The origins and meaning behind some of our most cherished wedding traditions may surprise you. The root of the word “wedding” literally means to gamble or wager! SAFindit has gathered some of the more common beliefs behind nuptial traditions.

The origin of the engagement

The engagement is a means to an end - marriage. Indeed, the full term is "engaged to be married." At one time, however, the engagement was as important as the wedding itself. Anglo-Saxons were used to stealing away their brides-to-be. Romance, wooing and engagements were not in the picture. But the families of the women insisted on being reimbursed for what was, after all, a working member of the family. The engagement itself signified the intended transfer of ownership from father to husband and also provided a period during which the "bride's price" could be agreed upon.

Several centuries later the situation was in reverse and fathers were paying future sons-in-law, or their families, a “dowry” to marry off their daughters. The engagement was again a time for agreeing on the payment, or dowry, and also a time for collecting an extravagant trousseau, at least for rich brides.

The origin of the engagement

The truth or promise ring is older than the wedding band. Its earliest form was probably plaited sweet grass, which came from the custom of securing the bride’s wrists and ankles with rushes during the age of marriage by capture. When restraint became more symbolical than physical, a grass ring was given to her, succeeded by rings of metal as man became more accomplished in the crafts. The Romans and Egyptians, with their love of precious metal and stones, initiated the production of platinum, silver and gold rings. In early Rome, a gold band came to symbolise everlasting love and commitment in marriage.

The origin of the diamond engagement ring

The Wedding Tradition of the diamond engagement ring comes from the 15th century Venetians. The diamond was called the Venus stone, comparing its shining beauty with the planet Venus in the evening sky. Like this goddess, who was dedicated to love, the diamond in time became associated with sweethearts, and its mysterious inner fire was likened to the equally mysterious fires of passion. The Greeks called it “adamas” - eternal or unchanging, possibly as a declaration as to the depths of their emotions, but more probably the ancient name came from the character of the stone, the hardest substance in nature.

Today, when many wedding traditions are toppling, the diamond ring wedding tradition is stronger than ever. For four out of five engaged couples, the individual expression of their love is still captured in that tiny, sparkling gem.

The origin of the engagement party

Once marked by a party called a “flouncing”, the couple met with their future in-laws to make the engagement official. Both parties to the engagement could not be seen talking to another man or woman after this point and should the engagement be broken, the one breaking it forfeited half of his or her worldly goods.

The origin of the wedding ring

Before coinage, gold rings were circulated as currency. By giving a gold ring to his bride, a man showed he trusted her with his property. Under Roman law, the ring was a sign of security, protecting the interests of the bride-to-be. In Elizabethan times, an interlocking set of three rings was used and worn during the engagement period by the bride, the groom and the witness at the wedding. The three rings would be placed on the bride's finger during the wedding ceremony. Diamond rings became popular in the 19th century.

The wedding ring has been worn on the third finger of the left hand since Roman times. The Romans believed that the vein in that finger runs directly to the heart. The wedding ring is a neverending circle, which symbolises everlasting love.

The origin of the term “wedding”

Although some brides were kidnapped, marriage by purchase was the preferred method of obtaining a wife. The “bride price” could be land, social status, political alliances, or cash. The Anglo-Saxon word “wed” meant that the groom would vow to marry the woman, but it also referred to the bride price (money or barter) to be paid by the groom to the bride's father. The root of the word “wedding” literally means to gamble or wager!

Surnames

It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarized in the following rhyme:

To change the name and not the letter
is to change for the worst and not the better

The bride should not practise writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate.

Choosing the day

Although most weddings now take place on a Saturday it was considered unlucky in the past. Fridays were also considered unlucky particularly Friday the 13th. The famous old rhyme advises a wedding in the first half of the week:

Monday for wealth
Tuesday for health
Wednesday the best day of all
Thursday for losses
Friday for crosses
Saturday for no luck at all

Something old, something new . . .

Something old, something new
something borrowed, something blue
and a silver sixpence in your shoe

The rhyme originated in Victorian times although some of the customs referred to in it is much older.

The “something old” represents the couple’s friends who will hopefully remain close during the marriage. Traditionally this was old garter which was given to the bride by a happily married woman in the hope that her happiness in marriage would be passed on to the new bride.

“Something new” symbolises the newlyweds' happy and prosperous future.

The “something borrowed” is often lent by the bride's family and is an item much valued by the family. The bride must return the item to ensure good luck.

“Something blue”
In early Biblical times, blue not white symbolised purity. Both the bride and groom usually wore a band of blue material around the bottom of their wedding attire, hence the wedding tradition of “something blue”.

The blue garter
We all know that something blue is lucky for the bride, but why a blue garter? This seems to stem from the noble Order of the Garter, the oldest order of knighthood in Europe. Its regalia include a collar, a star and an actual blue velvet garter. Since queens and princesses are the only women invested with the Order, and a bride is a "queen for the day", she may enjoy royal prerogatives by wearing a blue garter below her left knee.

The garter and bridal bouquet toss

Guests invaded the bridal chamber and threw the bride and groom's stockings. The one whose throw landed on the bride or groom's nose was the next to marry. It was customary in the 14th century for the bride to toss her garter to the men. Sometimes the men would get drunk, become impatient, and try to remove the garter ahead of time. Therefore, the custom evolved for the groom to remove and toss the garter. By the end of the14th century, the groom was throwing the bride's garter to prevent their being rushed at the altar. With that change the bride started to toss the bridal bouquet to the unwed girls of marriageable age.

Why it became bad luck for the Groom to see the Bride before the ceremony:

Until relatively recently, brides were considered the property of their father. Their futures and husbands were arranged without their consent. The marriage of an unattractive woman was often arranged with a prospective groom from another town without either of them having ever seen their prospective spouse. In more than one instance, when the groom saw his future wife, usually dressed in white, for the first time on the day of the wedding, he changed his mind and left the bride at the altar. To prevent this from happening, it became “bad luck” for the groom to see the bride on the day of the wedding prior to the ceremony.

The wedding dress

It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress. It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress until she arrives at the ceremony. The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.

The veil

Traditionally, brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits and many of the customs and traditions associated with weddings are to provide protection. The veil was originally worn by Roman brides. The bridal veil has long been a symbol of youth, modesty, and virginity and was used to ward off evil.

The veil became popular in Britain in the eighteen hundreds. In this country it is associated with modesty and chastity.

In some Eastern ceremonies the bride is veiled and the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until after the wedding ceremony.

In some Jewish weddings there is a ritual where the groom ensures that the bride is his intended before placing the veil over her face.

The wedding veil symbolises modesty, privacy, youth, and virginity. That way of thinking still has a foothold on bridal etiquette, as only a first-time bride wears a veil.