Weddings have not always been celebrations of love or massive celebrations with family and friends. Just as human culture and society have evolved, so too have marriage and wedding customs. In this article we’ll explore the history of one of mankind’s longest lasting institutions and some of the lasting traditions that have evolved out of it. Let’s jump take a quick look at the history of wedding traditions.
The Origins of Marriage
The first marriage on record was around 2350 BC. The main idea behind the original idea was to make sure that a woman became a man’s property and could only bear children within the marriage. If a woman was unable to bear children she would be ‘set free’ to allow the man to enter into another marriage. As you can imagine, the early form of marriage was not so much about love, but rather focused on upholding current social structures. Yup, weddings were pretty much just a physical transaction where the woman gave up her identity and free will to serve the needs of her husband.
You may be asking then. “So, in the past, did the woman have any choice in who she married?” In this case, it depended on the culture and region. In Ancient Egypt, the women were supposed to have equal rights as men, but whether this was just an idea or put into practice is debatable.
It was only in England during the Victorian Era, where the idea of mutual love between two partners became an aspect of the marriage contract.
History of Marriage Celebrations
During the 1500’s the Catholic church started to notice that a lot of marriages were taking place without any witnesses or authoritative presence. In 1563, the Council of Trent mandated that couples should have a priest conduct the wedding and that at least two other witnesses should be present during the ceremony.
The common definition of marriages today is that it is a loving relationship between two people that also involves certain physical and legal implications. So really, the only thing that’s really changed which is really the main ingredient in a modern day marriage is that the two people entering the marriage contract actually love each other.
Wedding Traditions and their Origins
Objections to the Marriage
You may have heard this question being asked by the wedding officiant: “Does anyone here object to this marriage?” In the past, travelling between towns wasn’t so easy so in the event that you did move away, moving back to your old town was an unlikely event. If you had a spouse that you left behind, it was easier to just get married again in the new location without first getting out of the previous arrangement.
It was therefore quite necessary to make sure that everyone in attendance of the wedding was cool with the current arrangement, and that there weren’t any objectioning family members, or people who had a chance to object.
In addition, there could have been people in the village who objected to the arrangement due to unfair dowry arrangements or other unfair dealings. Family members had this chance, or they were to “forever hold their peace.”
The Bridal Veil Tradition
Bridal veils are still common today, but back in the day they were particularly used for arranged marriages. Sometimes the bride and groom would see each other for the first time when the bride removed her veil during the ceremony. The idea was to prevent the groom from fleeing the altar if he did not like his bride’s appearance.
Who Popularized the White Wedding Dress?
Although many people believe that the white wedding dress is a symbol of purity and innocence, that’s not how the idea originated. White dresses were worn seldom during the Victorian Era because they often required higher quality material and were difficult to maintain. Queen Victoria decided to set the trend and wore the first white wedding dress.
Where did the Tradition of Having Bridesmaids Come From?
This may sound silly but the original intention of having bridesmaids was to confuse evil spirits and prevent them from stealing the bride. Nowadays, bridesmaids exist to wear beautiful dresses, hold bouquets of flowers and support their bestie on her special day.
The Tradition of the Wedding Cake
In Greek and Roman times the groom would break bread over the brides head as a symbol of her submission to him. It also was meant to symbolize the end of her innocence and bring good luck and fertility to the marriage. In the Middle Ages, stacked wedding cakes were a trend. Couples would attempt to kiss over the top without knocking the cake over. If they were successful, it was a sign of good fortune. The English took this tradition to a whole different level, postulating that throwing cake at the bride would increase her chances of bearing children.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, as sugar became more affordable, adding icing to the wedding cake was an extra treat and a sign of affluence. The cake cutting ceremony, where the groom helps the bride cut the cake, is a demonstration of how he will take care of her in the marriage. Similarly, feeding the bride is another tradition that shows mutual trust and care.
Origins of the Bouquet Toss
Flowers have also been an important feature of weddings since Roman times. Either worn as garlands, or arranged in bouquets around the venue, flowers serve as beautiful natural decorations and are symbols of purity and joy.
Beginning in the 14th century, this is one of the most beloved traditions – especially for the young single girls. It’s believed that the one to catch the bouquet is the next one in line to marry.
By now you should be better informed on the the history of wedding traditions and are inspired to keep them going!
– Bernard Paul