Weddings are full of traditions - some heartwarming, some quirky, and some we follow simply because ‘that’s the way it’s always been done.’ But have you ever wondered where these customs actually come from? From wearing a white dress to tossing the bouquet, many of our favourite wedding traditions have fascinating (and sometimes surprising) histories. Let’s take a look at some of the most well-known wedding traditions and their origins.
1. The White Wedding Dress
Wearing a white dress is one of the most iconic wedding traditions, but it’s not as old as you might think! Before the 19th century, brides would simply wear their best dress, regardless of colour. It was Queen Victoria who popularised the white wedding dress in 1840 when she married Prince Albert in an elegant white gown. At the time, white symbolised wealth rather than purity, as it was difficult to keep clean. Her dress sparked a trend, and soon, white became the go-to colour for brides worldwide.
2. The Wedding Ring
The tradition of exchanging rings dates back thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians were among the first to use rings to symbolise eternal love, believing that the circle represented infinity. They also wore the ring on the fourth finger of the left hand because they believed a vein - later called the 'vena amoris' or 'vein of love' - ran directly from that finger to the heart. While modern science has disproven this, the tradition has endured across cultures.
3. The Bouquet Toss
In medieval times, wedding guests believed that touching the bride or even tearing off a piece of her dress would bring them good luck. Understandably, brides weren’t too keen on this, so they started carrying flowers to throw instead - giving guests something else to scramble for. Today, the bouquet toss is a fun part of the reception, where tradition says the person who catches it will be the next to marry!
4. The Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes have been a part of celebrations for centuries, but they haven’t always looked as they do today. In Ancient Rome, weddings featured a simple wheat or barley cake that was broken over the bride’s head to symbolise good fortune and fertility. The tradition evolved into stacking small cakes into a tower (a forerunner of the tiered cakes we see today), and by the 17th century, sugar-covered wedding cakes became popular in England as a sign of wealth and status.
5. The First Dance
The first dance as a married couple comes from European royal courts, where the guest of honour (often the highest-ranking person) would begin the evening with a dance, setting the tone for the event. Over time, this translated into newlyweds taking centre stage for a romantic first dance, symbolising their first steps together as a married couple.
6. Something Old, Something New...
This rhyme is a well-known wedding superstition, originating from Victorian England. Each element is meant to bring the couple good fortune:
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Something old represents continuity with the bride’s past.
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Something new symbolises optimism for the future.
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Something borrowed is thought to bring luck and happiness from a happily married friend or relative.
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Something blue has long been associated with purity, love, and fidelity.
Some versions of the rhyme also include ‘a sixpence in your shoe,’ which was meant to bring financial prosperity to the couple.
7. Throwing Confetti
Confetti-throwing dates back to Ancient Rome when guests would toss grains, nuts, or rice over the newlyweds as a symbol of fertility and prosperity. The practice later evolved into using paper confetti in Italy in the 19th century, which became a widespread tradition across Europe. Today, many couples opt for eco-friendly alternatives like dried petals or biodegradable confetti to keep the tradition alive while being kind to the environment.
8. Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold
This tradition has roots in both Roman and medieval European customs. In Ancient Rome, it was believed that evil spirits lurked at the threshold of a new home, so the groom would carry his bride inside to protect her. Meanwhile, in medieval times, it was seen as a way to prevent the bride from appearing too eager to leave her family home. Today, it’s simply a romantic gesture, though not as commonly practised as in the past.