Weddings are full of traditions but where did those traditions originate from:
engagement and wedding rings are worn on the 4th finger of the left hand because it was thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart (romantic but ill-informed about the circulatory system)
bridesmaids would be dressed like the bride to confuse rival suitors, evil spirits and robbers
the wedding kiss was because in Ancient Rome a kiss was a legal bond that sealed contracts and marriage was seen as a contract
in the 1500s people married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor (I married in June)
the wedding shower originated with a Dutch maiden who fell in love with an impoverished miller. Her friends "showered" her and her groom with many gifts so the couple could do without her dowry
the custom of a tiered wedding cake came from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over
Queen Victoria started the Western world's white wedding dress trend in 1840 - before then, brides simply wore their best dress
the bride stands to the groom's left during a Christian ceremony because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors (what a man!)
ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits
a tradition that springs from Anglo-Saxon England is where the groom would take along his most trusted and strongest friend (his ‘best’ man) to help him fight any resistance from the bride’s family. The man would also walk up the aisle with the groom and stand by to ensure the bride could be properly defended during the ceremony.
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