In Lieu of Favors

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What a beautiful tribute to a loved one. This is the best way I've seen thus far to remember a family member who has passed away during a wedding. It's tasteful, meaningful and the best yet- it does something to help others by donating to a related charity.

Ten Lords A-Leaping

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I love dancing at weddings- especially when it brings in the culture of the bride or groom. I would prefer not to see any Lords A-Leaping, but it is great when everyone at your wedding can have a great time dancing. Here are some great ethnic dancing traditions that you may wish to incorporate into your wedding. They're fun, festive, and will bring a rich-heritage tradition into your wedding reception.

Greek: The circle dance, called Kalamantiano. Be sure to shout "Opa!" as you dance! Also, dishes are smashed on the floor for good luck and money is thrown at the musicians.

Hispanic: A line dance, La Vibora, is traditionally performed by the single ladies attending the wedding. The dancers dance around the bride and/or groom. A traditional folk troupe can also bring a festive element to your wedding.

Indian: It is traditional to have a troupe of dancers perform at an Indian wedding, or friends who've practiced a dance, Bollywood Style.

Irish: Irish weddings often hire Célilí or Celtic bands to set the festive mood for Irish square dancing or Irish folk dancing. A Celtic band might include instruments like the harp, the fiddle, the mandolin, the flute, bagpipes and the banjo.

Italian: The Tarntella is the traditional circle dance for Italians. Also, be sure to break a glass. The number of pieces of shattered glass symbolize the years you will share together.

Finnish: "Dance of the Crowns" is popular in Finland. The bride is blindfolded and all unmarried ladies will dance around her in a circle. She takes her head wreath and places it on one girl. Whoever she crowns is said to be the next to marry.

Six Geese A-Laying

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I found the Korean wedding tradition of giving wooden geese during the wedding ceremony very sweet. The geese are called kirogi. The birds, a traditional symbol at weddings, mate for life. And they travel great distances to bring back food for their young. The groom traditionally brought a live goose to the mother-in-law to show his commitment to his bride. Many couples keep their wedding geese in their home. It's said when the couple is happy with each other they face beak to beak. When the couple is having an argument, the ducks can be turned away from each other until they make up.

Wooden geese available through Korean Arts.com, Bagged Geese photo by Selva, colorful Korean painted geese available through Antique Alive.com, and picture of traditional Korean Bride by Shisun.

Musical Tribute

(that's me and my dad, and my husband and his mother at our wedding)

I love weddings that bring in family heritage and that acknowledge the parents of the bride and groom. I've seen touching moments, such as Lindsey's parents reading poetry to her during the ceremony. Or when Theresa and Charlton gave their parents flowers during the ceremony to thank them for their support.

I also love the idea of a musical tribute. To acknowledge your parents who are married, play music from their first dance. My parent's first dances at their wedding were "Dance With Me" and "Do You Believe in Magic?" You can take a moment to acknowledge them before the dance and then let them begin the dance before the DJ opens the floor to the entire wedding. Isn't it sweet? It's a beautiful and thoughtful tradition to bring to your reception.

Embroidered Handkerchief

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That's me crying down the aisle on my wedding day- tears of happiness, I assure you. Even if you are not a "cryer" you may still want a hanky nearby just in case, and if you're going to have one, you may as well have a lovely one!

I had a blue embroidered handkerchief for my "something blue," but they come for men and women in many colors, shapes, sizes and can make a great keepsake gift for family and bridal attendants. I found the men's handkerchiefs through Etsy and the women's handkerchiefs through Bumble Bee Linens. Picture by Allen Friedman Photography.

Hidden Heirlooms

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Martha Stewart has a great idea for incorporating your "something blue" into your wedding outfit. I had a similar idea for my own wedding. In my family there has been a gold "wedding locket" that has been used by all the brides in my family for several generations. Instead of wearing the locket around my neck I sewed it onto the petticoat under my dress and included a picture of my husband and I inside. Although I was the only one to know about it, it made the wedding more intimate to me and reminded me of the brides who had used it before me. Consider wearing a piece of family jewelry or start the tradition yourself.

New favorite tradition

This is an old tradition from Turkey. The bride will ask all her unmarried bridesmaids and friends to sign her shoes before she walks down the aisle. Tradition has it that after a night of dancing and festivity, the lady's name that is the most faded will become the next bride.