Wedding Traditions and Customs
The Bridal Veil - Many believe that the wedding veil predates the wedding dress by centuries. One explanation is that it comes from the days when the groom would throw a blanket over the head of the woman he chose to be his wife! Another explanation is that the veil comes from arranged marriages where the bride's face was covered until the marriage ceremony was complete so the groom couldn't change his mind if he didn't think she was attractive. Traditionally, however, the bridal veil is a symbol of modesty, respect, and virginity.
The Bridal Bouquet - In ancient societies, it was believed that strong smelling herbs and spices would drive away evil spirits, bad luck, and ill health, so brides carried a bouquet of herbs and spices. Elizabethan brides carried such embellishments to mask body odor resulting from the lack of regular bathing habits, partly because of the belief that such cleansing rituals left the body more susceptible to diseases. During the Victorian era, bouquets were made of flowers so the bride and groom could send secret messages to each other through the meaning of the flowers they carried or wore.
The Wedding March - Traditional marriages feature two wedding marches. Richard Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" is traditionally played during the processional and Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March" is traditionally played during the recessional. This custom dates back to 1858 when Queen Victoria's daughter, the Princess of Great Britain, selected those two songs for her wedding.
The Wedding Cake - Ancient Romans baked a cake made of wheat and barley and broke it over the bride's head as a symbol of her fertility. It then became a tradition to place many cakes on top of each other to symbolize the wish for a fruitful union. As part of the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom kissed over the cakes. During the reign of King Charles II, it became tradition to turn cake into an edible part of the ceremony, adding sugared icing. It is interesting to note that in today's traditions, the wedding cake remains a symbol of fertility.
Related Tags: weddings, traditions, customs
Erin Sharplin Love is a Certified Fashion and Image Consultant and a Certified Wedding Coordinator who is the owner/founder of Panache by Erin. Panache by Erin is a business dedicated to enhancing its clients lives by providing services such as wardrobe consultation, closet rejuvenation, wedding coordinating, personal color analysis, personal shopping, etiquette training, and various home and office organization services. Panache by Erin also offers several different presentations to businesses, organizations, and "Girls Night Out" parties.
Erin received a Bachelor's Degree in General Business/English from Northeast Louisiana University and began working full time as the Corporate Secretary of Sharpco, Inc. Before long the fashion bug began to resurface in Erin's life and Panache was born. After several years of being in business, Erin realized that a certification in fashion and image consulting could be an asset to Panache, so she began to research different schools.
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