why do we do what we do?
Whether you are a traditional or unconventional bride, you will no doubt include one or more of these elements into your day - but have you ever stopped to think why? From the white dress to the cake cutting routine, each traditional element of a wedding is significant, and their origins will surprise you!
Wedding Traditions You May Include:
-Wearing a white dress
-Having a bridal party
-Exchanging wedding rings
-Carrying a bouquet
-Flower girls
-Ring bearer
-Cake cutting
-The bride getting smashed with cake
-Rice throwing
-Something borrowed, something blue
-First dances
so, Who Started It & Why?
Wearing a White Dress
Who Started It?
Queen Victoria started the modern trend at her wedding in 1840.
Why?
White wedding gowns symbolize purity, new beginnings and innocence.
Exchanging Wedding Rings
Who Started It?
Roman Custom, later influenced by European Royalty
Why?
Rings symbolized ownership or a binding promise.
The medieval period influenced which finger we wear our ring on, with the idea of "vena amoris", the vein of love leading from the heart to the fourth finger of the left hand.
Carrying a Bouquet
Who Started It?
Ancient Civilizations: Greece, Rome, Egypt
Why?
They carried herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits while believing it brought good luck and fertility which later evolved to carrying flowers that symbolized new beginnings.
Having a Bridal Party
Who Started It?
Ancient Roman tradition - Bridesmaids and Groomsmen where known as honorable attendants or witnesses and were required to be at weddings.
Why?
To protect the bride and groom from evil spirits and jealous individuals, while serving as legal witnesses to the marriage.
Flower Girls
Who Started It?
In Ancient Rome, girls would walk ahead of the bride carrying wheat and herbs.
Why?
They believed it would bring prosperity and fertility.
Later it evolved to flower girls spreading petals, to ward off evil spirits and bless the couple.
Ring Bearer
Who Started It?
Ancient Egypt and was later adopted by in the Medieval and Victorian Era.
Why?
Adults would carry precious gems and jewels on fancy pillows to ceremonies which were blessings or dowry gifts.
In the medieval times, pillows were rare and well-off families used them to display wealth by carrying the ring down the aisle on a pillow.
Cake Cutting
Who Started It?
Ancient Rome
Why?
A loaf of barely bread was broken over the brides head to symbolize good fortune and fertility. Breaking the loaf over the brides head was also meant to show male dominance over the bride.
Medieval England took this tradition and instead stacked spiced buns so the couple could kiss over top of it without knocking it over - if they succeeded it meant a lifetime of wealth.
The Victorian Era ushered in tiered cakes and cake cutting, to symbolize unity and the first task accomplished as husband and wife.
Throwing Rice
Who Started It?
Ancient Rome (shocker!)
Why?
Throwing wheat and oats at the married couple symbolized prosperity, fertility, abundance and blessing.
Throwing the Bouquet/Garter
Who Started It?
Medieval England
Why?
Guests believed anything related to or touching the bride would bring single women good luck in their pursuit of marriage.
To avoid being mobbed (aka attacked) the tradition of throwing the bouquet into the crowd was born so the bride could escape the eager crowd. Before this was introduced, guests would tear pieces of the brides dress or bouquet off.
Something Borrowed, Something Blue
Who Started It?
A Traditional English Rhyme
"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a sixpence in your shoe".
Why?
Something Borrowed: meant to be an item borrowed from a happily married woman, that will bring you good luck in marriage.
Something Blue: Roman brides wore blue to symbolize love, fidelity and purity - while also believing the colour would ward off evil spirits and bad luck.
The First Dance
Who Started It?
European Aristocrats in the 17th and 18th Century
Why?
As a social que to the official start of an event. The dance allowed guests to observe social graces and the dance skills of their high brow hosts. Later, it was used by the bride and groom (acting as hosts) to initial the dance portion of the wedding.
