WEDDING TRADITIONS AND FOLKLORE

WEDDING TRADITIONS – where have they gone?


Today’s brides are not necessarily into the traditions of bride’s of the past. Glitter and glamour seem to occupy many brides’ wedding plans today. In looking at wedding traditions, we will talk about many in a three part blog posting.

Some of what we think of as traditions is actually folk lore, carried down from times past.

THE WEDDING RING

Since the Roman times, the wedding ring has always been placed on the third finger of the left hand. They believed that fingers vein ran straight to the heart.

The ring is also a circle – meaning never ending.

Some faiths place the ring on a different finger during the ceremony.

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW, SOMETHING BORROWED, SOMETHING BLUE, AND A SIXPENCE IN YOUR SHOE

This is one of the customs that has been altered or entirely dropped by brides of today. We will look at each area individually and the meaning behind them

Something old is a reflection of the bond to the bride’s family and the past. It can be reflected in the wearing of the mother’s or grandmother’s wedding gown (which is seldom done today), or the wearing of a piece of family jewelry. It was often a hanky of a grandmother, or a small family bible.

Something new gives the symbol of hope and good fortune. This is often seen as the new wedding gown, a piece of jewelry as a gift from the groom or her family.

Something borrowed is usually an item lent to the bride from a happily married secure mature woman. It is meant to share the happiness, good fortune and joy of a stable woman.

Something blue is a symbol of love, fidelity and purity of the bride. This is often the garter the bride wears. This particular tradition of the something blue is not used as much today.

A sixpence in your shoe symbolized a wish to the bride for wealth in her married life. This is another tradition that has not been used by brides of the present.

WEDDING FLOWER – Bridal Party

Flowers in a wedding started out simple, but have moved into the expensive realm of wedding planning today. Flowers were originally incorporated into the ceremony as a symbol of fertility. Flowers have become a huge part of a wedding – elaborate bouquets seem to be a must with today’s brides.

Another part of the bridal party flowers that has also changed is who pays for what with regards to the flowers.

The old concept was as follows, but that has changed today. And this is in regards to the wedding party flowers, not the ceremony or reception flowers or décor.

Groom/Groom’s Family is/was responsible for:

Bridal Bouquet

Bride’s Veil or headpiece

Bride’s Toss Bouquet (which is now often provided by the florist at no charge)

Corsages for the Mothers and Grandmothers – both sides.

Bride’s going away corsage – isn’t used these days.

Rehearsal Dinner flowers.

Bride’s family responsible for all others. However, today the bride’s family usually pays for it all.

TOSSING OF THE BOUQUET

This tradition stems from England. Women often tried to tear pieces of the bride’s dress for good luck. But then the bride began tossing her bouquet and running to avoid the crowds. Today’s brides still toss a throw away bouquet to all the single women present, and the one catching is believed to be the next to get married. Years ago when I first married (40 years ago) the bride’s bouquet would be tossed; we didn’t have throw away bouquets.

THE BRIDAL VEIL

The veil has long been a symbol of youth, modesty and virginity, and was used to turn off evil.

BRIDESMAIDS

The bridal party was established many centuries ago. According to folk lure the purpose of the bridesmaids was to fool evil spirits. The bride’s friends would dress similar to her to fool and confuse any evil prescience that might be around. In today’s weddings bridesmaid are around to help the bride in stressful times during the wedding,

MORE TO COME….

This is just the beginning segment for Unique & Yours blog with regards to wedding traditions and are they still be used……stay tuned for more!!!! Coming next – why does the groom have a best man, why is the bride on the Groom’s left, and much more. It has been really interesting to research all these traditions and to see how many are still around.

In the many years that I have been doing wedding and event planning, I have seen the traditions begin to disappear. You will also notice this as the blog posts continue. You will find yourself looking for these things when you attend weddings....take a mental note of what you do see and don't see.