Weddings are a celebration of a bride and groom's love and commitment. Every wedding will reflect the bride and groom's personalities with the bride being able to express individuality. Every event will oblige some wedding traditions and customs. Correct wedding etiquette is important to show that the bride and groom are serious about their life together. The bride and groom may chose cultural, social or family traditions and customs to follow. The bride and groom may chose not to abide by correct wedding etiquette but some wedding traditions are just age old and must be followed.
Wedding Dresses
Everyone will talk about the gown. The wedding gown is traditionally white. This became fashionable in 1840 when Queen Victoria wore an all white wedding costume. History shows that white was the Ancient Greek colour known as the emblem of joy and Roman brides wore white to pay tribute to the god of fertility. The old English rhyme suggests that married in white, you have chosen right.
Another wedding adage is not ignored by any bride. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe. The something old and something new represents the rite of passage with a link to the past and the hope of success for the future. To borrow something brings good luck, with the blue symbolising purity, love and fidelity. The coin represents future wealth.
The Bride
The bride must stand at the groom’s left side when taking her vows. This is because most people are right handed and the groom will be able to protect his bride from would-be marauders, explains Arlene Hamilton Stewart in her book A Bride’s Book of Wedding Traditions, 1995.
The bride traditionally adorns a bouquet of flowers or herbs as a good luck symbol. The throwing of the bouquet passes the luck onto the next to be married.
The attendants are traditionally expected to protect the bride. The more bridal attendants, the more protection provided from bad spirits.
The Groom
The groom’s attire relates to the time of day the wedding ceremony will take place. The later in day the more formal the groom should dress. An evening wedding justifies a formal black tailcoat, white waistcoat and white bow tie.
The Wedding Ceremony
The procession into the wedding ceremony of a formal wedding should begin with the ushers walking down the aisle in pairs, followed by the bridesmaids in pairs, then the maid and matron of honour, followed by the ring bearer, flower girls and then the bride accompanied by her father.
As the ceremony draws to a close the bride and groom kiss to the sound of wedding bells, sealing their commitment to each other.
The Wedding Reception
A feast of food and wine following the wedding ceremony is an age-old wedding tradition to celebrate the first meal taken together as husband and wife. The father of the bride is traditionally responsible for the expense of these arrangements.
The wedding cake is served at the end of the meal and is a symbol of fertility and plenty. According to wedding lore, the bride and groom must cut the cake and eat the first piece together as a sign of love. The top tier of the cake is kept for the christening ceremony of the couple’s first born child.
The bride and her father commence the first waltz with the groom joining in with his mother. Today this tradition has been replaced with the bridal waltz when the bride and groom commence dancing together.
It is correct wedding etiquette to give wedding favours, a small gift or memento given to the guests. Three or 5 sugar-coated almonds wrapped in tulle and tied with a ribbon are the traditional thank you gift representing fertility and wealth.
No guests should leave the wedding reception until the newly married couple have been farewelled for the honeymoon. Then the guests may depart thanking the mother and father of the bride.
Following the correct etiquette, customs and traditions will provide luck for a long, happy, fertile and prosperous marriage.
Natalie Clarke - I have studied Travel Writing and Photojournalism with the Australian College of Journalism and love to read and write. I also own and ...
