Popular Wedding Traditions and Their Origins

March 14, 2022

Many people think of weddings as a one-day celebration of love and unity. But if you take a closer look, you’ll start to see that many traditions we practice on our big day come from far more ancient origins. These roots still hold meaning today – they symbolize the newness and strength of marriage, for example – but it’s fascinating to explore how these traditions came about in the first place. Let’s take some time now to explore some popular wedding traditions and their origins!

"SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE."

This age-old rhyme has been recited at weddings for decades. But what are its origins? The saying comes about because of the superstition that it’s good luck to have each of these four things present on your big day. But why? The “something old” represents your old lives and your family heritage. “Something new” signifies your new life together. “Something borrowed” brings good luck from family and friends, and finally, having “something blue” signifies fidelity and purity.

THE WEDDING CAKE

Wedding cakes became popular in Victorian times when they were frequently decorated with sugar-paste flowers and figurines. Historically, the bride alone would cut the wedding cake to symbolize the loss of her virginity. Today, cutting the cake symbolizes the first activity that the couple does together, so the groom gets to participate as well.

THE BRIDE WEARING WHITE

It’s believed that wearing white at weddings dates back to ancient Rome. Brides started wearing this color as a symbol of purity because they knew they would soon be taking part in their first act of physical love with their husbands. Today, the color white represents love and purity at weddings.

CARRYING A BRIDAL BOUQUET

Many superstitions surround the carrying of a bridal bouquet. For starters, the earliest items contained in these bundles were thought to be magical. They were often herbs or flowers with strong medicinal value that would protect the bride on her wedding day. The bouquet also had the benefit of smelling good, which helped to mask some of the odors that come about from less frequent bathing. Over the years, this custom has evolved into the bouquet becoming a beautiful accessory.

THE FIRST DANCE

The first dance at a wedding is rooted in the German tradition, where the husband would carry his bride over the threshold of their home for the very first time. This practice started many centuries ago to show newlyweds that they were entering into a new life together as a united front.

THE RING

The ring is the most important symbol at a wedding since it represents the union of two people into one. In ancient times, however, rings were thought to hold supernatural powers that protected both the wearer and his or her family – so choosing the perfect ring was incredibly important! Today we still believe that rings protect the people wearing them, but we also think of them as a beautiful token of love between two partners.

THE BRIDE’S VEIL

The veil has been worn by brides for centuries – many people believe it dates back to Ancient Rome and Greece. The veil was originally used to indicate a woman’s virginity. In the Victorian era, veils reached new heights and were often decorated with pearls and white flowers. Today we think of veils simply as a beautiful symbol of femininity and modesty.

TOSSING RICE AT THE NEWLYWEDS AFTER THE CEREMONY

Scattering seeds at the feet of the newlyweds has long represented an offering of fertility in many cultures. In other instances, people believe that throwing rice after a wedding is a way to honor Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity. There’s even some speculation that this tradition comes from the ancient Greek tradition of throwing wheat at new couples after a wedding, to get their crops off to a great start!

FINAL THOUGHTS

So what do you think? It’s fascinating to learn about how wedding traditions started and evolved, isn’t it? It makes you wonder how they might change in the future. Now that you know a little more about how these traditions came about, which ones will you include on your wedding day? Let us know in the comments!

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