Wedding Traditions

Ever wonder where certain wedding customs came from? According to the book ‘A Natural History of Love' written by Diane Ackerman, today's traditions had more mundane and practical beginnings. In fact, the first marriages were by capture, purchase, or arranged. In a capture marriage, the groom would kidnap a woman with the help of a warrior friend presently known as his Best Man. He would hold onto the woman with his left hand while fighting off other prospective grooms with his right hand. This is why during the ceremony the groom stands on the right and the bride on the left. The groom would then take his prize to a secret hiding place where her family could not find her … the Honeymoon. Later, purchasing a bride became more popular. The Anglo-Saxon word "wedd" meant that the groom would vow to marry the woman. It also referred to the form of payment the groom would give her father. Wedding, then meant the purchase of a bride. In arranged marriages, the groom very rarely saw his bride in fear that he may refuse to marry her if he did not like her looks. Therefore, her father Gave Her Away, turning her over to the groom who Lifted Her Vail, seeing her for the first time. In Roman times, the bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots, which the groom had the fun of untying, hence the expression Tie the Knot. The custom of giving gifts to the bride-to-be is fairly new dating back to 1890s. Friends placed small gifts into a parasol, and then opened it over the brides head, showering her with gifts, this become the popular Bridal Shower. The traditional Wedding Dress dates back to Anne of Brittany in 1499, who chose to wear white, rather than the customary blue which according to the bible represented purity. The bride and groom simply wore a blue band on the bottom of their wedding attire i.e., Something Blue. The ancient Romans believed that the vein in the third finger ran directly to the heart. This is the reason Wedding Rings are worn on that finger, to join the two hearts. Diamond Engagement Rings were given by medieval Italians because of their belief that the diamond was created from the flames of love. Tying Shoes to Car Bumpers represents the power and symbolism of shoes in ancient times. When an Egyptian father of the bride gave his daughter to the groom, he would also give him her leather sandals, to show that she now belonged to the groom.