Kidnapping, Breadcrumbs & Ghosts: The Weird Origins Of Wedding Traditions

Ah weddings. They’re great craic aren’t they? You get to dress up for the day, spend some time with your nearest and dearest and laugh yourself stupid at your uncle Jim’s dodgy dance moves (they really are atrocious to be fair).

While weddings are fun sometimes we forget that they’re also serious things that are actually steeped in tradition. From ‘something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue’ to the bride’s bouquet, very few of us tend to actually think about why we have these traditions and, more importantly, what they actually mean.

We decided to have a look at some of the most popular wedding traditions out there and see where they came from. We’ll admit that we were sort of creeped out by some of the meanings behind these beloved rituals...

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Carrying the bride over the threshold:

 

Back in the day the bride was carried everywhere, mainly because the wedding usually occurred after a kidnapping. Seriously. Over the years carrying the bride over the threshold became symbolic of the groom ‘stealing’ her away from her family and starting a new life with her. In the Middle Ages it was thought that carrying the bride into her new home prevented her from seeming too ‘enthusiastic’ about losing her virginity.

Picking a best man:

 

The tradition of the groom choosing a best man dates back to the pre-Roman Iron Age and the Germanic tribes in Northern Europe. Apparently back then the groom would pick a friend to help him carry off an unwilling bride. Oh and have you ever wondered why the best man stands beside the groom during the ceremony? Back in the day the best man did this to act as a shield between the groom and angry members of the bride’s family who weren't too pleased by the fact that he had, essentially, kidnapped her against her will. Nice.

Carrying a bouquet:

 

Well, we never would’ve guessed the origin for this tradition! Back in the 15th century, couples usually got hitched in the month of June. They did this because many of them took their annual baths in the month of May and didn’t smell too bad by the time June rolled around. To be on the safe side (and because there was no such thing as deodorant) brides would carry lovely bouquets of flowers to mask the scent of body odor.

The garter:

This tradition first began in the Middle Ages in England and France and was known as “fingering the stocking.” The bride would start off her day not wearing a garter then, after the ceremony, her and her beloved would ‘disappear’ for a while. When she came back she’d be wearing the garter as a sign that she had consummated her marriage. Sometimes guests would actually go into the bride and groom’s bedchamber and check the bride’s leg for a sign that the marriage was ‘official.’ Creepy, much?

Wearing a veil:

 

Think it’s a fashion statement? Think again! This tradition first began in ancient Rome. Roman brides wore flame-coloured veils over their faces to ward off evil spirits that were trying to steal their virginity. Brides believed that hiding their faces meant that they were protected from any lusty ghosts who just happened to be in the vincity during the time of their wedding. In other cultures, the veil was as symbol of purity and modesty.

Wedding cake:

In modern times, wedding cakes stand for the foundation of your relationship and good luck as you cut the cake together. However, back in the day couples used barley bread instead of cake. The groom would break a loaf of bread over his bride’s head and shower her with the crumbs. Guests would then crawl around on the floor picking up the crumbs and eating them because they were believed to be full of ‘good luck.’ Eh... we think we’ll just stick with the cake if you don’t mind...