Wedding Month Whimsy – Bridal Traditions — Dave Ettl

June is “wedding month” or as father’s of the bride have been known to call it – financial Armageddon!  Who came up with the concept of the bride’s father paying for the wedding anyway?  That’s just one of many wedding rituals families will be pondering for the next 4 weeks. 

Theknot.com, a wedding-planning web site, says some customs date back to early civilization. Case in point, the traditional white color of the wedding gown, which remains the standard to this day because originally in ancient Roman times white was a color of celebration.

"The Knot Guide to Wedding Vows and Traditions" might be a pretty good place to start to find answers to many of today’s wedding traditions.

Carrying the bride over the threshold
An ancient superstition held that evil spirits collected on the threshold of the new home waiting to invade the bride through the soles of her feet, a disaster that could be avoided if she entered in her husband's arms.  Now we know there are many other ways those rascals can and do get it!

The bride's veil
The centuries-old practice of hiding the bride's face was intended to preserver her modesty. Romans covered the bride in yellow cloth. Of course back then modesty was a little different than what passes for modesty in the time of Miley Cyrus and Kim Kardashian!

Groomsmen
These friends of the groom have been present at weddings since ancient times, when brides were often captured by force and the new husband needed allies to help him fend off her family.  I got nuthin’.

The bridal train
The long trailing train on gowns dates back to the Middle Ages when the higher the bride's social standing, the longer the material she dragged down the aisle.  Big train = Big dowry = big deal!

Throwing rice
Grains were thought in ancient times to symbolize fertility, so scattering them over the bridal couple ensured they'd have many children. Now the rice is collected and served with beans as part of the Dave Ramsey Money Makeover first baby step!

 Tossing the bouquet
Centuries ago, wedding guests would tear at the bride's flowers and clothes to share her happiness, so the bride tossed her bouquet to ensure she got away in one piece.  C’mon, that sounds more like the bachelor party doesn’t it?