Romance & Tradition – Perfect Wedding Gifts
“Love is in the air, and so is wedding season.”
For much of the country the warm weather and beautiful flowers welcome in the start of wedding season. Whether you plan to say “I do,” or attend as friend/family, weddings bring joy and romance for all involved. Weddings also bring traditions and wedding gifts. Many of our current wedding traditions have roots in French and Italian culture, such as a white wedding dress.
With the onset of wedding season, please enjoy a few items we recommend as wedding gifts and the beautiful traditions that accompany each.
Trousseau or Cassone
At Jean-Marc Fray Antiques one of our favorite traditions is the bridal “trousseau” or hope chest. The concept of a dowery dates back to ancient civilizations. Yet the more modern understanding of the French “trousseau” or the Italian “cassone” became especially popular during the Renaissance. The dowery often included many hand-crafted linens and other gifts to the bride to showcase the bride’s family’s wealth. The “cassoni” was therefore specially decorated as well and became an important piece of furniture in the home, often placed at the foot of the marriage bed. More recently, these chests are described as “hope chests” and hold items that symbolize the woman’s hopes for the future.
In our most recent container we received an ornately carved cassone dating back to 1600. This piece made of walnut showcases the striking detail and care that was taken with these chests in Sienna at the time. Perfect as a gift for your betrothed or child about to enter into a marriage, this piece’s loveliness and history symbolizes the importance and beauty of committed love.
Murano Glass Picture Frame
Many special events are made become even more important with time, especially weddings. Nothing brings to mind the special memories of a life changing event like a wedding than looking back at pictures. A beautiful gift for a new married couple is a striking one-of-a-kind frame for their most treasured image. This Murano glass frame is hand-blown using centuries old techniques and pairs perfectly with the brass accents to give it a timelessness. Additionally, the cobalt blue of the glass brings to mind the tradition of “Something Blue.” This Victorian rhyme incorporates the color blue for luck and faithfulness.
Festive Champagne Bucket
Wedding toasts are a long standing tradition in many cultures. While champagne was not specifically popular until the 19th century, wedding toasts brought families together, paid homage to religions, and offered a prayer for health to all those present. A thoughtful gift of a champagne bucket continues on these toasts for fortune of body and spirit into a marriage and for many years to come. From Murano glass buckets with fused gold to plated silver buckets, our gallery has many options; including an antique raffraichissoir table. The perfect gift for keeping the party going throughout the marriage!
Set of Carafe and Glasses
Another way to toast to the bride and groom through your gift is with a set of glasses and matching carafe. These beautiful collections are perfect for a future of delicious meals together or relaxing over a lovely drink. Our sets are all made of hand-blown Murano glass and showcase a range of colors that can work for any aesthetic and style.
Gentleman’s Valet
A handsome recommendation that any groom will love is a gentleman’s valet. An excellent piece to have on the day of while getting ready, this continues to delight for years to come. Our favorite’s tend to be the Art Deco and Mid-Century style as they have a simple, streamlined quality that leans masculine. This piece can help show the groom it is his important day as well.
Murano Glass Vase or Bowl
We may be biased, but few things are as symbolic or meaningful as hand-blown glass. In many cultures glass symbolizes transformation, celebration, and purity. A beautiful vase is a symbol of prosperity and nourishment. Functionally it can hold lovely flowers for the couple as they remember their special day. A bowl is a traditional wedding gift as bowls often symbolize good fortune and prosperity. While all of our vases and bowls are beautiful wedding gifts, we especially love this bowl and vase with gold fused within – signifying love and commitment. We also love this blue vase as acanthus leaves are a symbol of endurance and immortal life.
Jean-Marc Fray Antiques invites you to reflect on this list of wedding gifts as you prepare for the upcoming weddings you may attend. These treasures are symbolic of larger emotions and moments, while also being beautiful items to receive. We encourage you to explore our weekly New Arrivals page for any new additions, or reach out if there is anything we can help you find. Wishing you a wedding season filled with cake, flowers, and great celebrations!