I wanted to do a little series of posts that give an insight into wedding etiquette – not rules that are laid down in stone, but just guide lines that help move and plan the big occasion along. Use as much or as little of them as you like. At the end of the day, it is YOUR wedding day, so you should be able to do what ever you like.

HOW TO… ADAPT WEDDING CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

Weddings are steeped with many customs and traditions, some of which you’ll never think of including on your wedding day, such as throwing food instead of confetti or allowing guest into the honeymoon suite with for you for the wedding night! However, there are many others and it would be a shame not to include some of them, as they add that sense of occasion to such a wonderful day – such as wearing a white dress, or throwing the bridal bouquet. It is good to know why these traditions exist before you decide which one you will and will not use on your big day.

UNDERSTANDING THE BACKGROUND OF WEDDING TRADITIONS

Most wedding traditions date back hundreds of years or can be found in ancient superstitions. They were mainly thought of to drive away evil spirits that may hinder the actual wedding day. Noise was thought of a good way to fend them off – that’s why we get noisy Stag and Hen Parties, ringing the church bells, etc.

Bridesmaids and Ushers were introduced to confuse the evil spirits by dressing them in similar outfits to the bride and groom, so that they would not be able to tell who were the happy couple and who were the attendants. The bride would wear a veil to protect her from the evil eye. Horseshoes still represent good luck which may be due to their moon-like shape, which is said to represent fertility and the silver colour was once thought to deter witches.

The wedding cake is immersed in tradition. It is reportedly unlucky for the bride to bake her own cake, which is good for those who are not domestic goddesses. The fruit in a traditional wedding cake, once again represents fertility and is supposed to bring good luck to all those who eat it. The throwing of rice, or more  like confetti now days, is, yes, you have guessed it, once again linked to fertility. I suppose it is better to be hit on the head with some rice or confetti than being pelted with food, which was the case many years ago. However, it would make some great wedding photos!

Last but no means least, throwing of the bouquet. Which ever female wedding guest catches the bouquet is said to be the next to get married. This derives from when guests would follow the bride and groom to their bridal chamber and the bride would throw her stocking or shoe over her shoulder. Now that’s a tradition which is thankfully no longer continued!

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