| Brides have always worn white, right? Not so. In | | | | beliefs rain on your wedding day is good luck.; Some |
| ancient times brides wore bright colored wedding | | | | western cultures believe rain is unlucky. |
| dresses to signify their joy. White for western brides | | | | In Holland it is traditional to plant a tree outside the |
| didn't become fashionable until Queen Victoria wore it | | | | newlyweds home as a symbol of fertility. Finnish |
| at her wedding to signify her status. White dresses | | | | brides traditionally carried a pillowcase door to door, |
| never did signify purity until the Christian churches put | | | | collecting gifts. An older married man went with her, |
| that label on them. So feel free to add a little color to | | | | symbolizing a long marriage. |
| your wedding outfit. | | | | Korean brides wear red and yellow outfits for their |
| Wedding bands made of hemp or braided grass were | | | | weddings. Danish brides and grooms used to |
| the earliest rings. They eventually fell out of favor, | | | | confound the evil spirits by cross-dressing. Egyptian |
| replaced by durable metals until about the 15th | | | | parents traditionally do all the cooking for a week, so |
| century when diamonds came upon the scene, to | | | | that the couple can relax. |
| signify a valuable strong commitment, a tradition | | | | In many cultures including Hindu, Egyptian and Celtic, |
| which most modern couples choose to keep. | | | | the hand of a bride and groom are tied together as a |
| When grooms would "capture" their brides and or | | | | symbol of their new bond and commitment to the |
| were afraid of evil spirits they would comer the | | | | marriage. This is the origin of the expression "Tying |
| woman's head to keep her from being recognized. | | | | then knot". |
| Bridesmaids' dresses are all identical. Where did this | | | | In Roman mythology the god Juno rules over |
| practice originate? Long ago the brides friends wore | | | | childbirth, marriage and the hearth. This is believed to |
| the same exact outfit as the bride to confuse the | | | | be the reason for the popularity of June weddings. |
| evil spirits who wanted to destroy her happiness;. It | | | | African-American weddings often hold to the tradition |
| also helped to prevent the bride from being | | | | of "jumping the broom". Slaves in the United States |
| kidnapped by a rival suitor. | | | | were not allowed to marry, so they would exhibit |
| The receiving line developed from the ancient belief, | | | | their love by jumping over a broom to the beat of |
| that on their wedding day, the bride and groom | | | | drums. It now is symbol of the couple's intention to |
| brought good luck to everyone they touched. | | | | set up a home together. |
| Modern couples often pass on this and prefer to | | | | Japanese couples become man and wife when they |
| "make the rounds" greeting their guests during the | | | | take the first of nine sips of sake. In Irish tradition |
| wedding dinner. | | | | once the bride and groom were in the church, the |
| In ancient Rome a marriage was not legal until the | | | | guests would lock the doors to make sure the |
| couple kissed. The kiss was considered a legal bond | | | | groom couldn't back out. It was also important that a |
| necessary to seal all contracts. This is thought to be | | | | male not a female be the first to wish joy to the |
| the origin of the present day custom of banging a | | | | newly married bride. |
| spoon against a glass until the newlyweds kiss. | | | | There is an old English rhyme that brides have been |
| Will you have your dad walk you down the aisle? Do | | | | obeying for years. "Something old, something new, |
| you know where this custom originated? Long ago, a | | | | something borrowed, something blue." The actual |
| woman was considered her father's property until | | | | rhyme also included this line "and a sixpence in your |
| she married, and their she was her husband's | | | | shoe". Relatives usually offer the something old, like |
| property. At the wedding the Dad would literally "give | | | | great grandmother's antique cameo, or your mom's |
| her away," transferring ownership to the husband. | | | | gown. These items provide continuity from |
| Now brides often have their fathers or both parents | | | | generation to generation. |
| accompany them, and have the officiant ask "Who | | | | The "new" symbolizes home for the future and can |
| supports this couple in marriage?" The parents | | | | include your gown or veil , a strand of pearls, |
| answer "We do." | | | | bouquet of silk flowers, or a new coin to tuck in your |
| There is no need to explain what the honeymoon is. | | | | shoe. The choices here are endless. |
| But do you know where the term originated? In | | | | Borrowed happiness is symbolized by the something |
| ancient Ireland, when a couple married, the parents | | | | borrowed. It should be something that brought |
| would make sure they had a supply of a drink made | | | | happiness to the owner. Some possibilities are your |
| from fermented honey called mead, that would last | | | | mother in law's ruby brooch, your dad's silk |
| for a full cycle of the moon. It was believed they | | | | handkerchief, or your parents' wedding song. |
| would be blessed with a son within a year. | | | | The blue something symbolizes fidelity, love and good |
| Back when a bride could be forced by a captor to | | | | fortune. Often, there is a blue ribbon on the garter. |
| marry, the groom would have to carry her against | | | | Other ideas are blue flowers, delphiniums, or irises in |
| her will into her new home. The Romans thought that | | | | your bouquet, sapphire earrings and necklace, or |
| it was bad luck, for a bride to trip over the threshold | | | | even your lingerie. |
| so to prevent that, the groom carried her. | | | | You may want to consider incorporating some of |
| During the Middle Ages the length of a bride's train | | | | these ideas into your wedding plans. There are books |
| indicated her rank in court. The longer her train the | | | | and magazines that you can search for traditions |
| closer she was to the King and Queen and the | | | | from your own ethnic or religious traditions. Perhaps |
| greater her influence with them. | | | | you like something you've heard about from another |
| During the 18th and 19th centuries gloves were the | | | | culture that you can adapt for your wedding. If you |
| traditional wedding favor for guests. | | | | will have children at your reception you might want |
| Here are a few more unusual traditions from around | | | | to borrow the Puerto Rican idea of pinatas, even the |
| the world. The Greek bride tucks a sugar cube in her | | | | adults might enjoy that one. |
| glove to "sweeten the union." According to Hindu | | | | |