4 Wedding Traditions and Where They Come From

Wedding traditions play a vital part in how we plan out our events today, so where did they come from, and why are they still around? Here’s a look into 4 major wedding traditions and where they came from.

#1: Wedding Veils

This tradition trails back to when arranged marriages were popular. Traditionally, the groom’s family would prevent him from seeing the bride he would be marrying up until she walked down the aisle for their ceremony. The veil was used to conceal the bride’s face up until the very moment in which they were to seal their union with a kiss!

Another way the veil was used was to ward off or hide the bride from any evil spirits that would try to interfere or prevent the brides happiness on her wedding day.

Today, the veil is used more as an accessory to the bride’s dress, and usually matches the fabric or style of the dress she is wearing.

Source: https://www.brides.com/story/wedding-traditions-debunked-the-veil

#2: Bridesmaids

While todays bridesmaids play the role of helping your best friend to the toilet in a big, poofy dress, the tradition of having bridesmaids was also to protect the bride from evil spirits.

Bridesmaids would wear very similar (if not identical) dresses and veils to the bride, often in white, to look just like her. In many cultures, it was common for a bride to give her groom dowry money from her family, gifts, etc., so this was used as a way to confuse evil spirits or robbers from knowing who the real bride was, and ensured that her soon to be husband received his gifts.

Source: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-ideas/history-of-bridesmaids

#3: Wedding Cake

This tradition likely started in Ancient Rome, and usually took place at the end of a wedding ceremony. Wheat or barley cakes would be broken over a bride and grooms head to bring good luck and fertility their way. The newly married couple would eat some of the crumbs left behind as one of their first unified acts together, and guests would follow suit and eat any leftover crumbs.

By medieval times, this tradition evolved into stacking treats like scones, pastries, and cookies as high as they could go. Then, the bride and groom would try to kiss over the tower of desserts. If the bride and groom were successful with their kiss without knocking the tower over, it was believed that they would have good luck and good fortune!

It is believed that the tiered cake got its start in the 18th century when an apprentice of a London baker fell in love with his boss’ daughter. He wanted to wow and impress her with an elaborate cake when he proposed to her. The tiered cake seemed to stick around for a long while after that, even up until today when the possibilities are endless. Nowadays, dessert bars, mini pies, cupcakes, and cheesecakes are all a possibility; basically anything goes in todays trends for wedding desserts!

Source: https://www.rd.com/article/history-of-wedding-cakes/

#4: White Wedding Dresses

White wedding dresses became a cultural phenomenon when Queen Victoria of England got married to Prince Albert in 1840. Their wedding was one of the first publicized weddings in the era, attracting lots of media attention, therefore making it widespread.

Queen Victoria had an 8 piece bodice, deep v waistline, and had a floor length skirt and train that was over 6 yards (18 feet!) long that required 12 attendants to carry the train of the dress as she walked down the aisle.

During this time in England, there was a growing middle class who sought to show their means of wealth by recreating trends, such as the white gown that Queen Victoria wore to marry her Prince. In the early 20th century, the white dress became a status symbol of brides during this time period, signifying wealth as the use of synthetic fibers became more used.

While some brides today may go for an off white, blush, or even a black dress, the white wedding dress remains timeless and constant in the world of bridal fashion. Wedding Wire reports that about 85% of brides will be sporting a white dress on their wedding day.

Source: https://historyofyesterday.com/a-brief-history-of-the-white-wedding-dress-80ac81b1a113

Despite where wedding traditions come from, they are often still used in today’s weddings. These traditions stay timeless, while still allowing modern brides to bend and use the tradition in the way they see fit, whether it be a beautiful veil as an accessory, or a dessert bar for their guests to chow down on at their reception. What traditions will you be having at your wedding?

Emma & Billy Schwartz

We are the next generation of media creators bringing cinematic videos and true to life photos to your wedding day. We capture moments in order to relive them. Coming from a wedding planning background, Emma’s expertise in the wedding planning process helps to guide couples through wedding day.

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