Wedding Traditions

Wedding Traditions Bridesmaids: You may have up to 12 bridesmaids (depending on the size and formality of the wedding). The bridesmaids pay for their own gowns, share the responsibility for the bridal shower, purchase a gift for the bride and groom, and attend the rehearsal and dinner.

Flower Girl: This young lady (usually nine and under) carries the basket of flowers down the aisle or sprinkles flower petals down the aisle for the bride to walk upon.

Best Man: He walks down the aisle with the maid/matron of honor, stands next to the groom during the ceremony, holds the bride's ring until the officiant asks for it, and he signs the marriage certificate as a legal witness. At the reception, he proposes the first toast to the bride and groom.

Groomsmen: These friends or relatives of the groom walk with the bridesmaids down the aisle. They pay for their own attire rental, gifts for the bride and groom, help plan and attend bachelor party, attend rehearsal dinner, escort guest to their seat, participate in ceremony.

Maid/Matron of Honor: Before the wedding, she helps with addressing the invitations and plans the bridal shower. On the big day, the maid or matron of honor helps the bride get ready, adjusts her train and veil during the ceremony, holds the groom's ring and the bride's bouquet, and signs the marriage certificate as a witness.

Ring Bearer: He carries the ring pillow down the aisle. He can walk with the flower girl or after her.

Ushers: These gentlemen lead all the guests to their seats and unroll the aisle runner before the processional. You should have one usher for every 50 guests.

Bouquet: For ancient Greeks and Romans, the bouquet was a pungent mix of garlic and herbs or grains. The garlic was supposed to ward off evil spirits and the herbs or grains were to insure a fruitful union. In ancient Poland, it was believed that sprinkling sugar on the bride's bouquet kept her temper sweet.
Cake: The shape of the cake was inspired by a building in London. In ancient Rome, the cake was broken over the bride's head and the guests gathered up all the crumbs that fell to the ground as good luck tokens. In later times, the popularity of a bride was determined by the size of her cake -- the guests brought the layers of cake to the reception, which were then filled with applesauce and stacked. The cutting of the cake by both the bride and the groom originated from Greek times when the couple shared in the task (with a sesame seed cake incidentally) to ensure they would have a fruitful marriage. In the 1800's, wedding cakes were fruitcakes (before baking powder, baking soda, etc) and this tradition was brought to the US with the Pilgrims from England. After white cake was available, the fruitcake tradition became known as the groom's cake. The cake is symbolic of fertility and abundance. One tradition is that a bride who keeps a piece of her wedding cake will have a loving and faithful husband. And the most commonly known tradition regarding the wedding cake is that of saving the top tier until the couple's first anniversary. Dress: Traditionally they are white because the Greeks believed white embodied purity, innocence and joyfulness. This also implied that the bride was a virgin. Today, a white gown has come to symbolize the celebration of the wedding itself. Bridal Veil: They were first used so that the groom couldn't back out of a marriage during the time when arranged marriages were common. (The blusher part of the veil wasn't lifted until after the vows.) The veil has symbolized privacy, modesty, youth and maidenhood. Another early interpretation of the veil was that it symbolized youth and virginity. For these reasons, second-time brides usually, but not always, skip the veil. .

Kiss: The first kiss a bride and groom share at the close of the ceremony has carried special significance through the centuries. This is a symbol of the newlywed's faith and love and respect of each other's beliefs. Many cultures believed that the couple exchanged spirits with their breath and part of their souls were exchanged as well.

Make-up: A 1775 law stated that a wedding was not legal if the bride wore any make-up during the ceremony. Make-up was considered an ensnarement and so the groom would have been trapped by the illusion of make-up. Poem: Familiar is the saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a lucky sixpence in your shoe." The "something borrowed" originated from the idea that if a bride borrows an item from a happily married woman, the giver's happiness is said to be passed on to the bride. The "something blue" symbolizes constancy in a relationship. Ideas for something blue might be: sapphire earrings, blue garter, hidden blue handkerchief, tiny blue ribbon or button on dress. The sixpence became a tradition in England during the late 17th century as a part of the dowry gift to the groom. As time went on the sixpence became a symbol of good luck; it is traditionally worn in the bride's left shoe on her wedding day. Honeymoon: The first weddings comprised of a groom taking his bride by capture. He would take her somewhere hidden away so her relatives and villagers couldn't find them. There they stayed for one moon phase and drank mead a wine make from honey, to make them more amorous. Thus, the word "honeymoon" was born. Today, the honeymoon is the time when the couple can get away for awhile.

Ring: The wedding ring has traditionally been worn on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed that a vein in this finger ran directly to the heart. The third finger of the left hand has become the customary wedding-ring finger for all English-speaking cultures.

Throwing Rice: One of the oldest wedding traditions, the custom of throwing rice, originated with the ancient Hindus and Chinese. In these cultures, rice is the symbol of fruitfulness and prosperity. Tossing it after the ceremony was believed to bestow fertility upon the bride and groom. Eating rice and other grains was thought to guarantee health, wealth and happiness for the newlyweds. Today, rice tossing is being replaced by the more ecologically friendly birdseed tossing, because uncooked rice is damaging to birds that eat it off the church lawn.

To the Left!: Brides stand to the left of their groom because long ago the groom needed to keep his right (and sword) hand free to defend his bride and himself from attack and capture by jealous rivals. Wedding Bands: The never-ending circle of a wedding band symbolizes eternal love by its lack of a beginning and an end. This tradition grew out of an ancient tribal custom of using circlets of grass to decorate a bride's wrist and ankles. The earliest evidence of wedding rings dates back to around 2800 B.C. in Egypt. In 860 the Roman Catholic pope (Nicholas I) declared that an engagement ring was required of all those who intended to marry; if either the man or woman later violated the vow to marry, he/she was excommunicated or banished to a nunnery. These were the times when women were thought of as property and the band was a sort of leash or band of ownership. The gold and silver commonly used for wedding bands today is derived from the customs of the Romans and Egyptians who loved precious metals and stones. And finally, the rings are worn on the third finger of the left hand because ancient cultures believed that finger had a vein running straight to the heart. Bridal Shower: Back in the days when weddings were arranged by family members, it is said that a poor Dutchman fell in love with a girl whose father refused her a dowry. Their friends showered her with enough gifts to help them start a household. According to another story, the first "Bridal Shower" occurred at the end of the 19th century. At a party, the Bride's friends placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened it over the Bride's head. When she opened the parasol, she was "showered" with presents! Favors: Giving your guest party favors and mementos at the reception dates back to a 16th century custom in France. The tradition was usually reserved just for royalty, with gifts being of great value such as precious stones, gold, porcelain, etc. Of course not everyone can afford gifts such as these, so as the tradition became common among all of society gifts such as glass, confections, etc. were substituted. Budget Tip: Saturday night is the most expensive time to hold your reception and the hardest night to find everything you want available. To save money and frustration, consider a Friday or Sunday night, Saturday or Sunday afternoon or a week night. Morning and afternoon weddings also call for lighter fare, so you'll be able to save on the menu as well.

Tipping: Gratuities are usually included as part of the fee. However it is customary to tip some of the following professionals who helped to make your wedding day special. The following is a list for proper tipping protocol:

    * Clergy Member -- usually a $10 and up donation.
    * Limousine, D.J., Photographer -- 15%
    * Waiters, Waitresses -- 15%
    * Captains -- 1 to 2%
    * Maitre D' -- 15%

Ceremony: A wedding ceremony can be held anywhere from your local church to a park, lake or back yard. You can invite as many guests as you wish as cost is not determined by head count. The type of ceremony -Civil or Religious- will have an impact on the cost. To save money consider having an officiant perform your ceremony at the reception site so you can avoid paying an additional location fee.

Rehearsal Dinner: The groom's Parents traditionally host the rehearsal dinner, but depending on your situation, you may host or be involved in the planning of it.. To save money, there is no reason why you couldn't host a lunch or rehearsal party in one of your parents' homes, and save on restaurant cost. In fact, a home is quite often intimate and pleasant for a small - to medium size group.

Bouquet Toss: In ancient times, it was believed that a Bride was especially lucky on her wedding day. Guests would sometimes tear at her dress for a souvenir piece of good luck to take home. The Bride's tossing of her bouquet grew from her desire to offer a good luck souvenir, and prevent guests from bothering her (and her dress!) during her reception. Flowers: You will purchase more flowers for your wedding than most any other occasion in your life. In addition to the bridal bouquet, you will need the following::

    * Bouquets for bridal attendants
    * Boutonniere for groom
    * Boutonniere for ushers and fathers
    * Corsages for mothers
    * Flowers to decorate the church
    * Centerpieces for reception
    * Bouquet and flower petals for flower girl
    * Additional floral decorations for buffet tables & cake

Money Saving Tips

    * Choose flowers that are in season at the time of your wedding
    * Use hand-tied stems rather than structured bouquets
    * Use loosely cut flowers in vases rather than sculpted centerpieces

Shopping Basket