The Beach Wedding Stone
Hey all! I have a guest blogger today. Please welcome Wendy from Honeyfund!

Honeyfund is a honeymoon registry, and best of all there's no cost. :) I think this is obviously great for couples who put a lot of time/money/energy into the wedding, allowing their guests and loved ones to bless them with a honeymoon.

Anyway, let's give it up for Wendy!

Traditions and legends pass on for generations and along the way they change to fit the current generation, but the meaning of the legend remains.

When it comes to weddings there are many legends and traditions that have evolved from different cultures and in one form or another made it to each of us. For example, the wedding ring is worn on the left hand and fourth finger.

That ritual came to be because it was believed that there is a single vein that runs from that finger directly to the heart and wearing your ring there will ensure your love will never end. Today, 70% of married people wear a wedding ring on the fourth finger of their left hand.

Many couples want to be married on a beach. They will explain how it is beautiful and magical and want to include it on their special day. But, there is an old story of how that custom began.

As the story goes, a young couple was madly in love and planning to be married. But before they could arrange the wedding the men of the island were called to set off to sea in efforts to stop invaders intending to take their land.

Hurriedly the couple arranged to get married. There was no time for parties or anything. As everyone was rushing the bride's friends gathered stones and shells and formed a big heart on the sand.

The couple stood in the center and the king married them, but then the husband had to leave.

He reached down and took the stone from the tip of the heart and promised he would return the stone and their lives would begin.

Every day the bride went and tended the heart keeping it in place. One day while waiting in the heart circle she fell asleep when she woke she saw a shadow of a man in front of her and as her eyes adjusted to the sun, she saw him kneel and place the final stone at the tip of the heart.

Today’s beach bride may want the entire event arranged elegantly. Or she may want to arrange a wedding package for a beach wedding over the phone. She may want the traditional bridal gown of white or a dress of coral or blue. Just as the bride in our story, she can have her dreams come true.

Your wedding day is exactly that. Every tradition started with one bride saying, “I want this”. Every one of those brides probably met with resistance, but they did not let that stop them.

From the bride who decided to get married on Saturday (which was the unluckiest day for a wedding) to the groom who did not think he had to carry his bride over the threshold (because if he didn’t evil spirits would enter through her feet). Someone made a choice and changed tradition.

If you want to get married in a heart made of stones and seashells, go for it. If you want to have a huge party after, have a destination wedding in a beach town like Ocean City, MD. Make your wedding like you make your life. Make it work for you. That is all that matters.