Wedding Traditions

Wedding Traditions - Melanie Jayne
The old wedding poem!
Something old,
something new,
something borrowed,
something blue
and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

What does it represent?
Something old - Symbolises continuity with the bride's family and the past.
Something new - means optimism and hope for her new life ahead.
Something borrowed is usually an item from a happily married friend or relative who’s good fortune will carry over to the bride, and reminds the brides that she can depend on her friends & family.
Something blue - symbolises love, modesty & fidelity.
Before the late 19th Century, blue was the popular colour for the bridal dress. In early Biblical times, blue (not white) symbolised purity. Both the bride and groom usually wore a band of blue material around the bottom of their wedding attire, hence the tradition of “something blue”.
A silver sixpence in her shoe - represents wealth & prosperity.

The Wearing of the White Wedding Dress.
The white wedding dress came into fashion when Queen Victoria married in 1840.

After Queen Victoria's and Prince Albert's wedding, the colour white resembled wealth and social status.

Because of the limitations of laundering techniques before the later part of the 20th century, white dresses provided an opportunity for conspicuous consumption. White wedding dresses favoured primarily as a way to show the world that the bride's family was so wealthy and so firmly part of the leisure class that the bride would choose an elaborate dress that could be ruined by any sort of work or spill.

The Bridal Veil
 Tradition says that the groom marries the bride with the veil on to symbolise that beauty may fade but love is eternal.

In some cultures throughout history, a wedding veil protected a bride from being seen by other men who might steal her away before the wedding could take place.
Modern veils are used to accent a gown and add to a bride's beauty.

The Bridal Garter
The garter is normally worn on the right leg, 10cm above the knee. 
The wedding garter tradition dates back to around the 14th century.
Guests believed that having a piece of the brides clothing brought good luck.
For hundreds of years, brides have worn decorative bridal garters under their wedding dresses.
Modern tradition, the bride wears two garters, one as a keepsake garter and the other as the throw away garter.

 

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