Wedding Lore

Nearly every widely practiced wedding custom is seated in old tradition or superstition. These can be interesting or amusing reading for any couple with a wedding on the horizon and could possibly help you with your choice in what rituals you will include in your special day. Consider sharing these bits of wedding tradition trivia with the people who are taking part in your ceremony at a rehearsal lunch or dinner!

The white wedding dress not only symbolizes purity and joy, but it was also thought to ward off evil spirits.

The wedding veil is speculated to have come from one of two possibilities: it harkens to a time when the groom would throw a blanket over the head of the woman of his choice when he captured her and carted her off, or to a time when marriages were routinely arranged by childrens' parents, and the bride’s face would be covered until the ceremony was complete, so it would be too late for the groom to run off if he didn’t like the look of his bride.

The term “bride” itself is from old English, and was a name for ‘cook.’

The tradition of having both bridesmaids and ushers present during a ceremony derives from the Roman law that mandated there be ten witnesses present at the ceremony for the purpose of fooling the evil spirits who were believed to cause mischief. The bridesmaids and groomsmen would be dressed in clothing closely matching the formal dress of the bride and groom, thus keeping the evil spirits from figuring out who was actually getting married.

When a father did not approve of his daughter’s marriage, some of the local townspeople would come together and give the bride an assortment of household items to be used as a dowry, or "shower" her with gifts.

The presence of flowers in the wedding ceremony symbolizes fertility, new life and never-ending love. In very early times, the bouquet also served to mask the unpleasant odor of infrequently-washed bodies.

Attendants and guests at wedding celebrations would try to tear away pieces of the bride's clothing and flowers in hopes of gaining some of her good fortune. Often, the bride would toss her bouquet into the crowd to distract them in her attempt to get away. Thus, it became commonplace for the bride to toss the bouquet and it was believed that the woman who caught it would be the next to be blessed with marriage.

In Roman times, a kiss was seen as a legal bond that sealed all contracts, and has become a staple ending to a wedding ceremony.

A white aisle runner symbolizes God’s holiness and the act of walking on holy ground. It is believed that by having this runner present in the place of marriage, God will be actively involved in the ceremony and marriage.

The Greeks believed that the third finger of the left hand was directly connected to the heart by the “vein of love.” This finger became the place for the wedding ring.
Whether it has anything to do with tradition or just practicality, the "ring finger" is the weakest of the fingers on the hand and cannot be fully extended separately by most people. A ring worn on this finger is therefore somewhat protected and less likely to be battered by use.

When a bridegroom secured his bride and prepared to marry her, she was placed to his left so that he could protect her by leaving his right hand free for swordplay, if need be.

Originally, when the groom “kidnapped” his bride, he would take her into hiding. Usually, by the time the bride’s family found her, she would already be pregnant and a price (dowry) for her would then be negotiated. This could be the origin of today's honeymoon.

The term “tying the knot” dates back to Roman times when the bride would wear a knotted girdle which the groom would have to untie.

Rice is a symbol of fertility and a wish for a “full pantry.” Bubbles, confetti or flower petals have since replaced rice because of its danger to birds.

It was tradition for the bride to enter her new home through the front door before the groom, and if she tripped or stumbled it was seen to be very bad luck. Hence, it became a duty for the groom to carry his new bride safely over the threshold.

Most brides have heard or recited "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and a Sixpence in Your Shoe".

"Something old" represents the bride's link to her family and the past. The bride may choose to wear a piece of family jewelry or her mother or grandmother's wedding gown.

"Something new" represents hope for good fortune and success in the future. The bride often chooses the wedding gown to represent the new item.

"Something borrowed" usually comes from a happily married woman and is thought to lend some of her good fortune and joy to the new bride.

"Something blue" is a symbol of love, fidelity, and purity of the bride.

"A sixpence in her shoe" is to wish the bride wealth in her future life.

Anyone who has married or been to a wedding has seen a variety of rituals practiced. Many of these traditions have become so commonplace that we don’t even question their presence in the wedding or wonder where they came from or why they began in the first place. Now you have a better idea of where these ideas and traditions originated!