7 Wedding Traditions That Will Never Fade

The ability to design and plan your own wedding just the way you like it has made twenty-first century weddings some of the most innovative and personal in history.
Aside from loving your other half forever and always, there are a few other wedding traditions which are consistent across all weddings, no matter what creative decisions you make.

Here are our top 7 wedding traditions:

1. The Bouquet
An aspect of the wedding which will get your creativity fired up – the bouquet is such a personal and significant choice.
Historically and across cultures brides have always worn or carried flowers on the big day. The meaning is commonly to ward away any evil and to symbolise fertility, but aside from that they always look beautiful.
You can suit your bouquet to whatever wedding style you opt for and keep them meaningful. Your choices are endless, from lilies to roses to paper or fabric flowers – no wonder they are still (and always will be) a must-have.

2. The Dress
This seems like an obvious one but the history behind the dress is fascinating. Anne of Brittany started the white wedding dress trend in 1499 – before then brides wore brightly coloured dresses. Queen Victoria then made the tradition popular in Britain when she wore a white dress on her wedding day.
While some believe the colour white to symbolise purity, it is more likely to mean joy. Even if you’re opting for a colourful dress for the big day, it still follows the custom that came in the early 15th Century and before.

3. Dressing Up The Loved Ones
Bridesmaids comes from the ancient Roman law which required 10 witnesses for a wedding. These bridesmaids and groomsmen dressed identically to the bride and groom in order to confuse any nasty spirits who might try to harm the newly wedded couple.
Nowadays dressing your bridesmaids and groomsmen is often used as a way of sharing the wedding experience with close family members and friends – either way it’s a fun tradition and one that will last as long as the closest of friendships (aka forever!).

4. The Rings
Perhaps the most iconic item of the whole wedding, rings have always been an icon for eternal love. Firsts exchanged at weddings in Roman times, they used to be made from iron. No matter what material, style or value you opt for, the symbol of loving one another forever is still there.
There’s nothing more sentimental than the moment the rings are exchanged and as long as people wear them, they’ll be exchanged at weddings!

5. The Cake
Yes they come in all shapes, sizes and tastes but the aspect of having a cake is a tradition that is here to stay.
Since Ancient Greek times the cake has been cut by the bride and groom and today it’s the classic photo moment. Don’t be afraid to break the rules though – couples have been known to opt for other sweet desserts, but they always maintain the cake-cutting tradition.
Whether you want a tiered and traditional white cake or some cute little cupcakes, there principle remains.

6. Confetti
Showering the bride and groom with confetti started with the ancient Pagans showering couples with grain to symbolise a fruitful union. In some European countries, eggs are thrown instead of confetti – not the most pleasant for the bride and groom! While confetti is a lot more colourful and practical, the historical representation of the grain is a loving sign from friends and family of their support.

7. Decorating The Car
Whether you’ve splashed out for a fancy wedding car or are keeping it simple, decorating the car is a tradition. The colours even have symbolic meanings – blue means constancy, yellow means joy and green means youth.

By Jessikah Hope Stenson, Excalibur Press
The North-West Brides & Ulster Herald Bridal Fair will take place on Sunday January 22 at the Omagh Leisure Complex.  For more information log onto www.ulsterherald.com/bridal-fair-save-the-date
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