It's Leap Year, and He Said Yes! Next, a Leap Year Wedding!

by
Marilyn and Elizabeth Roy
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A Leap Year Proposal, Image Courtesy of Image by Kathrynne from Pixabay

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​Leap Year Weddings

The tradition of Leap Year Weddings suggests a vintage theme. Many shops and designers offer vintage and vintage-style wedding gowns and groom’s wear. So the couple can reflect on times past with their wedding attire.

In our grandmother's day, there were several versions of Leap Year Proposal letters written as poems. A woman who wanted to propose could send one of these to the man she wanted to marry without putting herself and the man in an embarrassing, awkward, and possibly hurtful situation if the man wasn't interested. 

Providing the man with an engagement ring adds another level to a Leap Year proposal.

To further the vintage theme, wedding cakes and cake toppers also feature vintage styles from different decades.

The Leap Year Marriage Proposal Tradition

A tradition from the British Isles and other European countries allowed a woman to propose marriage to a man during the leap year. In some countries, the proposal was restricted to leap-year day, or the woman was required to wear a signal of her intention to propose, such as a red petticoat.

These limitations and signals were created to appease the men. Why? Because any man who refused the proposal was required to pay a fine to soften the blow of the rejection. The fine might be anything from a kiss to money to several pairs of gloves to a silk gown or enough fabric to make several dresses.

Our grandmother created mischief by anonymously sending her Leap Year Proposal poem to single men that she knew. We've published her letter on cards, t-shirts, and other items so that women today can amuse themselves with the same mischievous fun our grandmother had. Or, a woman could actually propose to someone special by surprising their man with their own Leap Year Proposal letter. The young woman in the photograph used for the design is our grandmother’s mother-in-law at 16. 
 
Leap Year Wedding Attire: What to Wear? What to Wear?

Miranda’s Vintage Bridal and Alterations

Miranda’s Vintage Bridal and Alterations offers vintage wedding dresses from the 1900s to the 1990s. They carefully select their vintage gowns. Some of the gowns have received updates, but they still maintain their style integrity.

Miranda’s vintage gowns provide one-of-a-kind dresses for brides, and the bridal shop also includes vintage-style designer gowns by Alena Leena, Divine Atelier, Beccar, Madeline Couture, and Nicole + Felicia.

About Miranda Park of Miranda’s Vintage Bridal and Alterations

The owner of Miranda’s Vintage Bridal and Alterations, Miranda Park, developed an interest in sewing when watching the mice sewing Cinderella’s gown in the Disney movie. After her mother taught her to sew, she made clothes for her Barbie doll. 

Miranda's grandmother owned an antique store and instilled a love of vintage items in her.

Miranda attended Kent State Fashion School and worked as a seamstress in a boutique for 17 years. Watching old movies narrowed her focus from vintage items to vintage fashion.

Tweedman's

Tweedman's features vintage wedding suits and accessories for grooms. They feature suits from the 1950s to the 1980s and occasionally they offer some from the 1930s and 1940s. Besides suits, they include velvet evening jackets, morning suits, tailcoats, ties, bow ties, cravats, and pocket handkerchiefs. In addition, they offer modern suits.

Men’s Leap Year Engagement Rings

So, if a woman proposes to a man during Leap Year, should she buy him an engagement ring? Yes!!! After all, it's only fair. Cape Precious Metals and the Etsy shop Ladies and Gents Bands offer selections of engagement rings for men.

Long ago, the bride’s family provided a dowry to the groom. Then, in the second century BC, the Romans started giving betrothal rings. Diamond engagement rings appeared in the fifteenth century as a symbol of commitment and proof that the lady was no longer available.

Men’s engagement and wedding rings originated in the 1920s. However, men resisted the idea until influencers such as Humphrey Bogart and Michael Buble made them acceptable.

Men’s engagement rings feature more conservative styles than women’s. After the wedding, the man’s engagement ring moves to his right hand, or it can double as a wedding band.

Leap Year Wedding Cakes

Wedding cake styles and bride and groom cake toppers have varied widely over the decades. Couples with a chosen decade search for cake and cake toppers styles from that era. Then, they take their pictures to their local bakery to recreate their chosen cake.

Leap Year Wedding Flowers

The tradition that roses signify love transcends the decades. Since, in a Leap Year, the bride may be the one who proposes, she may as well give herself roses. Bouquet choices include a dozen long-stem roses, a basket of roses, or a ring of roses.

Leap Year Wedding Catering

A Leap Year wedding reception featuring an afternoon tea provides a vintage feel. A suggested menu includes finger sandwiches, deviled eggs, and dainty desserts. Iced tea completes the afternoon tea menu.

Leap Year Wedding Music

The wedding music reflects the era of the wedding attire. For fun, the couple learns the dances of the era and even teaches their guests.