The very word, “Wedding” is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word “wedd” which means a man would marry a woman and pay the bride’s father. Wedding is a very special occasion in one’s life and the real charm of it comes from the age old traditions that are still popular.

There are certain traditions associated with the wedding that play a very important role. These traditions have a great impact right from buying bridal gowns to selecting the wedding ring.

Here are some of the most popular wedding ceremony traditions:

Bouquet

The tradition of carrying matching bouquet by the bride is going on for quite a long time. The bouquet originally made of strong smelling herbs and spices such as thyme and garlic, was carried to ward off the evil spirits, bad luck and ill health.

Bridal Shower

This beautiful wedding tradition has its roots in Holland when a father disapproved his daughter’s choice and it was then when the villagers showered her with gifts of house hold goods and belongings to help the newly wed couple start a new phase of life. A bridal shower is believed to strengthen the ties between the bride and her friends and help her prepare for marriage.

Veil

In the past, marriages were generally arranged by family members and the newlyweds were not allowed to see each other. According to one tradition, it is considered bad luck for the bride to be seen by the groom before the ceremony. According to another story, it was done to ensure that the groom wouldn’t refuse to marry the bride after seeing her. The veil is still in fashion and while selecting a wedding gown from an online store or a traditional shop, the bride takes a lot of pain to find a matching veil. Even if one is buying a discounted wedding gown, one does go to great lengths to find a veil that matches perfectly.

Carrying the bride across the threshold

This age old tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold dictates that the new wife must never trip and fall while entering her new home for the first time. Another ancient belief says that to keep the bride away from evil spirits the groom carries her over the threshold.

Ring Finger

Prior to the 5th century, the ring finger was actually the index finger. But later on the groom used to place a ring on the third finger of the bride’s left hand, as it was believed that a vein in this finger is connected straight to the heart. Today the ring worn on the ring finger symbolizes the love and trust shared by the husband and wife.

Wedding Cake

During the Roman period, cakes baked of wheat or barley were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of her fertility. The bride and groom fed each other a piece of the wedding cake that symbolized the sharing of life’s bounty. This tradition has given rise to another popular wedding tradition where the newlyweds exchange a kiss over a small cluster of cakes.

White wedding gown

The white bridal gown has always been a symbol of purity and dates back to Victorian period. A white wedding gown symbolizes chastity, virtue and hence of maidenhood. Prior to this period, brides used to wear their best dress on their wedding day and color was not an issue. But today white is the first choice when brides spend hours searching for bridal gowns and even discounted wedding gowns.

There are many more wedding traditions that make the wedding ceremony a special one. These traditions help in making the wedding extra special and wonderful.

By: Cynthia Ford

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