Wedding cans
Image: Shutterstock
Today I’m taking the spotlight as this marks my last ‘live’ blog from the office before I get married!
There are many traditional Western culture/British things that my fiancé and I either aren’t doing on our big day, or are tweaking slightly – for instance, I’m only having only one ring (using my engagement ring as my wedding ring too); my fiancé is walking down the aisle with his mother before both my parents walking me down the aisle; I’m doing a speech at the wedding breakfast; and the list goes on. However, we are keeping the ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue,’ as well as having a cake cutting before the first dance.
One tradition that has intrigued me and that of course is relevant to metal packaging, is the tying of metal cans (usually food cans) to the back of the wedding car for the newlyweds’ exit.
Some sources say it was supposedly meant to be a way of warding off evil spirits from the married couple as they made they way into their new life. The noise from the cans would scare the spirits off.
However, according to Lindsey Hartsough, owner of Magnolia Event Design, the tradition is derived from the French custom of charivari, later referred to as shivaree, which involves a noisy, joyous mock by the wedding party.
Elizabeth Lutz, owner of Glass Event Planning, states that wedding guests would serenade the newlyweds with a mash of sounds from pots, pans, and other noisemakers. “It evolved over the years, and these cacophonous serenades included guests following the newlyweds to their home and standing outside while they performed the shivaree,” said Lutz.
When the cans came to replace the pots and pans, it was also about the same time as people started putting signs or writing ‘Just Married’ on the back window of the wedding car (as pictured above).
While this tradition was popular for a time, it doesn’t seem as common now as it was perhaps a few decades ago. Over the past year of planning our wedding, I’ve seen how many trends and traditions have come and gone.
Because of more flexible ceremonies and due to the variety and freedom many events offer, there are so many different ‘themes’ or looks to choose from nowadays. A more modern but rustic way to incorporate cans now, is to use them as vases for wild flowers on the tables during the wedding meal, which makes for an aesthetic and quirky centrepiece. Again though, food cans would be used for this. I’ve yet to see a trend where beverage cans feature heavily, so do let me know if you know of any! I’m sure there are endless ways of displaying them.
Before I sign off, I want to thank everyone who has sent on well wishes ahead of my big day.
Don’t fear, though; you can still reach CanTech HQ while I’m away honeymooning via the contact details below:
- October magazine editorial: Kathryn Brand [email protected]
- October magazine adverts: Mark Neilson [email protected]
- Website & social media: Maddy Barron [email protected]
- Asia CanTech: Lauren Hine [email protected]
See you on my return as a married woman!
- Alex Rivers (she/her), CanTech International editor
Keep in touch via email: [email protected] Twitter: @CanTechIntl or LinkedIn: CanTech International magazine.
