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Weddingbee Blog
What is it about weddings that has me doing things that I swore I’d never do? Take my jewelry situation for instance: I have three different necklaces and four different bracelets. What am I going to do with all this? Not wear it all, right? Not more than a week ago I scoffed at personalized napkins, and now I have some ordered. I have a freakin’ BRIDE totebag, people. It’s official: if I ran into me in a dark alley (sporting all my bridal day-of finery), I would kick my own ass.
This brings me to my latest of the “Hell no I’d never do that” things that I am, in fact, doing. Since we’re marrying in a church, a lot of things I had intended on doing are forbidden. No petals tossed, no birdseed, streamers or confetti (not that I was actually doing all of those, they’re just examples), so what else is left? Well, we’ve got bubbles or bells. Or spit, if some of my ex-boyfriends are invited.
Even though Mr. Kiwi had gotten oddly (I mean ODDLY) attached to the test-tube looking bubbles, we’re not using them. Instead, we’re doing jingle bells, lovingly ripped-off from the pages of a Martha Stewart Weddings magazine from some time ago. A search for this image has resulted in nothing of use, so I have this from the pages of a random knot bio.
The saying I don’t like so much, and have found these other bell ringing examples courtesy of Cowbell.com (did you even know that site existed??):
Wedding Bell Poems
RING FOR A KISS
Today, as we gather together,
wish us a love to last forever.
If you would like us to share a wedded kiss,
ring the bell for lifelong bliss.
BELL SALUTE
This bell salutes the Bride and Groom
and the Joy that fills the room.
Ring it loud, when they are near,
so that all may hear
the pledge of love they hold so dear.
JINGLE
I’m a little jingle bell
I’m here to wish the couple well!
Shake me, ring me loud and clear
When you see bride & groom appear.
My tinkling sound is here to convey
your love and good wishes on their special day!
Bring me along to the reception too
So they may share a kiss for you!
WEDDING BELLTOAST
May laughter and joy fill this room
as we toast the bride and groom.
Please take this little Wedding Bell…
Ring it loud and ring it well.
With each sound they will show their bliss
by sharing in a Wedding Kiss!!
So I have my possibilities for the text, now where the heck am I going to get some bells? I found bulk jingle bells on eBay as well as a ton of music sites. Then I happened upon Craft Parts! Not only do they have four sizes (3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″), they also have two different finishes! Now I’ll be able to get gold bells instead of silver. I figure that each guest will get two or three bells tied together, most likely 1/2″. So, with at least 150 guests, I’m going to need about 500 bells, and the bags come with 100 bells in each bag. So, 5 bags at $6.00? Bargain.
I plan on using ribbon we already have, and printing something for the ribbon tags. The bells with probably be in a basket next to the programs at the wedding.
Have you done/ordered something you swore you wouldn’t? If you’re doing bells, how are you going to do them?
Yes, I swore I’d never get married. Then I swore I’d never have a wedding if I did get married. I also swore I’d never have a religious ceremony. It goes from there.
Two weeks until my Jewish white wedding!
I got sucked in to custom napkins last month when we were talking about going to others’ weddings with a “shopping” attitude, and someone mentioned how they suddenly realized what a cute keepsake the custom napkins were. And I’m starting to think a veil might be better than the vintage hat I’d planned on.
But at least I don’t have a bride totebag. How can you stand to be around you?
You might not want to put the bells next to the programs, unless you want your guests (especially if any of them are little kids) ringing them during the ceremony!
Could you maybe have someone (young cousin or something) hand them out after the ceremony as everyone makes their way to the reception?
OK I commented but don’t think it went through. Sorry it it turns out to be a duplicate.
You might want to reconsider bells by the programs unless you want people ringing them during the ceremony - this could get especially tricky if there will be kids there. May be best to have someone pass them out to guests as they leave the church on the way to the reception. 
I made my own jingle bells for the farewell a few months ago. I found bell wreaths at a dollar store on sale after Christmas. I tore them apart and then tied the clusters together with ribbon. It seems like forever since I completed that project!
As far as swearing…I swore I wouldn’t wear any bride or bride to be clothes. I haven’t purchased anything, but it’s very tempting! I think I’m going to buy a cute casual summer dress to wear while I’m getting ready so I won’t be tempted!
I also swore that I would never wear any “bride” or “bride-to-be” gear, but I broke down this weekend in Victoria’s Secret. I took my FI in there to find out what he likes, what he finds sexy, trashy, too much, etc., and lo and behold, he liked a pair of undies that have “Just Married” written on the rear. What the heck? Who is this man I’m marrying?? I turned up my nose at them, sent him out of the store so I could browse on my own (so I can surprise him) and then proceeded to buy the aforementioned undies. Who have I become?? They are cute, though… and he will like them - and that’s what really matters!!
Good idea on using your fall style ribbon. Jingle bells seem Christmasy/wintery… what other kinds of bells are available? Or maybe really fall-looking ribbons/attachments will fix that? Do the bells come in other colors?
For a verse, how about a rousing rendition of “My Ding-A-Ling” — sung loudly by a certain group of young guys serenading the groom at a wedding recently attended! It was late enough in the (open bar) reception to be funny, fortunately!
Iris, I could always use cow bells. Or maybe I could paint the bells bronze? So far they only come in silver and gold.
What other attachments could I use? Maybe use a leaf-shaped tag?
How about “Ring my bell” to be sung as we gallop down the aisle? I like it!
There may be not much besides jingle bells at a really low price. I looked at this kind of thing for our wedding (but we ended up going with another favor instead):
http://weddingshop.theknot.com/weddingwarehouse/ProductPage.aspx?scId=Favors(KnotShop)&pId=P756(KnotShop)&cId=Favors(KnotShop)
my friend did these for their wedding back in october…search in the archives for october 2007 on her blog, rebeccaleighann.typepad.com
They were really cute!
Ok Help me out here. When are these bells used during the wedding celebration? like in place of what traditional item?
Miss Greenbean, these are in lieu of throwing petals, rice, confetti, etc. as the bride & groom exit the church and depart for the reception. Since we’re in a church we can’t use anything that can leave a mess, so ringing the bells will help make the event feel a little less like, “Okay, we’ll see you at home!” and a little bit more like, “Wow, we’re MARRIED!”
They can also be used instead of clinking glasses to ask for a kiss.
So are you having the bells handed out only when the guests *leave* the church, not when they enter the church. (Unless it’s a group bell-ringing for the Sanctus, j/k; 1) I remember your wedding is sans mass, and 2) that’s probably against protocol.)
Iris, I plan on having them handed out when the guests leave, but I’ll talk to Father about the schedule and what he thinks.
btw, you’re being so helpful, thank you!!
Miss Strawberry’s May 10th post has a really lovely example of wedding bells.
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Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA Engagement Date: March 31, 2006 Wedding Date: November 3, 2007 Venue: Radisson Hotel About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
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