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Where do all the customs, beliefs and traditions related to weddings come from? Here are a few explanations:
Wedding traditions and symbols
The origin of the wedding concept: Weddings date back to the Roman Empire, though it was not until the advent of Christianity that the concept began to resemble weddings as we know them today. The Church turned weddings into a ritual in the 12th century but after 1792 and the French Revolution, civil weddings could also be performed.
The bridal attire rhyme : This custom started in England and dates back to the 19th century. For the wedding to flourish, during the wedding service, the bride should wear: something old, symbolizing the link the bride will maintain to her family, and is generally a piece of jewellery; something new, connoting hope for the marriage’s success, and is most often the bridal gown; something borrowed, representing good luck and happiness, and is generally an object belonging to a married woman; and something blue, representing the union’s fidelity and purity, and is generally a discreet object such as a handkerchief..
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The bride: : Traditionally, the bride is on the groom’s left-hand side on the wedding day. This old custom derives from the days when the groom would kidnap his bride and therefore had to keep his right hand free to use his sword. After the wedding ceremony, the groom traditionally carries the bride over the threshold in their new home. The custom comes from a Roman Empire legend that said that if the bride stumbled when entering her husband’s home for the first time, the marriage would be a disaster. Carrying the bride over the threshold would prevent this disaster.
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Wedding attire : The bridal dress has changed a lot in style and colour over the centuries. Many superstitions have long surrounded the bridal dress, among them that the bride should never make her own dress, should not look at herself in the mirror when trying it on, or the groom should not see the dress before the ceremony. The wedding veil dates back to the time when men hid their future wife’s face when kidnapping them. The garter dates back to the Paleolithic age and was said to have magical powers.
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The wedding march : This custom dates back to the 1858 wedding between Crown Prince Frederick of Prussia and Princess Victoria of England. It was at their wedding that the wedding march was played for the first time.
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Sugared almonds : This tradition dates back to Ancient Greece where sugar-coated almonds were used as a symbol of enduring love and fertility for the union. Guests are usually given sugared almonds as souvenirs.
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Wedding rings : The origin of wedding rings dates back to Ancient Rome where newly-wed couples would exchange metal rings as a symbol of the eternal cycle of life. Gold gradually replaced iron with the arrival of Christianity. Diamonds are mostly used for the engagement ring, a custom that dates back to 1477. The practice of wearing wedding rings on the fourth finger goes back to Egyptians, who believed that the “vein of love” runs through the fourth finger.
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Post-ceremony traditions : Showering rice on newlyweds as they leave the church represents prosperity and fertility for the couple. This tradition goes back to an ancient pagan rite according to which the strength and fertility of grains would be transferred to the newlyweds when the grains fell on them.
At the reception that follows the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds have the first dance, usually with their respective parents-in-law. Other guests are invited to join the newlyweds on the dance floor after the first dance.
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The significance of flowers : The bouquet is an old tradition according to which some strong-scented herbs and spices ward off evil spirits. The role of flowers has however changed over the centuries, and different varieties of flowers have acquired their own meaning.
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Doves : They represent monogamy. Doves pair for life and are an example of unconditional loyalty. |
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Colours : White is a symbol of virginity, blue of fidelity, grey of distant trips and green of chastity. Black represents the refusal of marriage while yellow symbolizes adultery.
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Ivy : It symbolizes attachment and eternal love because of its evergreen foliage that attaches firmly wherever the ivy grows. |
The bridal party
 The bridal party is composed of attendants who assist the couple during the wedding preparations and throughout the wedding day. This is an important role that must be assigned to the appropriate persons carefully. The bride pays for the attendants’ and ushers’ hotel expenses, bouquets, and buttonholes. The bridal party is usually composed of 12 people, though the actual number is a personal choice.
The tasks and responsibilities assigned to each person depend on their role. For example, the maid of honour assists the bride with the wedding preparations. She also organizes the bridal shower. She oversees fittings, coordinates the bridal procession on the wedding day, ensures the bride looks her best throughout the day, and sees to the registration of gifts. Traditionally, she sits on the groom’s left-hand side at the head table during the reception.
The bridesmaids help with arrangements for the bridal shower, the photo sessions, the procession, and reception. They smarten the procession and also stand in line to catch the bouquet.
The groomsmen help the groom as much as possible and arrange for a special introduction of the couple during the rehearsal dinner.
Ushers usually wear gloves and are responsible for assigning seats before the ceremony. They show members of the immediate family to their seats. They may also help the photographers assemble people for the photo sessions.
Flower girls are usually aged between three and seven and normally carry flower baskets. They walk down the aisle behind the ring bearer. The ring bearer, also aged between three and seven, carries the rings on a ring cushion. The pages and train bearers are in even numbers and are particularly indispensable if the bride’s gown has a cathedral train.
The parents of both bride and groom also play a major role during the wedding. The mother of the bride is in charge of the guest list. She helps plan the wedding ceremony and reception and assists the daughter pick out her wedding gown. She is also the formal hostess. The father of the bride escorts the daughter to the Church and walks her down the aisle. He makes a toast to the young couple at the reception and dances with his daughter during the first dance. The groom’s parents co-host the wedding. Their first responsibility is to arrange a meeting with the bride’s parents when the engagement is announced. They also provide a list of wedding guests and plan the reception dinner.
Seating arrangements at the ceremony:
 The bride’s family and friends sit on the left side of the main aisle facing the altar. The right-hand side is reserved for the groom’s guests, though care should be taken to balance both sides as much as possible. Older persons are seated first. The couple’s parents sit in the first pew and the grand-parents in the second pew. A few pews may be reserved for special guests and are generally marked with flowers and ribbons. All the other guests are seated from front to back behind the first reserved pews.
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