If you’ve been to more than one wedding in your lifetime — or watched any Hollywood adaptation — you’ve likely noticed some similarities. There’s the flower girl, the first dance, the wedding cake, and the send off. While each wedding has its own flavor, many weddings share similar elements that are handed down from generation to generation.
Weddings are all about traditions. But where did they come from? Keep reading to learn the history behind some of the most popular wedding traditions in the United States and what they actually mean.
Good Luck Objects
People have many superstitions about weddings. Some think it’s bad luck to see each other before the ceremony while others say rain on your wedding day is ironically good luck. Perhaps the most famous symbol of good luck on one’s wedding day stems from this Old English poem:
Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a sixpence in your shoe.
Dating back to the late 1800s, this poem is often considered to be the recipe for a successful marriage. Each line represents a different item that will bring good luck to the happy couple: something old from their life before marriage, something new to represent their new life together, something borrowed from another married woman to bring good luck, and something blue to represent love, purity, and fidelity. Many modern couples still practice this tradition today.
Garter Toss
The garter toss tradition dates back to Medieval times before the invention of pantyhose. Back in those days, women wore garters to hold up their stockings. Wedding guests believed it was good luck to take a piece of the bride’s dress home with them, often causing chaos during the celebration. By tossing the garter, a bride’s dress could remain intact while still imparting good luck on her guests. Whoever caught the garter was rumored to be the next in line for marriage.
Over time, the garter toss tradition has become slightly outdated as some couples find it overtly sensual for a family-friendly event.
Bouquet Toss
In a similar vein, many weddings feature a bouquet toss. This tradition originated in 19th century England. Back then, it was considered good luck to touch a bride on the wedding day. Single girls in particular would try to get close to the bride and take home a piece of her dress as a lucky charm. The bouquet toss tradition began as a way to appease wedding guests and share a piece of the bride’s attire without overcrowding or ripping her dress apart. Many people still associate the toss with good luck; rumor has it, the woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to get married.
First Look
Traditionally, it was believed to be bad luck for a bride and groom to see one another before their wedding ceremony. This belief stems from arranged marriages and the fear that an arranged couple would not want to get married if they saw each other first. Nowadays, the “first look” is a cherished moment between soon-to-be spouses (and a great photo opp!).
Father-Daughter Dance
The father-daughter dance likely originated around the same time as the first look. Back then, weddings focused on a father giving his daughter away in an arranged or socially advantageous marriage. The father-daughter dance was the last chance a father had to dance with his daughter before giving her away to her new husband.
These days, the father-daughter dance focuses less on the patriarchy and more on sentimentality. It’s a sweet moment to reflect on the relationship between a daughter and her dad. Today’s couples often choose to have a mother-son dance in addition to a father-daughter dance.
Wedding Party
The concept of bridesmaids and groomsmen originated more than two thousand years ago in ancient Rome. By law, marriage ceremonies required ten witnesses. These witnesses became the wedding party we love today!
Freezing the Wedding Cake
Another age-old wedding tradition involves freezing the top tier of one’s wedding cake. This tradition hails from the 19th century. Newlyweds would preserve their wedding cake until their first child’s christening as a harbinger of good luck. Today, couples may choose to freeze a portion of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary.
Unity Ceremony
A unity ceremony is a symbolic representation of two lives becoming one through marriage. This tradition stems from Christian and Catholic origin in the 1970 and 80s. During the wedding ceremony, couples use two taper candles to light a third candle (the unity candle) together.
Over time, sand ceremonies have become more popular due to safety reasons and practicality, as outdoor weddings can be windy and not conducive for candles. With a unity sand ceremony, couples use two different colors of sand to fill a vessel. The blended sand represents the merging of two lives through marriage and can be a beautiful keepsake after the wedding.
Whether you’re sticking with tradition or having a ceremony that’s entirely your own, Eventective is here to help. Use our wedding vendor directory to find your florist, wedding officiant, or venue for your special day.
Rachel Kauffman is a Detroit-based content writer, bookworm, and cat mom to two feisty felines.
