is an original type of accessory. It is, as it were, a cut-off piece of clothing. The hood neatly covers the entire head, while leaving the face wide open. In addition, the hood is always long, so part of it still falls on the shoulders of the bride herself.
- A hood with a bolero is a unique product that is a kind of cape. Such things were worn at all times, then they went out of fashion. Nowadays they are becoming popular again. A large amount of fabric flows from the hood, covering not only the shoulders, but also the chest. Pay attention to the lace models, which stand out quite clearly against the background of other plain options.
- A shawl is a stole woven with one’s own hands. Everyone remembers the shawls that grandmothers wore. They, as a rule, were carved with clear openwork patterns. Some of the shawls resembled real works of art. The shawl is large in size and wide in shape.
- A small scarf - in the image you can focus on makeup, neat and at the same time quite beautiful. Then the entire head should be covered with a scarf and tied at the back. In this form, the girl will amaze with her tenderness and humility.
The most popular are the lace options. They have a beautiful pattern woven on them that steals all the attention. In this regard, you should not worry about a simple and modest dress. A scarf can change the entire look, turning it into a gentle and romantic one.
DIY wedding scarf.
Sewing a scarf with your own hands: instructions
In the modern market, the choice of wedding scarf models is quite large. But some needlewomen prefer to sew it themselves, making the image unique. Even a novice needlewoman can sew a wedding scarf on her own. The process will require the following equipment:
- sewing machine;
- selected fabric;
- soap;
- threads of a suitable color;
- graph paper;
- decor and clasp, if necessary.
First you need to make a pattern in the form of a circle of the desired diameter. To do this, you will need graph paper, which is the easiest to draw on. Next, draw lines inside the circle horizontally and vertically, as if dividing it in half. At the bottom of the circle it is important to make a hole for the future neck.
Using a bar of soap, you need to transfer the pattern to size onto the selected fabric. Next, you need to cut it to the center along a vertical line, then cut out the neck. Then you need to cut out the hood. To do this, you need to fold another piece of fabric in half and draw a rectangle of the desired size. The height of the hood should be equal to the height of the head with an allowance for possible volume from the hairstyle. The width is half the size of the head circumference. Next, you need to cut out the hood and attach it to the main piece of fabric. Next, you need to overcast the edges of the product, sew fasteners, and decorate the scarf to your taste. After some simple manipulations, the scarf is ready.
With the help of a handmade scarf you can kill two birds with one stone. Do not go beyond the traditions of the Orthodox faith and add a touch of uniqueness and individuality to the image. Scarves are an excellent replacement for veils, which are gradually giving way to them in the market. Another advantage of such an accessory is that it can be passed on by inheritance, and over time it will not lose its original appearance.
Tips for choosing a bridesmaid dress for an event
A wedding dress should ideally be pastel, discreet colors. White color is the influence of European traditions, but ancestors got married in dresses of very different shades. But our ancestors also had their own traditions and customs on this matter. For example, it was forbidden to wear excessively dark colors, black and colorful dresses. Other subtle color options were not forbidden.
According to the rules of etiquette, the length of the wedding dress should be below the knees, ideally to the floor. The style of the product could be any, the most important thing is that it be as closed as possible.
An example of an outfit with closed sleeves, minimal neckline and a closed back was considered ideal. If you want to choose a short sleeve, then you should not take a model above the elbow. There were no deviations regarding covered parts of the body, both in ancient times and today.
A wedding scarf is considered an integral part of most modern outfits. According to Christian traditions, the bride's head should be covered with something. But innocent girls could wear a veil, and a scarf was considered a universal item to complement an image. In addition to the above reason, there were several other reasons for choosing a scarf instead of a veil:
- The first reason lies in the beauty and chastity of this element of the wedding dress. Usually scarves are made from light, airy and delicate fabric. The scarf falls beautifully over the girl’s shoulders and beyond, thereby giving the image not only femininity, but also spirituality.
- In the modern world, veils do not lose popularity, but scarves are gradually also becoming popular accessories. With its help you can easily stand out from the crowd of similarly dressed brides whose heads are covered with veils. Also, the scarf allows you to keep the bride’s face open as required by faith, but a veil does not always provide this opportunity. Also, if there is a deviation from the canon in the design of the dress, a scarf allows you to tastefully hide imperfections, and the image looks ideal and chaste.
- The third reason lies in the ability of the scarf to highlight the natural beauty of the bride. It also saves the girl from awkward situations during the ceremony and is firmly attached to her head.
The above arguments clearly favor the headscarf. However, everyone is free to draw their own conclusions. When choosing an accessory, it is important to remember the basic rule of covering the head and open face; otherwise, the choice is based on a matter of taste.
Ritual of removing the veil and scarf
The wedding day was considered the last day of a girl's girlhood. Ancestors in a number of regions endowed the day with a special, magical meaning. For example, scarves served as symbols of a woman’s difficult lot, while a veil, on the contrary, spoke of a holiday and a good mood. Modern traditions have undergone changes, and this interpretation should not be taken literally. Because in modern families, for the most part, equality reigns. Today, it is only important to consider the importance of choosing the color of the scarf, which, ideally, should be white.
A new scarf that matches the dress can give the bride confidence in her abilities and happiness in the family. But in the modern world, many couples forget about the traditions that were inherited from their ancestors. Some even refuse to have a wedding ceremony at all. Some for religious reasons, while others do not want to evoke sad emotions on such an important day. It is worth remembering that sadness in this case is a sincere and necessary emotion, however, it is appropriate in moderation at such a bright event. Priests recommend not carrying out the wedding ritual for a long time and leaving time for it at the very end of the ceremony. It is worth ending the sacrament on a cheerful note so that the guests leave in high spirits.
Who can remove the bride's veil
The traditional ceremony of removing the veil from the bride’s head has three possible scenarios:
- The most common option is the removal of the veil from the bride's head by the mother-in-law, the mother of the groom. In a ritual, the mother-in-law accepts the bride into her family and agrees to be her mentor;
- The ceremony of removing the veil by the mother of the bride has its own nuances. She must try to perform the ritual three times. And the bride must wave it off 3 times, in a feigned manner. In the end, the girl must agree and after removing the veil, her husband puts the scarf on her. This action symbolizes the bride's transition from childhood to adulthood. And the mother hands her daughter into the hands of her husband, while giving a blessing to the young family;
- the third option allows the groom to remove the veil himself. Despite the fact that this scenario is more modern, it does not lose its significance. The husband must remove one pin from the girl’s hair, accompanying each action with compliments. When the veil is finally removed, the husband puts a scarf on his head, as if accepting the girl into his family and adult life.
Anyone can wear a bridal scarf; the ritual and significance of this celebration for the marriage ceremony will not change. It is important that the influence of modern traditions had virtually no influence on the details of the ceremony, which makes the wedding a truly unique and mysterious rite.
Dance with a veil
After the bride's head is tied with a scarf, she takes the veil in her hands and dances with all the unmarried girls, holding the veil above their heads. By this, she seems to attract the girls to a quick family life. It is better not for other girls to wear a veil while dancing, but if the bride has a friend who is long overdue for marriage, an exception can be made.
Sometimes, according to the host’s plan, the bride dances with unmarried guys, placing the veil on the guy’s shoulder.
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At the end of the dance, the ceremony is considered completed, and the newlyweds can leave the celebration. Guests usually still stay and continue to have fun.
