Today I’d like to discuss wedding traditions, how they came about and the meaning behind it all… It’s also to answer the Modern-Day Brides’ questions, like “Do I really have to wear a veil?!” And “Why do I have to toss the bouquet? I want to keep it…!”
The Dress:
Wearing white also dates back to Victorian times when Queen Victoria abandoned the usual royal tradition of wearing a silver gown, instead choosing to wear white. Before that time brides simply wore their best gown. White was also thought to ward off evil spirits. Why white you ask? Well, some believe that not only is it to symbolize your purity (virginity) but back in the day, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France in 1559. She chose to wear a white gown because it was her favorite colour. Imagine that! Even though, at the time, white was the color of mourning for French Queens. Although, Philippa of England was actually the first documented princess in history to wear a white wedding gown during a royal wedding ceremony. In other cultures, brides wear traditional clothing, print and colours.
For Example: The traditional Chinese wedding dress in northern China usually is one-piece frock named Qi Pao, embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. Brides from southern China usually wear two-piece dress named Qun Gua, Kwa or Cheongsam, also elaborately adorned with golden phoenix and dragon. These traditional wedding garments are usually brightly coloured. For instance; red, which is considered good luck, a strong colour that can drive away evil spirits.
Wearing white also dates back to Victorian times when Queen Victoria abandoned the usual royal tradition of wearing a silver gown, instead choosing to wear white. Before that time brides simply wore their best gown. White was also thought to ward off evil spirits. Why white you ask? Well, some believe that not only is it to symbolize your purity (virginity) but back in the day, Mary, Queen of Scots, wore a white wedding gown when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France in 1559. She chose to wear a white gown because it was her favorite colour. Imagine that! Even though, at the time, white was the color of mourning for French Queens. Although, Philippa of England was actually the first documented princess in history to wear a white wedding gown during a royal wedding ceremony. In other cultures, brides wear traditional clothing, print and colours.
For Example: The traditional Chinese wedding dress in northern China usually is one-piece frock named Qi Pao, embroidered with elaborate gold and silver designs. Brides from southern China usually wear two-piece dress named Qun Gua, Kwa or Cheongsam, also elaborately adorned with golden phoenix and dragon. These traditional wedding garments are usually brightly coloured. For instance; red, which is considered good luck, a strong colour that can drive away evil spirits.
Another Example: In South African Tradition, a bride wears Shwe Shwe fabric, which is usually lots of different colours like blues, browns, yellows and reds. Not all together, of course. Their head is covered too. Nowadays, most brides where a white or ivory gown in many different shapes. So where do I ask did the strapless gown or a “boob-tube” come from? You know that you DON’T have to wear a strapless gown or “boob-tube”, right?
The Bouquet:
Have you ever thought as to why a bride carries a bouquet? Because it looks pretty? It aint so ladies! Back in the day people only bathed once a year! Yip, really! They would bath on their wedding day but for good reason, one bath doesn’t always get rid of the smell. So one clever little lady decided to pick flowers wrap them together and carry it down the aisle with her so she would smell nice. Some also believe that it’s for fertility.
Have you ever thought as to why a bride carries a bouquet? Because it looks pretty? It aint so ladies! Back in the day people only bathed once a year! Yip, really! They would bath on their wedding day but for good reason, one bath doesn’t always get rid of the smell. So one clever little lady decided to pick flowers wrap them together and carry it down the aisle with her so she would smell nice. Some also believe that it’s for fertility.
The Veil:
This too was to ward off evil spirits but it symbolizes youth, modesty and purity.
The Bridesmaids:
Your bridesmaids are there to protect you once again from any evil spirits. Traditionally, back in the day, the bridesmaids wore the same outfit as the bride so if there was any evil, it would get confused as to which was the bridesmaids and who was the bride. Of course, we all know that bridesmaids are there to assist the bride in planning the wedding too. A bit like “To Protect And Serve” if you ask me…
The Engagement Ring:
Medieval Italians believed that a diamond was created in the flames of love. Nowadays, any precious metal and precious stone is common.
The Wedding Ring:
Romans believe that your wedding ring is worn on your finger second from the left on your left hand because the vein running through that finger leads directly to your heart.
Today, the circle/ring symbolizes eternity. There is no beginning and no end. The gold represents purity of intent.
Wedding Breakfast:
Why some call it this, is because it’s the first meal together as Husband and Wife.
Wedding Cake:
The wedding cake is a tradition that began back in the Roman Empire. At the time, it was a loaf of bread that the groom broke over the bride's head as a symbol of his dominance in the marriage and over her. The symbolism of this is the first domestic duty performed by the newlyweds as a couple. The top tier of the wedding cake represents the couple. The middle tiers represent the children to come. The bottom tier represents the couple as a new family.
It was the custom in England for unmarried wedding guests to put a slice of the cake, traditionally a dark fruitcake, under their pillow at night so they will dream of the person they will marry.
Where did the Best Man come from?
Historically marriages were accomplished by the Groom capturing the Bride to be. To do this, a friend would be roped in to help off other would-be suitors and to prevent the bride’s family from finding the couple.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…
Old = Signifies continuity
New = Signifies Optimism for the future
Borrowed = Future happiness
Blue = Love, fidelity and modestly.
Honeymoon:
The word “Honeymoon” dates way back past Medieval times. At special occasions, especially weddings, there was a type of alcohol served called Mead which was made of honey. And the moon part, well they would go away for a whole “moon” or month on holiday.
Historically marriages were accomplished by the Groom capturing the Bride to be. To do this, a friend would be roped in to help off other would-be suitors and to prevent the bride’s family from finding the couple.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue…
Old = Signifies continuity
New = Signifies Optimism for the future
Borrowed = Future happiness
Blue = Love, fidelity and modestly.
Honeymoon:
The word “Honeymoon” dates way back past Medieval times. At special occasions, especially weddings, there was a type of alcohol served called Mead which was made of honey. And the moon part, well they would go away for a whole “moon” or month on holiday.
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