While becoming so engrossed in all the little odds and ends that make a wedding and marriage become exactly that, I stopped to think how, why, and when did these symbols become what they mean to us now? Really, who thought to put bands on a finger and say that symbolizes that you’re married? Why does a bride carry a bouquet and wear a veil? And who said “Yes, bridesmaids! You will all wear the same dress in the same color and stand by me at the alter”! Well keep reading and I’ll explain. :)
In my personal opinion I feel that the biggest, most common symbol of a marriage is the couple’s wedding bands. It’s said we can thank the Egyptians for that. Wedding bands are shaped as a circle symbolizing eternity, a shape with no beginning or end -- how sweet! Though it is becoming more popular to have different colored gems on the rings, the diamond is the most common because of it’s representation of strength. So who convinced our manly-men of America to sport a ring on their finger? Your answer: World War II. Women and MEN began wearing it for comfort and as a reminder their loved one thought of them often while being away.
I really think Kevin of Twigs and Branches Floral would be disgusted if I told him I wanted a garlic and dill bouquet – how pretty would that smell?! Sense my sarcasm… Believe it or not that’s what brides used to carry down the isle! They say this was brought on during the time of the Plague when people used these herbs as an effort to survive. It caught on to becoming a tradition for a bride. Much like the fact a veil used to be worn for protection against evil spirits. Now that we are in more modern times, the bouquet and veil are used more as finishing accessories to the brides look.
You know how they say the bride is supposed to be the only one in a white dress on her wedding day? Well back in the earliest traditions the brides used to dress her bridesmaids in the same dress she wore! Once again reverting back to fighting off evil spirits, they thought to dress the bridesmaids as decoys to protect the bride. These Victorians were really superstitious huh?
Well that wraps up our little history lesson for the day! Hope you enjoyed!
-Nicole H
