Full disclosure: I used to smoke. In fact, at the height of smoking career, I could down a pack and a half in a day. Now I don’t smoke, and I have my reasons. The way I figure it, we all know smoking is bad for us, but we’re all grownups, so as long as you’re not smoking in my house or near my baby, your habit is your business.
That said, I’m going to assume that brides and grooms who smoke are going to want to have a few cigarettes before their wedding ceremonies and at their wedding receptions. It is, after all, a day where indulging oneself is part of the fun, so smokers will be smoking, whether the laws of the land permit indoor puffing or require it be done out of doors.
So what’s the problem? Well, I recently came across some wedding photographs that included a bride who is a fairly regular smoker. Either she or her wedding photographer was a fan of the traditional pre- and post-wedding poses, e.g. the bride getting ready in the mirror, the bouquet on the makeup table, and so on. One photo that caught my eye (and not in a good way) was a close-up of the bride’s hands, showcasing her engagement ring and wedding band… and her nicotine stained French manicure. Her pinky, index finger, and middle finger nails were a bright, traditional pink and white, while the polish on her pointer and thumb were a not-very-subtle yellow.
In 1945, Emily Post stated that “above all [the bride] must not, while wearing her veil, smoke a cigarette.” Bridal headpieces aside, I’d add that the bride who wants her wedding photographer to photograph her hands looking their wedding day best must not smoke after the application of a French manicure. They’ll be plenty of time to light up at the reception.
Photograph by Christopher Prinos
Yeah, I used to be a smoker as well, but can’t help but think that there is something rather…trashy-looking about seeing a bride smoking. It might not be so bad if she was wearing a 1930’s style, slinky glamour gown and had a fancy cigarette holder, working the whole Jean Harlow/Old Hollywood look. But with a princessy-style gown, it just doesn’t look right at all.
My hubby smokes. He smoked on our wedding day. I had fantasies that I would smoke a cigar while wearing my bridal clothing. But I never did.
La Petite Acadienne: I’m of the firm belief that smoking almost never looks cool, unless you add in a slinky gown and a cigarette holder. Preferably a very long one a la Breakfast at Tiffanys.
Linda: Is it horrible to say you were probably better off for it (unless you were planning on smoking one of those nice smelling vanilla or fruity cigars)? The smell of cigar smoke sticks to clothing like nothing else.
NtB, there’s also a … cigarillo? That smells just like really nice pipe tobacco. Maybe a cherry pipe tobacco? I don’t smoke, myself, but I have a friend who sometimes smoked them, and it was actually a scent I looked forward to: slightly sweet, kind of homey. Very comforting. It would not, I think, be a bad choice for a smoker of either gender on a wedding day. It was a happy smell. And I have asthma, and a low tolerance for most smells and smokes.
Mmm, sure, La BellaDonna. My Opa used to smoke a pipe, and I recall his tobacco smelling nice and homey, just like that. It’s not all stank in smokeland!