Wedding Traditions
Traditions are part of every wedding and here we take a closer look at some of the better known wedding traditions.
Many wedding superstitions have evolved into the traditions which we now observe today. Customs such as the bride wearing a white dress, the throwing of confetti or the reason why the groom has the bride on his left hand side are all explained.
The word 'wed' means to unite closely, to join in marriage, to marry.
The ceremony of 'Marriage' in Britain had a significant development in the Middle Ages when the Church found it necessary to create a wedding ceremony and legislation to make marriage, a legal and binding contract. Prior to this, various traditions in different countries, allowed marriage by verbal consent, with no real means of confirmation and legality.
Popular Wedding Traditions
- Brides would wear a white dress as a sign of virginity. In early times a woman wore her best dress and the groom and guests their best clothing but it is thought that Anne of Brittany started the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress in 1499.
- Diamonds are the most chosen stone to decorate rings, either in a wedding ring or engagement ring. Cupid (the Goddess of Love) is reputed to have had diamond tips on his arrows which could pierce the heart of any unsuspecting victim and make them fall in love. The tradition of diamond engagement rings perhaps started with the Archduke Maximilian of Austria when he gave a diamond ring to Mary of Burgundy in 1477.
- Spartan soldiers in Sparta, Greece, were the first to hold stag parties. The groom would feast with his male friends on the night before his wedding to celebrate leaving his days of bachelorhood but he would also swear continued allegiance to his comrades. The groom's friends would also give him money - to ensure that he would still be able to go drinking with them - because after the wedding the bride was supposed to control the money!
- A woman's hen party is her way to leave her old life but assure her girlfriends she would still remain their friend. The women also gather to offer advice and support to the new bride.
- After the marriage ceremony the bride and groom are asked to kiss. This is a way of showing they are accepting the contract of marriage. In olden times a kiss, usually on the cheek, was a sign of acceptance of an agreement.
- The bride would always stand on the groom's left hand side so that he could use his shield to protect her, while keeping his sword arm free to use.
- The bride's family sits on one side of the church whilst the groom's family sits on the other. This goes back to the time when a girl of one tribe would be offered by her father as a peace offering to another tribe. The tribes had to be kept separate in case someone started a fight.
- In Pagan times rice and grain was usually thrown at the bride and groom to represent fertility and continuity. This has been adapted to paper and dried petals.
- The best man originates from the time when a bride to be was often 'kidnapped' from her family and the groom would take his very best friend who would help him and support him in case of a fight.
- The Groom is supposed to wear a flower that appears in the Bridal Bouquet in his buttonhole. This stems from the Medieval tradition of a Knight wearing his Lady's colours, as a declaration of his love.
