Appendix 5: Popular Wedding Traditions
Article 24 of 28: Your Complete Wedding Planner
Appendix 5: Popular Wedding Traditions: How Did They Begin?
The wedding traditions we know today have evolved over hundreds of years. Some are founded in the belief that they bless the couple with good luck. Other traditions offer a way for the couple to express their feelings for one another. No matter how diverse they may be, all wedding traditions share the same timeless intents: to promote unity, happiness and prosperity.
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Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
We've all heard the saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue," but what does it really mean? Where did it come from? This popular rhyme has been used since Victorian times, and it is believed that the "something old" represents the bond to the bride's family and her old life and "something new" represents the couple's new life together and their hope for a happy life, prosperity and success. When the bride has "something borrowed" from a happily married woman, it is thought to bring similar happiness to the bride, and "something blue" represents fidelity and constancy. -
White Bridal Dresses
Wearing white also dates back to the Victorian era, when Queen Victoria decided to forgo the royal tradition of wearing a silver gown, choosing to wear white instead. Prior to that time, brides simply wore their best gown, rather than a special wedding dress .White also symbolizes purity and virginity, and was once thought to ward off evil spirits. -
Throwing Rice
The ancient tradition of showering the couple with rice is slowly going by the wayside. Rice is considered a "life giving" seed, and it is thought that by throwing it on the couple, they will be blessed with fertility and a house full of children. Many churches and other venues no longer allow rice to be thrown, so alternatives such as blowing bubbles are gaining in popularity. -
Sharing the First Piece of Wedding Cake
Sharing the first piece of wedding cake is a tradition that began with the Romans. They believed that eating the wedding cake together created a special bond between the couple. But the ingredients were important as well. The wheat used to bake the cake was symbolic of fertility, and it was believed that the cake's sweetness would bring sweetness to all areas of the couple's new life. As for the "tradition" of the bride and groom smashing the cake into each other's faces - it's anyone's guess where that one began! -
You May Kiss the Bride
The kiss that concludes the wedding ceremony is more than just a tender moment - it's said to represent the couple joining their souls. In Roman times, the kiss "sealed" the couple's agreement to join in a lifelong commitment. -
Boutonnieres
The traditional groom's boutonniere originated in medieval times when a knight wore his lady's colors (through flowers) as a statement of his love. -
Bouquets
Flowers and bouquets have been used for ages in weddings. Adorning the bride with flowers is said to bring good luck and good health, and the various meanings of different flowers allow the bride to express her feelings for the groom. Orange blossoms signify purity, daisies represent loyalty, violets convey modesty and red roses signify true love. -
Ring Finger
Of all the fingers on a hand, how is it that wedding rings wound up on the third finger of the left hand? This tradition has two possible origins: ancient Egypt or 17th century Europe. The Egyptians believed the "vein of love" ran directly from the ring finger to the heart, therefore the ring was placed there to signify eternal love. In 17th century Europe, grooms would slide the wedding ring part way up the bride's thumb, index finger and middle finger as the priest said "In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit". As the ring finger was the first free finger, the ring was placed there.
