Have you ever wondered where some of the popular wedding traditions come from? We are here to enlighten you with the history and reasons behind some of them. Whether its pre wedding traditions, those that take place on the day, or those that occur after, we take a look at some of the more popular ones.

Pre-wedding traditions

Getting down onto one knee to propose

It’s not exactly known why the groom gets down on one knee to propose but there are some theories. The act of getting down on one knee is called genuflection. It comes from the Middle Ages when a man would kneel before the woman that he adored. It’s a sign of respect, loyalty and obedience. Now it’s more of a romantic gesture that has become a symbol of proposing.

Where do stag parties come from? 

The first stag parties emerged in the 19th century in Sparta, Greece with feasts to toast the groom and signify the end of youth. Hen parties are also thought to have originated in Ancient Greece. 

Why don’t the bride and groom see each other the night before?

This dates back to when marriages were arranged. The bride and groom would not actually allowed to meet each other until the ceremony. Now it is thought to make the moment of seeing each other as the bride walks down the aisle even more special. Some say it is bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other, having become more of a superstition than a tradition.

Wedding day traditions

Then there are those traditions that occur on the day itself:

Why does the bride stand on the left of the groom?

Another tradition from the Middle Ages when the groom had to have his sword arm open in case of combat and to protect his bride. Although this isn’t something we have to be concerned with nowadays, it is one of those traditions that has stuck through the years.

First dance

In more recent times, at a formal event like a ball, the guest of honour would always open the event with a first dance. At a wedding the guest of honour happens to be the bride and groom. It is also said that in times previous to this, the groom would ‘steal’ his bride and show her off by dancing around the fire before the celebrations. Then came the era when the bride would be bought from their father and the first dance would be a kind of fertility ritual. Nowadays it’s a modern and romantic way for the couple to start the evening. 

After the wedding

Once the big day is over, there are still some traditions to be observed:

The honeymoon

Why do the bride and groom have a honeymoon? As with many traditions there are a few stories and legends which date back many hundreds of years.

To explain, you have to split the name down into two parts – honey and moon. Honey symbolises the sweetness of marriage. It was a custom to supply the happy couple with mead, an alcoholic liquor which is made from fermented honey and water. The moon part refers to the monthly cycle – the period following marriage where all is lovely and wonderful. Not all moons thereafter are known to be as good as the honeymoon period.

Carrying the bride over the threshold

This tradition came to pass when a bride was carried into the home to protect her from any evil spirits that might be lurking. It is said that the soles of her feet were at greatest risk of evil. 

New traditions emerging 

Not all traditions have to stay the same and new ones are created all the time. couples around the world are creating new traditions including:

Micro weddings

I guess in part, we have the pandemic to thank for the micro wedding where we were restricted to a maximum of 30 guests forcing the bride and groom to cut back dramatically on their guest list. This lead to the realisation that you don’t actually need to have a huge, lavish ceremony with a room full of distant relatives and acquaintances. 

Instead the money can be spent on a more lavish venue, a more exotic destination or a more exclusive honeymoon and a wedding with a more relaxed and intimate vibe. 

Sustainable weddings 

Traditional weddings are not always the most eco-friendly occasion- single use flowers, favours, confetti, dresses worn once… 

Thanks to modern day sustainability measures brides can now sell their wedding dresses on or donate them to be worn again, flowers can be donated and favours such as flower seed bbs make a much more environmentally friendly choice.  

Of course, like any tradition, you don’t have to actually observe them – they aren’t laws or rules – just years worth of history and folklore which have become part of modern day life. Why not start your own tradition? Many couples do. One tradition that you can count on at Salters of Rugby though is our range of quality suits for the groom and groomsmen.