Wedding

We're happy to present this story from one of our favorite sites, Brides magazine.

From funnel cakes to 4-H, state fairs have been a part of the American experience since 1841, when the Great New York State Fair staked its inaugural tent poles in Syracuse. August plays host to many, including the Iowa, Kentucky, and, yes, New York incarnations. To plan your own blue-ribbon event, think popcorn machines at cocktail hour, tin cans full of flowers at dinner, cotton candy on the dessert bar, and a white dress wrapped in a gingham bow. Butter-sculpting competition optional!

— Still-life Photographs by Yasu + Junko | Prop Stylist: TIZIANO AGNELLO

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There's something about the bond between a dad and his daughter, so it's no surprise that there are a number of special wedding traditions that center on this special relationship. Some of the most emotionally charged moments — aside from those between the bride and groom, of course — include the father/daughter dance and the giving away of the bride by her father in the ceremony. The origin of the latter, however, harkens back to the days of arranged marriages, when fathers gave their daughters away as property in exchange for a dowry. Nowadays the meaning is much less offensive to women, as it's considered a symbol of the father's blessing of the union. The father/daughter dance is also a way for the dad to give away his daughter and to say his goodbyes as her husband becomes the new main man in her life. At American weddings, fathers also traditionally say a toast to the bride and groom at the reception.

Depending on your culture or religion, there are a wide variety of traditions involving the bride's dad. At Argentinean weddings, the bride is escorted by her father down the aisle, but instead of bridesmaids and groomsmen, the couples' parents and godparents are the only ones at their side for the ceremony. Jewish weddings have many traditions for the father of the bride to take part in, including the Groom's Tish, in which the men sing and drink and the father of the bride, together with the groom, signs the Ketubah. During Indian wedding ceremonies, the parents of the bride wash the feet of the bride and groom with milk and water to symbolize their purification before marriage. And at Muslim weddings, the tradition of the bride's father giving her away to the groom is called "rukhsat." But perhaps the most unusual tradition occurs at wedding ceremonies in the Maasai nation of Kenya, in which the father of the bride gives his blessing by spitting on the bride's head and breasts.

No matter what your background, you can't help but feel the love this Father's Day with these inspiring father/daughter wedding moments caught on camera. And tell us below if you have a father/daughter wedding tradition we didn't mention!

Wedding season is in full swing here at POPSUGAR, and we have everything you need when it comes to dresses, decor, bridal beauty, and more. Whether you're in need of bridesmaid tips, seeking savvy spending advice, or in the mood to check out the most memorable TV and movie weddings, look no further.

Click through now to see our ever-expanding 2013 wedding season coverage!

Happy Flag Day! We wanted to take this day dedicated to flags to share ways you can incorporate these whimsical wavers in your big day. Flags are definitely one of the hot wedding trends this season, and they have been spotted in all kinds of unexpected ways, from bunting garlands to ceremony props to cake toppers. And while you can always keep them in your big day's color scheme, you can also get patriotic by using American flags. The sky's the limit! We've gathered together 40 inspiring photos of flags in weddings, so check them out now!

Happy (almost) Father's Day! We still have a while until our current presidential dad, Barack Obama, walks each of his daughters down the aisle, but past commanders in chief have played the role of father of the bride. In 2008, Jenna Bush married Henry Hager at the Bush ranch in Crawford, TX. Unlike Lyndon Johnson's daughters or Tricia Nixon, Jenna decided against a White House wedding. Later, in 2010, America was buzzing over Chelsea Clinton's marriage to Marc Mezvinsky, offering the most recent example of first-daughter wedding mania. After all, these events are the closest thing we have to royal weddings. To celebrate Father's Day, take a look at past US presidents who have walked their daughters down the aisle!

When it comes to fun, playful wedding ideas, a superhero theme is every comic fan's dream come true. Whether you're hoping for simple, subtle touches or all-out comic book mania, we've rounded up creative ideas to help you channel your favorite characters. From real wedding inspiration to affordable Etsy finds, here are 20 festive ways to channel your favorite superheroes on the big day.

Planning a wedding requires a bit of scientific alchemy in itself, so when science pros decide to form a cohesive bond for life, expect to see lab work come to life. This wedding inspiration session — titled "Science of Love — was planned by Unique Event Design and shared with us by Mariana Mosli of Kismis Ink Photography. Shot at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa Bay, FL, the event reflects the interests and careers of the couple down to tiny details to use a square-root symbol in paper goods to reflect the bride and groom's shared first initial.

From the Periodic Table of Friends and Family that serves as a seating chart, food with a dash of molecular gastronomy, and beakers that serve as simply beautiful vases, read on for a look at how romantic science can be.