Wedding Traditions

Is symbolic of borrowing past ideas for married bliss, and the borrowing of an item is said to rub off on others; "Something Blue", Blue symbolizes purity, fidelity and love. "A lucky sixpence for your shoe", the charm is for good fortune and prosperity.

The White Wedding

White has been a symbol of celebration since Roman times. In other cultures such as Asian cultures, red is the traditional color because it symbolizes joy. White in our culture has also come to be synonymous with purity and joy. This is why it has become a favorite color of brides.

Rice symbolizes, wealth, fertility or bounty depending on which culture you choose to look at. The tossing of rice, birdseed or confetti is used to wish the newly married couple a large harvest, abundance in life or many children. Today many churches do not allow the throwing of these materials for safety or environmental reasons. A new tradition has begun to emerge, that of blowing bubbles instead.

Originating during the time of the Romans, the kiss was used to bind a legal agreement. In the agreement of marriage, it was also believed that when two people kissed a part of their soul was left in one another with the exchange of breath.  Later this was also adapted in Christian ceremonies, a kiss  marked the union of man and wife.   The kiss, occurring at the end of a ceremony is an announcement of the status of the newly formed couple and their public commitment to one another.

Originally the bouquet was given by the bride to one of her friends for good luck or protection. It has come to signify the transfer of  luck in marriage or luck in being the next to marry.  It is tossed on the departure of the bride and groom at the end of the wedding celebration. It marks the transition from being a single woman to being part of a couple. The woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry.

The first wedding bouquets carried were not of  flowers but of herbs. The aroma of the herbs were thought to ward off evil spirits. Each herb signified a different meaning. Rosemary signified remembrance. Other herbs such as dill were included to evoke lust and were meant to be eaten by the bride. Later flowers were added to the bouquets,  like the herbs each flower had a special meaning or significance.

For centuries the wedding or engagement ring has graced the second finger of the left hand. This tradition goes all the way back to the time of the Egyptians. They believed that a vein ran directly from the 2^nd finger to the heart.

The lighting of  the unity candle symbolizes the merging of two lives into one. In some ceremonies the lighting of the unity candle will also incorporate the families of the bride and groom. There it symbolizes the joining together of two families, as well as the union of the couple, in a marriage. It marks the transfer of commitment from their families to the new commitment in establishing their own family in their life together.

Favors are thank you gifts to each guest for sharing your special  day. It is a way of giving each guest a share of the couples' good fortune.  Suitable wedding favors vary from culture to culture and with the means of the bride and her family. Commonly accepted favors are small frames, sugar coated almonds, candies, specially made cookies, porcelain boxes or tulle bags with small keepsakes.

Jordan Almonds

For Italian weddings five almonds tucked into boxes or tulle bags are called bombonieres. The five almonds signify five wishes for the bride and groom: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity.

At traditional Greek weddings, koufettas, odd numbered sugarcoated almonds are placed in bags and served on silver trays.  Odd numbers are indivisible, this signifies how newlyweds will share everything and remain undivided.

Jumping the Broom

Jumping the broom originated during the time of slavery in the United States.  Slaves, not having rights as citizens, were denied the legal or religious rite of marriage. The tradition of jumping the broom was the slaves' way to recognize the commitment of marriage.   It was a commonly accepted by both the slaves and the slave owners, who would sometimes participate in this celebration. Jumping the broom signified leaving single life and the transition into a new life together.

The Jewish Ketubah, the Hebrew marriage contract and cherished art form, the Ketubah is required for a valid Jewish marriage. Designs range from images that reflect a couple’s interests to religious symbols or depictions of Jerusalem. While the text originally detailed what the groom provided for the bride, many couples today opt for a Ketubah that pledges equality in marriage.

Jewish couples stand under an ornamental canopy of flowers,  hand painted fabric , or embroidered silk cloth to symbolize the nomadic tents of Israel and the new home they will share.