Have you ever taken a moment to think back on why you did what you did on your wedding day?
Or for those brides currently to be, have you thought why you are including certain wedding traditions on your big day?
Or have you even thought twice about that garter toss, cake cutting and bridesmaid selection?
I know when I was first getting into the wedding planning swing of things, I didn't give a second thought to any of the "wedding things" that I knew to be part of the whole process. I knew I was going to wear a garter. Why? Not sure, just knew that I was supposed to wear one, but also wanted to wear it. I knew that I would have a cake, because well, all weddings have cake. In my mind I knew that there would be bouquets, boutonnieres, groomsmen, bridesmaids, a shower, the bachelorette and the list goes on!
Ok, so what is my point?
I guess what I am getting to is that many of us have these ideas, that are based on thousands of years of trickled down traditions, of what we think weddings are supposed to be. What is funny is that I had no idea WHY I was doing them or why I was partially following these 'steps' that I thought comprised a wedding. Well my fellow Mrs. and Soon to be Mrs. here are some tidbits of history to give you all the low down on where these wedding traditions came from!
The Wedding Party:
These are your bridesmaids, MOH, Best Man and Groomsmen. In present times we choose these people to take part in our special day because they are good friends, family and people we love. Back then there was a little more to it than that.
Groomsmen and Ushers were originally selected back when the Groom would kidnap the Bride from her family. They would help him and fend off the angered family members. The Best Man was said to be selected not only to help steal the bride but for some time afterwards be the protector to stay and defend against any angry relatives who would try to retrieve her back (This according to German Folklore)
Both sides of the bridal party also played roles based on their attire. Originally both bridesmaids and groomsmen would wear similar attire to the corresponding bridal dress and groomswear. The bridesmaids would wear dresses like the bride and vice versa the groomsmen. The point behind this would be to confuse any evil spirits and evil doers who wanted to harm the bride and groom.
Use of Flowers:
Flowers to this day still maintain a integral part in wedding day events. From centrepieces, bouquets and décor. Going back hundreds and thousands of years they had a much different purpose. One of the first uses for flowers was for their smell and fragrance. We tend not to think about it but most people took baths only once a week in that time, sometimes even longer. Many times flowers were used to mask these odours believe it or not.
Other uses for floral arrangements were again (a common theme here) to ward off evil. The use of garlic was widespread in bouquets and others used flowers to show promise for fertility etc. Flower girls some hundred years ago would hold wheat sheaths as a sign of renewal and the promise of fertility for the couple. Much different from today where we choose flowers because they match the décor or because we just like the colour.
Events Prior to the Wedding Day:
Bachelor and Bachelorette parties are still in full swing these days. Originally called "Bachelor Dinner" it is said to have originated from early 5th century Rome/Sparta where friends of the soon to be groom would toast to his last night as a bachelor.
Bridal Showers seem to have an interesting origin, from back in the days of the father giving a dowry for the bride. If the father did not approve of the groom there was therefore no dowry so friends and family of the bride threw a party to "shower" her in gifts so she would have a dowry to offer the groom and be able to marry the man of her choice.
Random Tidbits:
Something old, new, borrowed and blue. This dates to Victorian times; the old stands for a brides lineage and honoring her family. Something new is to represent good fortune and wealth. Something borrowed is to remind the bride that she will always have friends and family in times of need and something blue represents loyalty and faithfulness.
The bride's
wedding garter goes back to times where there needed to be proof of consummating the marriage. Having witnesses "watch" proved to be an invasion of privacy so instead the groom would throw a garter to persons outside the room as evidence the deed was done!
Wedding Cake was originally to be thrown at the bride and not to be eaten. The thrown cake was to show an abundance of fertility etc. Later on cake turned to fruit cake which could last long in the tradition to save some for your first wedding anniversary.
Wedding favors first came about in the early 16th century England where the couple would give out love knots to represent the bond of love. Later on mainly from Italian origin "Bonbonnieres" were given out, these were porcelain, jewel encrusted boxes, filled with sweets and sugary extravagances. It was also said these were given out to bestow wealth and good luck onto the guests.
Well there you have it Lovely's, some of these seem hilarious by present day standards but a lot of these we still follow in some form or another. Thank goodness the crowd cake throwing and kidnapping your bride has evolved. (Ha ha ha ) At the end of the day its to each their own, a wedding can be whatever you want it to be!
Xo
