There are a wide variety of wedding traditions that date back hundreds of years and have evolved from many different cultures. To kick off the month with some fun, here are some stories about how some of the most popular wedding traditions started out!
The Bridal Party:
In Anglo-Saxon days, when the groom was about to abduct his bride, he needed the help of many friends, known as the "bridesmen" or "brideknights." The gentlemen would make sure the bride arrived at the ceremony on time and got to the groom's house safely afterwards. The bride also had women to help her, known as the"bridesmaids" or "brideswomen." It is also said that bridesmaids were to accompany the bride on her wedding day in order to confuse lurking evil spirits.
The Bride on the left, Groom on the right:
When the groom fought off warriors who also wanted his bride, he would hold onto her with his left hand while fighting them off with his sword in his right hand. This is why the bride stands on the left, and the groom on the right.
Something Blue:
In Biblical days, blue represented purity. Thus the bride and groom would wear a blue band around the bottom of their wedding attire, hence something blue.
The Veil:In the cases of arranged marriages, the groom's family would inform him that he was to marry, but they very rarely let him see the bride before the wedding. After all, if the groom didn't like the bride's looks, he might not agree to the marriage. With this in mind, the father of the bride gave the bride away to the groom who then lifted the veil to see his wife of all eternity for the first time at the ceremony.
The White Wedding Gown:
Until 1840, when Queen Victoria's all-white gown with a honiton-lace veil became fashionable, a bride wore her best dress of whatever color. In Victorian times, white was a symbol of affluence and later took on an aura of virginal purity. Now, white is again a symbol of celebration, as in Roman times.
The Bridal Shower:
The shower evolved as an alternative dowry. In Holland, a bride's disapproving father would sometimes refuse to contribute to her dowry, so supportive villagers "showered" her with household goods.
The Aisle:
A bridal path strewn with rose petals was thought to ward off evil spirits below ground and grant fertility. White aisle runners are also thought to secure the bride's safety as well.
Do you have any fun stories about wedding traditions? We'd love to hear them!
Photo Credit: partymarshmallow.tumblr; brides.com;
Information: Wedding Traditions and Customs History
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