Wedding Traditions
Wedding Bells
The tradition of ringing the church bells as the couple emerge from the church after the ceremony is to ensure their good future. The sound of the bells is supposed to drive away evil spirits. The sound of the bells is supposed to always remind the couple of their vows.The Guest Book
In ancient times, the guest book was a necessity and everyone who attended a wedding was considered a witness. They were required to sign the marriage document. Today for the wedding couple, the guest book is a wonderful remembrance of those who attended their wedding.Horseshoe
A horseshoe is a lucky symbol. The U shape will hold good luck inside forever. The tradition may stem from the 10th century saint Dunstan. It is said that he trapped the devil using a horseshoe and from that point on the devil would never enter a Christian home adorned with a horseshoe over the door. A horseshoe symbolises good luck, power of good over evil, good fortune and fertility.Black Cat
It is good luck for the bride to cross paths with a black cat on her way to the church to get married.Chimney Sweep
A chimney sweep is a sign of good luck, wealth and happiness. There are two legends why a chimney sweep is lucky for a bride on her wedding day. One legend is King George II was in his carriage when his horses started running. The only person who attempted to stop the un-manned carriage was a small soot covered chimney sweep.Another story is of a chimney sweep who lost his footing, fell from the roof and was hanging from the gutter. A young lady reached through the window and rescued him. They fell in love and married.
The Dorothy Bag
The Dolly bag originally called the Dorothy bag was carried by the bridesmaid to carry the confetti in. Throwing confetti is probably a relic of former fertility rites. Variations occur throughout the world, flowers, petals, grain, cakes, sugar almonds and rice are all used. The modern use of the dolly bag is as a convenient wedding accessory for carrying some of the bride or bridesmaids personal effects.Wedding Garters
Garters were originally used to hold up stockings and are still regarded by many brides as an essential wedding accessory. Wearing something blue often takes the form of a wedding garter incorporating a blue bow or a small blue bow stiched into the lining of a wedding gown. The significance of the colour blue is that it represents constancy and loyalty and from biblical times a symbol of purity. The associations have been absorbed into folk wisdom and passed on in the form of rhyme...Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue,
and a silver sixpence for her shoe.
Silver Sixpence
The sixpence, an English coin first minted in the reign of Edward VI (1551), has been associated with weddings since the reign of Elizabeth I. In those times the Lord of the Manor where the bride lived would often present a sixpence as a wedding gift.As time passed the tradition changed and the custom evolved to that of giving a silver sixpence as a lucky charm to bring wealth and happiness to the married couple.