Make Your Wedding Day Special with a Horse Drawn Carriage

Before the cars and automobiles were invented, the horse drawn carriages ruled the streets. People used horse drawn carriages for every type of transportation and they used the carriages for every purpose. Traders loaded goods on them, people rode those to go to places, couples took those for a leisurely evening and even they arrive for the marriage on a horse drawn cart and went off to honeymoon on these carriages as well.

Now we use cars for every purpose and people have started to miss the elegance and liveliness of the horse drawn carriages. While using these carriages for daily commotion is not possible in this time and age, we have kept the tradition of horse drawn carriages alive for certain special days. Wedding day is still one such day where the bride would surely love to arrive on a horse drawn carriage.

In the fairy tales, which give ideas to girls for their wedding day, the princess always arrived on a carriage, drawn by a pure white horse. On her wedding day, every woman is a princess, for herself, her parents and her friends. Of course, she is the princess for the groom as well and she would love to arrive at the spot like a princess. Thankfully, there are some special agencies who still offer a Victorian Landau, a specially designed coach for wedding purposes, on rent, along with white horses and manned by a trained, skilled and experienced coachman in a befitting attire.

People tend to think that these coaches and packages are expensively priced because they are not common service. However, this is far from truth. Because the agencies depend on occasional hiring, they can't keep the prices so high that the potential client cancels the idea of hiring the horse and carriage. Moreover, these agencies have trained their horses for long journeys and busy city roads so hiring them is still a good idea if you are in London or your venue is not near. The experienced coachman also knows how to handle his horses.

While people think of limousines and expensive cars as transport during wedding, you can really stand out from the crowd by hiring a horse and carriage for wedding. Not only you get the attention of the attendees, this becomes a day to remember for years. That is what every woman would want, the wedding day which she can vividly remember, even after decades.

Plan a Funeral: A Family Exercise

When the time comes to plan a funeral, you may feel helpless at the multitude of decisions you make. We question what we want to leave and bring to life around us and we hope that our choices will provide the support we need. Some decisions incur additional costs like a funeral carriage; others involve provisions that may create discomfort, even opposition. To talk about it will deepen your reflection, will shed light on the reasons for your choices and will reveal the essential thing to do. Since there is no second chance in this kind of event, it is advisable to take the time to look at the family which best corresponds to the needs expressed.

The hearse and vehicle for the family

For those who wish to go from the funeral parlour to the church and from the church to the cemetery, a hearse is to be expected for the deceased. Moreover, some families prefer to be together in the same vehicle to make this journey and will opt for a car for this purpose. The procession is a ritual that illustrates the last physical passage of the deceased surrounded by his relatives in the public square. In certain circumstances, it is possible to request that the procession pass before the residence of the deceased or any other significant place. And if you want to give the deceased a royal and dignified farewell, a funeral carriage also might be considered.

Burial

The burial of the body remains the choice of several. Having an opportunity to gather on the grave of the loved one is an important aspect for some. Choosing the gravestone and engraving an epitaph there are also gestures that allow one to express his attachment to the deceased and to testify of his passage on earth. Although this stage is demanding, it offers the possibility of accompanying the loved one to his last home.

Asian Weddings: The Breakdown of the Ceremony!

Marriage is part of one of the rites of passage in Asian customs. This is the most important of all and it is in this capacity that it is most often celebrated with great pomp. Young girls are married between the ages of 19 and 26 and men are married on average at the age of 26 as well. 

The wedding day

The wedding day is also punctuated by many rites that must be respected at the risk of compromising the longevity of the marriage. The latter begins by the arrival of the groom, on horseback or elephant or in a luxury car (for Asian weddings in UK, they usually go on carriage or even horseback). He waits for the bride to pass a garland of flowers around her neck. The priest then performs the rituals or "mandap" in the presence of the spouses and their parents. The latter take place in the following manner:

•    A prayer is first dedicated to Ganesh, the god of luck and wisdom.
•    The hands of the spouses are united but the latter are separated by a sheet and cannot yet see themselves.
•    A paste made of sugar of cane and cumin with positive virtues is placed on their heads before the cloth is dropped.
•    The groom will tie a rope made in herbs and braided around the size of the bride to support her in her new responsibilities.
•    He then passes two gold necklaces around his neck, symbols of commitment, protection and security he offers to the bride.
•    The scarves of the two married are knotted together to symbolize the longevity of their union.
•    The spouses each send the rice and then 7 times around the sacred fire to conclude the ceremony.

After the ceremony, both the bride and groom leave the venue in a horse driven carriage (for most cases of Asian weddings in UK) or luxurious car.

Make Your Wedding Day Special With Horse Drawn Carriages

Most of us get to play the bride or the groom only once in life and we would surely have the deep desire to make this day count. We want this day to be special enough to be etched into our memories forever. We would go that extra mile to make things just like we want them. And, that effort, exactly, leads us to horse drawn wedding carriages.

Horse drawn carriages for wedding is not a new thing, we can go back a thousand years and we will still find kings and rich people using these carts on their weddings days. While we have now what they didn't, cars and limousines, the nostalgic appeal of these carts are undeniable. Moreover, the girls always feel that they are a special princess on that day and wouldn't the fairy princess arrive for her wedding in a horse drawn carriage, just like we imagine it to be, in those fairy tales?

Making it easier for the couples and wedding planners, many professional agencies offer horse and carriage hire for wedding. They have black or white horses, in pair, which are trained for the crowded city roads and are kept in prime conditions. Then there is the liveried coachman who will drive the carriage, just like in the fairy tales. They will take you to the venue, wait outside for you to take the vow and then you can pose with them, for your special wedding photo.

Use Horse Drawn Funeral Coaches For Your Loved Ones

We all will go through that sad and painful experience of losing a dear one forever. Death is inevitable and no man or woman can escape this fate.

Making funeral arrangements is stressful and because we are already emotionally perturbed, our decision making skills are not at its peak. We tend to make wrong decisions during this period. We also miss important decisions like arranging for a funeral car or hearse.

A funeral carriage is important and often essential to travel to the burial place. Horse drawn wagons were the first thing which were used. While there are some modern options available now, the tradition lived on and thus, horse drawn carriages are still a popular choice for funeral cars or hearses.

We have started to call hearse different names now. Often you will hear a funeral coach or car being used instead. These modern terms seem a little less scary.

The horse and carriage funeral cost is not as much as it is perceived to be. People think that, because it is traditional, it might be costly now. That is completely against the ground reality. Horse drawn funeral coaches are easily available and they are available for affordable rents as well. They are accompanied by properly attired coachmen who will handle the horse to the funeral ground.

There are a few agencies who specialise in horse drawn funeral coaches and they have some antique but well-kept funeral cars to choose from as well.

Horses Can Be Your Ideal Transport

Every survival plan depends on transportation, to a large extent. Leaving your immediate location can often be the difference between life and death. There are times when your sophisticated vehicles don't do the trick. The roads are in horrible conditions, at time, due to adverse weather or it is too crowded because everyone else is trying to access it. In any case, you should have an alternate plan for transportation so that you can get out of that area and save your life.

I don't claim to be an expert of horses, in fact, I know very little of animal and their handling and care. However, I still realise one thing, there is no better way to get from point A to point B, than horses when every other means fail. Not always you need to be an experienced and expert horse rider. In fact, if you can attach a small and durable cart to your horse, you can carry your emergency sup-plies and your equipments with you while you go on foot. Or, you can ride the cart if you wish so. Horse drawn buggy comes to mind, for an apt example. One thing you should mind though, you should probably use a smaller breed of horse because that would be easy to handle and maintain because bigger horses often tend to be wilder.

In fact, if you choose a smaller breed, you can save considerably, comparing against larger animals. They need less food and less maintenance while they have almost the equal stamina. They are strong enough to pull a small cart so your purpose is served as well. You should not ride them for a 30 miles trip because that will be tiring for them. You should take breaks or walk on foot for some distance, allowing the animal the scope to breathe. If their hoofs are not properly taken care of, the stony roads can make it difficult for them.

An important factor to consider here would be the horse shoes. Wild horses travel for long distances without any shoes and they have no problem. Thus, the barefoot horses should face no problem, especially because they are domesticated and will travel much less, compared to their wilder counterparts. Barefoot trimming is rather popular practice these days and they keep the hoofs in great shape. However, if you must, they get to a good stable who will put horseshoes on, for your horse.

Horse Drawn Carriage For Alternative Funerals

Funeral is the last time we can show how much we loved the past one. This is the last journey which we will take along with the deceased. This is the last chance to tell everyone what he was, how he was, what he loved and what he preferred. This is such a special moment that we cannot make it a banal affair. We must make it elegant, different and unique so that people remember the last journey of a very special one.

While there are a few ideas of alternative funerals floating around, nothing is probably more elegant than the horse drawn cart. There are many agencies who are offering this service in London. The horse drawn carts can be availed locally and they have multiple beneficial features.

First of all, these horses are trained for the crowded city roads so they can arrive for your occasion even if you live in the posh city. Secondly, these horses can draw the cart for almost 8 miles which is enough for anyone to reach the church or the local graveyard. With special arrangements, some agencies will take it further. The horses and the cart are accompanied by cart drivers in matching attire. So, your theme of the Victorian era aristocratic funeral reaches new height.

Talking about the arrangement, the horses are available in pair of black or white so you can plan the theme accordingly. Secondly, you can ask for a single pair of horses or multiple pairs, depending on how much grand you want the final procession to look. Coming to the cart, the cart is mostly a Victorian era Landau which offer the best match. These are elegant carts which go well with this whole theme of alternative funeral.

We might think that these arrangements re not possible for common men because they are costly affairs. However, contrary to the popular belief, horse and carriage funeral cost is bearable for almost everyone. While it might not be as cheap as the mainstream funeral options, paying this little extra will allow you to make the funeral really different. Moreover, when we are arranging such an emotional occasion, budget can take a back-seat.

However, you should not hire the first agency you run into or the agency who quotes the lowest rate. Instead, check their experience, their licence, their horses and carts and then make your choice.