Marriage Traditions in
America
Marriage Traditions Across the US
Getting Ready for the Big Day!
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Today brides typically pick out a white wedding dress for their ceremony but before the mid-1800s this wasn't the most popular choice. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840 she chose to wear a white dress instead of the popular choice of a red wedding dress. Obviously, Queen Victoria was a trendsetter because the majority of wedding gown sold today are white.
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Wearing veils are also a tradition for brides which has shifted in meaning over the years but the custom originated in Ancient Rome. The Romans believed that evil spirits would be jealous of the brides happiness, so the veil was worn over the brides face to disguise her from the evil spirits and to deflect any ill-will these evil spirits might bring to the bride.
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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue are all types of items many brides chose to incorporate into their look for the wedding. Something old is supposed to be a representation of the brides past. Something new is supposed to symbolize the couples future together and their happiness. Something borrowed is supposed to come from a happily married person, the idea is that they will get some of their good luck from the item. Something blue is supposed to represent fidelity and love.
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Wedding Ceremony Traditions
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Carrying a bouquet down the aisle is an old tradition that has evolved from Ancient Greece. A traditional Ancient Greek Bride would carry herbs and spices, instead of flowers, to ward off evil spirits during the ceremony. This bouquet was thought to have magical powers. Now brides have shifted to carrying flowers in place of the herbs and spices.
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Traditionally, the bride's father walks her down the aisle to honor him in more modern times. But before the time when people were able to pick their own spouses. When arranged marriages were more common the father was seen as giving away the bride and transferring ownership of his daughter to her new husband.
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Throwing things at the bride and groom at the end of the ceremony has been a tradition for a very long time.
Ancient Romans would throw wheat at the couple to symbolize fertility. From 1100 to 1453, wheat was replaced by rice and was considered a symbol of fruitfulness. Couples today have guests throw a large variety of things, like flower petals, confetti, or bird seed, that don’t really symbolize anything but are fun! Some people even blow bubbles or light sparklers for the couples exit from the ceremony.
Reception Traditions
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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert set more than one trend into motion with their 1840 wedding. They chose to put miniature figurines of themselves on top of their cake. It caught on and made its way to the US in the 1920s where figurines of a couple on top of the cake came to symbolize marital stability. Today cake toppers have become more personalized and make the cake extra special for the bride and groom.
Traditionally people wanted a piece of the brides outfit to share in her good luck, they would take jewelry or even a piece of her dress. Throwing her bouquet started as a way to distract people from grabbing pieces of the brides outfit but now it has become a fun way to predict who might get married next.
Traditions after the Day
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Many husbands carry their new wives across the threshold of their new homes. This may seem like a fun tradition but it is actually rooted in an old superstition that evil spirits could enter through a brides feet and them be carried over into the home. Some people also believed it was rude for the bride to be to excited to leave her father's home, so the groom would pick her up to force her across the threshold of their new home.
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Writing thank you notes to guests is a very old tradition, that originates in Ancient China and Egypt. Letters were written to guests to signify friendship and good luck on papyrus. This tradition has spread around the world and is very customary in many countries. American's are just another group of people that want to make sure their guests know they are grateful for their time and gifts.
