Festive finances:

The average cost of an American wedding with 125 guests — from fees, to favors, to flowers . . . and don't forget tax — is an estimated $19,000, according to matrimonial mecca www.theknot.com.

Gem fact:

Americans spent $20 billion on diamonds in 2001, according to Jewelry Information Center spokeswoman person Helena Krodell.

Early union:

The first documented marriage in Colonial America was in Virginia in 1609, between Anne Burrows, a maid, and John Laydon, a carpenter.

Ciao, bella:

In September, Elizabeth Taylor auctioned her second engagement ring — an emerald and diamond piece given to her by British actor Richard Burton in 1962 — for $80,000.

Trousseau trauma:

The New York studio that held Jackie Kennedy's wedding dress was flooded a week before her 1953 wedding and a replica had to be created in just five days.

Record-breakers:

The real princess treatment: The world record for most expensive wedding took place in 1981 between the son of a sheik and the Princess of Dubai and cost $44.5 million.

Ceremonial crush:

The record for most wedding guests goes to V.N. Sudhakaran and N. Sathyalakshmi, who married in India in 1995 in front of more than 150,000 people.

Superstitions

It was thought that the Bride should not practice writing her name before the wedding. Tempting fate would bring the couple bad luck in the marriage.

Marrying a man whose surname began with the same letter as the Bride's was considered bad luck.

June as considered to be a lucky month for a marriage since it was named after Juno, the Roman goddess of love and marriage.

The Wedding Proposal

In the past, the wedding proposal was a much more formal and public procedure than it is today. Initially, the groom didn't even propose directly to the Bride, but instead sent members of his family to represent his interests to his intended and her family. If on this journey, the proposal party saw a blind man, a monk or a pregnant woman, the marriage was considered doomed, as there were bad omens. However, if they saw goats, pigeons or wolves, these signs would bring good fortune to the marriage.

During Medieval times in Brittany, a man proposed by leaving a hawthorn branch at the door of his beloved on the first of May. If the woman left the hawthorn branch, she accepted his proposal. If she replaced the hawthorn branch with a cauliflower, she signaled her refusal.

Something Old Something New Something Borrowed Something Blue

The "something old" represents friends of the couple who will hopefully remain close to them through the marriage. The object that represented this was traditionally a garter from one of the Bride's friends who were happily married. Hopefully the success of her marriage would be passed on to the new Bride.

"Something New" symbolizes the new couple's happy and prosperous future.

"Something borrowed" is often an item of value loaned by the bride's family. In order to ensure good luck for the new couple, the item must be returned.

In ancient Israel, Bride's traditionally wore blue ribbons in their hair to represent their fidelity. This is the origination of the "something blue" tradition.

Bachelor Party & Showers

Ancient Spartan soldiers were the first to hold stag parties. The groom would feast with his male friends on the night before the wedding. This night would represent the groom saying goodbye to the carefree days of bachelorhood while swearing continued allegiance to his comrades.

Bridal showers were also meant to strengthen the friendships between the bride and her friends, give her moral support, and help her prepare for her marriage. The idea to give gifts is fairly new, dating from the 1890's. At one shower, the bride's friend placed small gifts inside a Japanese parasol, and then opened it over the bride's head so all of the presents would "shower" over her.

Best Man, The

It is the best man's duty to protect the groom from bad luck. He must ensure that once the groom has began his journey to the church, he completes his trip. The Best Man also must arrange for the groom to carry a small mascot or charm in his pocket on the wedding day for good luck.

Bride on the Groom's Left

Because grooms in Anglo Saxon England often had to defend their brides, the bride would stand to the left of her groom so that his sword arm was free.

Bridesmaids & Groomsmen

The Bridesmaids are dressed similarly to the Bride to act as a decoy to confuse the evil spirits and thus protect the bride. "And we've all seen Bridesmaids dresses that could frighten even the evil spirits."

Groomsmen

In medieval days, brides were taken or captured as a spoil of war. When the groom was about to capture his bride, he needed the help of his friends, the "bridesmen" or "brideknights". Today, they assist the groom by making sure the bride gets to the church and to the groom's house afterwards.

Couple's First Purchase

It is said that the partner who buys the first item after the wedding will be the dominant one in the partnership. Many brides would ensure this by arranging to buy a small item such as a pin from the maid of honor immediately after the ceremony. "Which would explain why Wal-Mart is considering constructing a wedding chapel next to their check out lanes."

Garter, The

The tradition of throwing the garter originated in 14th century France. Originally, wedding guests scrambled to remove the garter themselves, believing it bestowed great luck. Brides (and later grooms) began removing their own garter to prevent people from getting injured.

back to top

Wedding Traditions from Around the World

Armenia

Two white doves may be released to signify love & happiness for the couple.

Belgium

The bride may embroider her name on her handkerchief, carry it on the wedding day and then frame it and keep it until the next family bride marries.

Bermuda

Islanders top their tiered wedding cakes with a tiny sapling. Newlyweds plant the tree at their home, where they can watch it grow as their marriage grows.

China

In old China, the color of love and joy is red, which is the favorite color choice for the bride's dress as well as the candles, gift boxes and money envelopes that are presented to the bride and guests.

Czech Republic, The

Friends would sneak into the bride's yard to plan a tree, and then decorate it with ribbons and painted eggshells. Legend said she would live as long as the tree.

Brides in the countryside carry on the very old custom of wearing a wreath of rosemary, which symbolizes remembrance. Her friends weave the wreath for each bride on her wedding eve as a wish for wisdom, love and loyalty.

Egypt

The zaffa, or wedding march, is a musical procession of drums, bagpipes, horns, belly dancers, and men carrying flaming swords, it announces that the marriage is about to begin.

England

Brides sew a good luck charm, such as the silver horseshoe worn by the royal British brides, to the hem of their wedding gown.

Finland

Brides wear golden crows. After the wedding, unmarried women dance in a circle around the blindfolded bride, waiting for her to place her crown on someone's head. It is thought that whomever she crowns will be the next to wed.

France

Many coupes drink the receptions toast form an engraved two-handled cup (the coupe de marriage) as did newlyweds from days past. This cup will be passed on to future generations.

After the wedding reception, some of the friends of the couple will "interrupt" their wedding-night by banging pots and pans and singing loudly outside their bedroom window. The groom is then supposed to invite the pranksters in for refreshments.

Germany

During the ceremony, when the couples kneel, the groom may kneel on the bride's hem to show that he'll keep him in line. The bride may step on the groom's foot when she rises to reassert herself.

A wedding in Germany could be a three-day celebration!!! On the Thursday, the couple gets together with close family and friends to go to the city center to have a civil ceremony. Afterwards they all go out to dinner. On Friday, friends and neighbors visit the couple for the Polterabend, or wedding-eve party. The celebration entails the smashing of plates and other breakables as a sign of good luck (may nothing ever be broken in your home again). On Saturday, the religious ceremony takes place, followed by the reception of traditional fare. Before the couple can sneak out of the party, friends place garlands of flowers, greenery and ribbons at the exits, the groom must "ransom" the couple out with promises of money or a party.

Greece

To be sure of a "sweet life", a Greek bride may carry a lump of sugar in her glove on the wedding day.

Hungary

Guests dance with the bride at the reception and give her a few pence in exchange for a kiss.

Iceland

The traditional wedding cake of Iceland is kransakaka. It consists of rings of almond pastry of various sizes piled on top of one another to form a pyramid. Swirls of white icing decorate each ring and fine chocolates or decorative candies fill the hollow center.

India

The groom's brother sprinkles flower petals (to ward off evil) on the bridal couple at the end of the ceremony. To banish evil spirits, a coconut may be held over the couple's heads and circled around them three times.

Ireland

Ireland is one of the only countries where a green wedding dress is not considered unlucky or in poor taste. A lucky horseshoe is given to the bride and groom to keep in their home.

Israel

The end of the ceremony is signaled by the groom breaking a napkin-wrapped wineglass underfoot, in remembrance of the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and other Tragedies that have befallen the Jewish Faith. After the ceremony, shouts of "good luck" or "Mazel Tov!" can be heard from the guests in attendance. The hora, is a traditional dance of celebration, and is performed at the wedding reception.

Italy

Ribbons signify the tying together of two lives. A ribbon is tied across the front of the church door to symbolize the wedding bond.

In the small villages of Italy, after the Wedding Mass, the newly married couple will walk through the town plaza, greeting their friends, relatives, and neighbors. In the middle of the plaza, villagers set up a sawhorse, a log and a double handled ripsaw. The newlyweds must saw the log apart to the cheering of the crowd. When the job is finished and the log cut, it symbolizes that the man and woman must work together in all of life's tasks.

Korea

Ducks are included in the wedding procession because ducks mate for life.

Mexico

Guests at many Mexican weddings gather around the couple in a heart-shaped ring at the reception, perhaps before the first dance.

Norway

Two small fir trees are set on either side of the door to the couple's house until they are blessed with a child.

Philippines

A bell-shaped cage housing white doves (symbolizing peace) is a favored wedding decoration. At a well-timed moment, the bride and groom pull on ribbons to release the birds, which symbolize a send-off into their new lives.

Poland

Reception guests customarily buy a dance with the bride by pinning money to her veil or tucking bills into a special bridal purse to build a honeymoon fund.

Luck comes to the bride who drinks a glass of wine at the celebration without spilling a drop.

Quaker

Reception tradition does not include clergy, so the wedding certificate is not only signed by the bride, groom, maid of honor and best man, but the guests also. In signing the certificate, they all promise to help the newlyweds grow as a couple. The wedding certificate is hung in a prominent place in the new household as a memento for everyone who enters to witness.

In a Quaker wedding ceremony, the bride presents herself to the groom, since it is believed that she belongs to no one but herself.

Russia

At the reception, champagne glasses are thrown to the floor after the couple is toasted. If the glasses break, they shall have happiness in their marriage.

To show their preferences of their first child, the newlyweds tie a doll to the front of their wedding cake if they want a girl. A bear is used to signify their desire to have a boy.

Wedding guests don't only give presents-they give them! The bride gives friends and relative's sweets and candies. In return, the bride is given money after the wedding.

After the couple is crowned in a Russian Orthodox ceremony, they race to stand on a white rug. It is believed that whoever steps on it first will be the master of the household.

Scotland

The groom wears the kilt of his "Clan", and bagpipe music is played at the entrance and recessional of the bridal party.

Sweden

Swedish wives wear three wedding rings: for betrothal, for marriage and for motherhood.

Switzerland

A pin tree, which symbolizes luck and fertility, is planted at the couple's new home. After the vows, the bride's floral wreath, which symbolizes her maidenhood, is removed and set afire by the mistress of ceremonies. It's considered lucky if it burns quickly.

Thailand

On the morning of the wedding, the couple goes to feed the monks (who have taken the vow of poverty), in order to obtain a blessing.

Ukraine

A mock capture of the bride is carried out at the wedding reception to remind everyone present of the many times their homeland was invaded.

Vietnam

There are two wedding celebrations, one party given by the bride's family and the other by the grooms.

Wales

The bride gives her attendant's cuttings of myrtle (symbolizing love) for her bouquet. According to custom, if the plant roots and blossoms, they will marry soon.

Attendants race home from the ceremony with news of the marriage, first to arrive wins a pint of ale.

back to top