Wedding traditions are culturally rooted events that are both sentimental and nostalgic. The wedding tradition of giving a “something old, something new…” has been around since the 1800s. Today, this tradition is often symbolised by the bride’s garter being decorated with ribbons from her bouquet. The “something old” could be a family heirloom or antique that is passed down through generations. The “something new” would be something that was recently purchased or created by the bride-to-be. The “something borrowed” could be a beautiful necklace or even the dress itself!
There are countless traditions that are considered to be wedding customs. Unfortunately, not all of these traditions are practiced around the world, which has made it difficult for people to understand each other’s cultures. We can say that many of these wedding traditions originated from ancient times and they were often associated with fertility, nuptial rites or celebrations that mark the passage into adulthood.
Many people may not think of traditional wedding customs as something to be considered but it is important to know what they are for the sake of cultural understanding. It is important to know the cultural significance behind traditional wedding customs because they can be different depending on where you are in the world. If you are planning to marry abroad, for example, you should check what the local traditions are. It doesn’t mean you have to do them, but you should certainly respect them and ensure you don’t offend anyone.
Some examples of traditional wedding customs are the colours worn, the style of dress, and what food is served.
Some cultures have very interesting traditions connected to weddings, such as palm reading or animal sacrifices. Lets hope that the latter isn’t part of any weddings these days!
This is not an exhaustive list of traditional wedding customs, but these are the most common ones for traditional church weddings.
– The bride’s parents usually give her away.
– The father of the groom walks his daughter down the aisle to meet her groom.
– Two witnesses are needed to sign the marriage license
– A wedding procession that includes music and flowers is typical.
– They exchange vows in a ceremony that can last up to one hour in length (sometimes even longer).
– There can be a reception after the ceremony at which people socialise and enjoy food and drink with their guests.