There are many iconic memories everyone remembers from weddings. The throwing of the bouquet, the cake cut or the wedding line. These are all traditions, but times have changed and some traditions more than others (or new) are becoming more popular. So which ones are a must have to keep…..
1
Sleep separate the night before: Feeling restless the night before your wedding isn't uncommon and for some people maintaining a normal routine with their spouse to be helps calm the nerves. However, the tradition of staying apart the night before is a huge part of the wedding for most people. The suspense and the excitement of being able to see your partner the time your are about to be wed is the best feeling.
2
Speeches: Speeches are a big part of your wedding day and a lovely way for family and loved ones to share their love for the newly wed couple. The traditional order of speeches are: Father of the Bride, Groom then the Best Man. However it is growing more popular for the Bride to make a speech of her own and even the Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid. Traditions may be needed in your wedding, but there is nothing wrong with modernising these or updating them.
3
Confetti: Confetti is traditionally thrown as the happy couple leave the church/after the ceremony. Confetti was thrown as a symbol of prosperity and fertility, demonstrating good wishes of the wedding guests. Confetti throwing has been a tradition in weddings since the middle ages, however what is used for confetti has changed and still continues to change, starting from the original rice or grain to biodegradable rose petals or even bubbles.
4
Rings: Traditionally in western cultures the ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, otherwise known as the ring finger. Wedding rings today are the sentiment of your love, but many people have different ideas on the reasoning behind them. Some believe that they came from ancient Egyptian times, the circle was a symbol of eternal love, but in many other cultures the hole in the centre of the ring was considered a gateway to events known and unknown, symbolising never-ending and immortal love. This is a tradition that many people have done and will keep doing for years to come.
5
First dance: The first dance at a wedding has always been considered the official opening of dancing by the newly married couple who are the guest of honour on their magical day! It has always been a part of the day/night where everyone gathers round to celebrate the love between two people (often with high emotions and a few tears). Some couples choose to go all out with a choreographed dance to entertain their guests, where as some just hold on tight and move around the room together. Each and every way does not matter as long as you are together.
6
Something old new borrowed blue (6pence) - luck/superstition: Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue…. You've probably had this rhyme in your head since you've been engaged, it's the one everyone remembers. As well as a 6 pence piece in the shoe. Its tradition to have all the above on your wedding day for good luck and to live a long and happy marriage. With the vintage style being popular at the moment having something old works within the theme. Also in most cases family want to be able to pass something down in generation e.g a necklace, a broach or the lucky 6 pence piece passed down from granny. Something new is the easiest, your dress, shoes, jewellery or even…. Your new husband! Something borrowed can either be incorporated into something old if its been passed down to you or something lent to you just for the day. Something blue was usually the garter, the tradition behind the blue and old items were that they were there to protect the bride again the “Evil Eye”, a cure passed through a malicious glare that could make the bride infertile, which is why blue is worn because the colour blue stands for love, purity and fidelity.
7
Hen and Stag parties: Traditionally there were always three parts to marriage (before marriage) where the bride would spend the last days before the wedding with her mother, female relatives and friends preparing for the wedding, the wedding itself and the post wedding celebrations. The last days before the wedding is traditionally called the Proaulia. Throughout the years this started to be called the ‘Hen party” do to females being called Hens and Stags meaning men. These are a way to be giving away the bride and groom to be of singlehood in to marriage. Today this is still a lovely way to spend with friends and family before their big day.
8
Walk down the aisle/being given away: The tradition of walking down the aisle and being given away by your father stems from arranged marriages where the father of the bride had chosen the groom suited for their daughter and they were transferring ownership. Today this is still a very wanted tradition for brides to have their father walk them down the aisle to give this away, bride find that this is still a very sentimental moment for them and their father. Some brides choose to have other family members or someone close to them to give them away which is entirely up to them.
9
Wedding cake: Along with the first dance, cutting of the cake is still a very used tradition in many weddings. This charming tradition is one of those perfect photo opportunities that graces every wedding album. The cutting of the cake is also a representation of the first activity done as a couple. Although traditionally the bride would cut the cake herself, however as the cakes started to get more extravagant, complicated and gain more tiers, she started to need the help from her groom and then left the dividing out of the cake to the caterers.
10
Honeymoon: A honeymoon is a holiday taken by the newly weds immediately after their wedding, to celebrate their wedding. However originally, years ago the honeymoon was a trip the bride and groom would take after their wedding across country to visit friends and family who could not make it to their wedding. This has definitely changed for the newly weds to enjoy the start of their marriage and life together and to celebrate. Couples now go all over the world to different and exotic places if they desired.
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