Have you ever wondered why you follow certain traditions in planning your wedding?
If you’re like me, you may even wonder what some of the traditions mean. Even though I’ve been a professional wedding photographer for a few years now – I don’t know all of them. And I’ve noticed that people interpret traditions differently.
For example…
Is the Wedding Breakfast when you receive your guests with drinks or is it your sit down meal?
I decided it was time to find out…
What Is The Definitive Traditional Wedding?
As you know this will depend greatly on your origins. Today I’ll focus on British customs, which are very similar across Europe and America. Not surprising really when you consider we’re predominantly Christian. Other religions and cultures have very different customs but one thing is common across them all. Celebrating your union for a lifetime commitment together and potential to bring new life into the world. This is really at the heart of your wedding and why it is a cornerstone moment in your life.
Let’s start at the beginning…
Your wedding dress
Contemporary fashion photo of the traditional white wedding dress
The white wedding dress is almost the golden rule for formal traditional weddings. Surprisingly it’s actually a relatively new tradition dating back to Victorian times. The trend started after Queen Victoria wore a white lace dress to her wedding. I was taught that it represents virginity and should only be worn by the virgin bride. However the consensus is that it actually represents the purity of your heart and childhood innocence.
One theory is that it was simply been an effort by the monarchy to promote lace sales!
Lace would have been very expensive and only afforded by relatively wealthy families. Also being lace and white it would easily be damaged, making it something even more extraordinary.
Prior to Queen Victoria setting the trend, most brides wore dark or even black wedding gowns!
The “white wedding” is only considered appropriate for your first wedding however; and the white dress and veil is not worn by brides in subsequent marriages whether they be a widow or divorcee.
The Wedding Breakfast
The wedding ceremony is often followed by or accompanied by the wedding reception – known as the Wedding Breakfast.
Traditionally the wedding breakfast is the one occasion where all the family who had contributed in some way toward the wedding is present. It is a very symbolic part of the celebrations as the bride and groom share their first meal together as a lawfully wedded couple.
The term breakfast comes from a more ancient tradition of fasting before the wedding ceremony and literally means “breaking the fast”.
Toasting The Couple
After the meal it is traditional to honour the newly wed couple with a toast. The word ‘toast’ became associated with a custom in the 17th Century for flavouring drinks with spiced toast. The word originally referred to the lady in whose honour the drink was proposed. This is accompanied with the wedding speeches by the bride’s dad, groom and best man.
Did you know that glasses were originally clinked together in order to spill drink into each others glasses?
Apparently this evolved with fears of glasses being poisoned.
In recent years wedding breakfasts have grown massively with many more people being present. It could easily be one of the most expensive aspects of your day. That’s why many brides have started to cut back on the guest list. This is potentially one part of the day where you could make huge savings on your wedding costs.
Your Wedding Cake
An elaborate wedding cake is also traditional at the wedding reception. The cake is usually multi-tiered and heavily decorated with icing sugar, often over a layer of marzipan. It is customary for the bride and groom to cut the cake after the meal.
Whose Next?
As you know, you may throw your bouquet over your shoulder to an assembled group of unmarried women. According to folklore suggesting whoever catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.
But did you know the groom may now throw your garter to an assembled group of unmarried men?
It’s true
And whoever catches it is also suggested to be the next to wed.
The tradition relates to the grooms privilege to remove the garter and toss it to the male guests. The belief is that taking an article of the bride’s clothing will bring luck and is therefore very symbolic.
Although there is no suggestion that the man catching the garter should marry the lady who caught the bouquet; tradition says they should share the next dance!
Traditional wedding bouquet of roses
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
I always thought this was an old tradition but it is relatively modern. It is considered good luck for you to where or carry these things during the service.
You may attempt to do this with only one item by borrowing a blue handkerchief that is new to you but loaned from your grandmother, thus making it old.
Another custom that comes from this tradition is to wear a penny in your shoe to bring prosperity. The full verse goes…
Something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue,
And a silver sixpence in your shoe.
Your First Dance
Your first dance is an important part of the wedding ceremony in modern weddings. Traditionally the first dance would have been the Waltz. Now that ballroom dancing is no longer widespread, many dance schools run a lucrative business as the brides and grooms to be learn the moves for their first dance.
Today more popular dances include the Foxtrot, Merengue and Swing. For couples who have not learned one of these dance moves the “slow dance” is the perfect alternative.
Photojournalist style wedding photography of the bride and groom having their first dance
The Honeymoon
The honeymoon started in ancient times with the Teutonic people who held their weddings under a full moon. After the wedding, the bride and groom would drink honey wine for one full moon – for 30 days. This moon became known as the “honey moon”.
The tradition now only survives as a holiday to get away together to a romantic location.
What Is Your Favourite Wedding Tradition?
This is by no means a definitive list. And there are many more customs starting with the proposal, engagement and even tying the bride’s shoes to the back of the wedding car!
One thing is for sure, traditions are constantly changing and evolving to compliment today’s life style. See what will be the hottest trends for 2010.
So what will be your favourite tradition or hot trend at your wedding?
Don’t be shy, leave your comment below…
Pat
PS If you’re planning your wedding now; Sign up for your FREE eWedding course and receive many hints and tips to inspire you.
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