Wedding Traditions

Although Murphy wasn’t a wedding planner, he might as well have been, with his aptly coined statement, ‘Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong.’ Whether superstitious or skeptical, you’d agree that your wedding is one occasion where things should progress according to plan. While hiccups can be avoided with some careful planning and prep work, there are some disasters which even the most experienced risk analyst could not have forecasted. Superstitions and traditions often use positive symbols to represent the ideals of a successful marriage.

From cake to confetti, couples have been following wedding traditions for centuries. We decipher some of the most popular wedding practices, and take the mystery out of wedding practices.

“Something old, new, borrowed and blue.”

Old – Signifies the continuity of the bride’s family and link to her past (usually a piece of bridal attire passed down the family).

New – Brings hope for the bride’s future (A new bridal accessory).

Borrowed – Transfers luck from a happily married woman to the bride (Often a lace

handkerchief from a close friend or family member).

Blue – Symbolises loyalty and devotion (Garters often feature blue ribbon or trimming).

Wedding cake

Cake symbolises the sharing of happiness and luck between the newly-wed couple and their friends/ family. The top layer of cake is usually frozen and later eaten at the couple first anniversary, or the birth/ christening of their first child.

Wedding rings

As the strongest gemstone, diamonds became popular in engagement rings during medieval times as an icon of eternal love. Commonly worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, many ancient cultures believed this finger was connected through a vein directly leading to the heart.

Flowers

As the wedding bouquet, physical adornment or venue decoration, flowers have been chosen for centuries specifically for their symbolic meaning. Traditionally, roses represent love and lilies signify grandeur. However, different cultures often have opposing interpretations of the same flower. For example, while white flowers are popular in the majority of Western weddings, certain Asian cultures associate white with death and mourning.

For more on the meanings of flowers, and how to pick the perfect bouquet [click here]

Confetti

Originating in Asian cultures, confetti was thrown in the form of rice over the newlywed couple as an expression of prosperity, good fortune and fertility. Indian cultures often throw brightly dyed rice, while today, rose petals are a popular modern take on traditional confetti.

The garter

Taking something associated with the bride has long been considered good luck. In 14^th century Italy, often brides wore ribbons or flowers on their dresses for guests to take as keepsakes. It is believed the tradition of throwing the garter began in France, which today, usually involves the groom throwing his bride’s garter into a group of unmarried men.