History of Wedding Traditions – Here are some fun facts about why we do what we do at a wedding.
Bride on the Left, Groom on the Right
Though you may decide that your guests can sit wherever they want at your wedding, some couples are very tradition and want the bride’s family and guests on one side, and the groom’s on the other. But, you may wonder where such a tradition got started. For that answer, we need to travel back to medieval times and the days of knights in shining armor. In those days, many times the groom had to fight off other men who might want to steal the bride. Since most men were right-handed, the right arm was considered the sword arm. In order to protect his bride, he would hold his sword in his right hand, and his bride with his left hand. To this day, many couples follow the “bride on the left, groom on the right” rule. This means, that when facing the altar, the bride stands on the left side and the groom on the right side.
Another explanation might be that your heart is located on your left side, so the bride stands under her groom’s heart.
Yet another has the family members of the bride on the left and the family members of the groom on the right because, in ancient times, before the couple married, tribes of the bride were hostile to the tribes of the groom. Therefore, they were seated on opposite sides of the aisle to prevent bloodshed.
But, remember, this is just a tradition. In many modern weddings, guests are asked to sit where they would like. It is your wedding, so you can make the rules!
The Dress
There are several reasons why the bride wears a white wedding gown.
The reason the dress is white is because white represents purity. The first white dress was worn by Anne of Brittany in 1499 when she married Louis XII of France. Before that, women usually wore their best dress, whatever the color.
Another reason might be that white was once considered the color of mourning. Since the bride was leaving her family behind to start a new life with her husband, many brides were sad.
In Roman times, white symbolized a joyful celebration, and that seems to be what we most associate with a white gown today – happiness and joy.
The Veil
Traditionally, a veil was worn to symbolize innocence and modesty. It also meant that the bride was protected by her husband. In some cultures today, it even represents male dominance. So, for a bride to lift her own veil may symbolize that she is an independent woman. In the United States, when Major Lawrence Lewis (aide to George Washington) caught a glimpse of his fiancée as she was standing behind a gauzy curtain, he commented on how beautiful she looked. The story goes that in order to maintain that same beauty on her wedding day, she decided to wear a veil for her wedding ceremony. And a fashion trend was started!
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This sweet tradition actually dates back to the Victorian era. The “something old” part indicates the link the bride has to her past and her family. “Something new” symbolizes good fortune and the hope the bride has for the future with her new husband, family, and friends. “Something borrowed” traditionally came from a happily married female who would then pass on some of her happiness and married bliss on to the bride. This was also a reminder to the new bride that her family and friends would support her in times of need. “Something blue” represents faithfulness and loyalty, two important qualities of marriage.
Bridesmaids
Tradition has it that in ancient Rome, the bridesmaids were dressed like the bride to confuse evil spirits who might try to kidnap the bride. Another job of the bridesmaids was to defend the bride against unsuitable suitors. Or, some believe that the bridesmaids looked like the bride to fool mortals who wanted to bring an evil curse upon the couple.
The Best Man
In ancient times, when the bride’s family did not approve of the groom, the groom would forcibly kidnap his bride-to-be from her family. When the male members of her family put up a fight, it was the best man who would help the groom fight for his girl. During the ceremony, the best man would remain by the groom’s side to assist him in case the bride’s family would try to get her back.
Giving Away the Bride
In ancient times, women were considered to be the property of the males, and hence, daughters were the property of their fathers. In marriage, therefore, the father had to relinquish ownership of his daughter to the groom – in other words, “give her away”. In modern society, the father is merely giving his blessing to the marriage.
The First Kiss
In many cultures, the bride and groom are forbidden from showing affection before they are married. In fact, in some cultures, the groom does not even see his bride before the wedding. Hence, the first kiss means more than affection shown between the newlyweds. Instead, it represents a token of bonding in which spirits are exchanged between the groom and his bride. It is said that each sends a part of his/her soul into the soul of the mate, where it remains for all of eternity.
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