In association with
ETIQUETTE & SUPERSTITIONS
Toasts to the Bride and Groom-The bride and groom should not raise their glasses like everyone else. Since they are the ones being honored, it is not considered polite to toast themselves.
Why do they call it a ‘toast’? It comes from the French custom of putting a piece of bread at the bottom of a wine goblet. The goblet was passed around to honored guests and the guest who got it last would eat the bread.
The Receiving Line
It was believed in ancient times that the bride and groom were blessed, and those who touched them would receive good luck and fortune.
The Bouquet
The origin of the bouquet toss is a little sweeter than that of the garter toss which we won't go into. There was an ancient belief that certain herbs contained in the bridal bouquet were good luck. In order to pass on this luck, the bride would choose a friend to present the bouquet to at the end of the wedding. Nowadays, the person who catches the bouquet is believed to be the next to marry. If you decide to toss a bouquet, it is a good idea to have your florist make a smaller bouquet to toss so that you can keep the original, which you may want to preserve.
Why on the Left?
Have you ever wondered why the bride’s family is seated on the left side of the church and the groom’s side is seated on the right? The tradition stems from Medieval times when men wore swords on their right side. It is said they needed that side free in order to draw their sword and protect his bride.
The Wedding Kiss
The wedding kiss symbolizes more than just an endearment. In Roman times, a legal bond or contract was always sealed with a kiss. Therefore, when newlyweds kiss, it represents an agreement to enter into a life-long binding contract with each other. Some believe the wedding kiss symbolizes and exchange of one’s soul with another. When the bride and groom kiss, their souls mingle together.
History of Wedding Favours
Wedding favours have become an important part of marriage celebrations around the world. The tradition dates back thousands of years. Favours were given to guests in appreciation for sharing in the newlyweds’ special day.
Wedding favours are as diverse as the cultures surrounding them. Different cultures have various traditional wedding favours that they use. There are some similarities among many of the traditions. For example, it is quite common for many cultures to provide each guest with a wedding favour that contains five candies. Each piece represents one of the five common wedding wishes: health, wealth, happiness, long life and fertility.
Favours are considered among the most important wedding accessory. Some couples like to use unique favours, while others like to give more practical gifts to their guests. Chocolates, picture frames, candles and candleholders are some of the most popular wedding favours. Brides seek to make a statement with their favours. Personalized wedding favours provide an especially effective way to display a brief message to the reception guests.
Historically favours were initially given in the form of sugar, which was a costly commodity and only given by the wealthy. These sugary treats were fancily packaged and presented to guests at celebrations such as nuptial celebrations, birthdays, christenings, by only the wealthy. When sugar became more accessible, this custom was no longer limited to the wealthy. The most common sugared treat was the almond. Almonds represent the bitter aspects of life and the sugar represents the sweetness of life. Today, the tradition of giving five sugared almonds is still practiced. Many brides package them in netting, favour boxes, tins and gift bags.
Stag Parties
Stag parties originated with the soldiers of ancient Sparta. The groom feasted with his male friends the night before the wedding, pledging his loyalty and friendship to them. The soldiers provided the loose women, food, drinks and good times for true male bonding. The function of this rite of passage was simply to say good-bye to the wild escapades of bachelorhood while swearing the groom's continued allegiance to his comrades.