Bio-dome? Terror Dome? No, wedding dome.
For some odd reason, I love it when ugly and expensive collide. When I saw the link for ‘wedding dome’ in my bookmarks, I got a little excited. I bookmark so much stuff that I forget what half of it is, and I thought I might have found a company that rents collapsible geodesic domes instead of tents. Oh, how wrong I was.
Wedding dome referred to French wedding domes. A few hundred years back, the domes were used to present the wedding rings to French brides- and grooms-to-be and to store the garter (or some other piece of nuptial paraphernalia) after the wedding.
The dome you see before you is obviously an antique, and it seems the tradition of the wedding dome has not lived on into the present day. Pity, that. Ha ha, just kidding. Ormolu (i.e. gilt bronze) coupled with mirrors, velvet, and birdies under glass is just not my bag, baby.
If you want to make your own wedding dome and you’re crafty by nature, I can’t see it being that difficult. My Antique Mall has put together a short symbolism guide that can help you choose components.
Oak Leaves = Longevity of Union
Sheaves of Wheat = The gift of Life
Rectangular Mirrors = Years of Engagement
Diamond Shaped Mirrors = Fertility
Large Central Mirror = Reflection of the Soul
Clusters of Grapes = Prosperity
Roses or Daisies = Love
Cherries = Protection from Bad Fortune
Ivy = Attachment to each other
Chestnut Tree Leaves = Links to Others
But if you’d prefer to get married in a geodesic dome and you’re handy by nature, this site will help you build one.
Actually, I think the practice has morphed rather than completely died out. After all, there are a lot of brides now who either use silk flowers for their bouquets or have them professionally dried and then put them either in a domed frame on the wall or something very like this on a coffee table or some such. Ormolu is no longer common, these being plainer times in general and the followers of this practice not usually being the rich and powerful anymore. Still, it’s done by some.
Me? I just tossed the flowers into the crowd. I didn’t put that much thought, money, or care into the bouquet, so there seemed little sense in keeping it.
But I do love a good historical oddity.
Heh…I tried to give my silk bouquet to my younger sisters, but my parents accidentally packed it up for me. It sat around my apartment for a while before I gave it to the local thrift shop, thinking some little girl might like it for dress up.
some day you may aquire good taste and appreciate this french treasure.
good luck to you in your wedding planning.