Combine Old World Tradition and Your Wedding Favors

If you are getting married in your church, and it is permitted by your denomination, the chime of wedding bells is an old tradition that has its roots in the British Isles. People long since gone held the belief that the chiming of the church bells had the strength to ward off evil spirits and ensure blessings upon the newly wedded couple. As an alternative to chiming church bells or a compliment to them, consider giving each guest a tiny bell (perhaps with your names and wedding date inscribed on the bell), which they can ring during your recessional. For you environmentalists, this may also be a better option than throwing confetti, and could be less painful than birdseed. In Ireland, the wedding bell is believed to eliminate any discord between couples, and therefore has become a very traditional gift.