Customs old and new - The saying, "Something old - something new - something borrowed - and something blue", represents
The bride's family and old life, the couple's new life, borrow success from a happily married woman, blue for fidelity and constancy.
STAG PARTY
BELLS
GUN SALUTES
ARCHES
The stag party the ringing of bells and the firing of guns
are all intended to make so much noise and rowdiness
that evil spirits will be driven away.
Arches formed by people for the bride and groom to pass through are to ensure the couple's safe passage into their new life together.
BRIDESMAIDS
USHERS
BRIDAL VEIL
The bridesmaids and ushers were introduced to confuse the evil spirits, it was felt that if several people were dressed the same then it would confuse the evil spirits.
The bridal veil protects the bride from the evil eye and would be kidnappers,
The veil also symbolises the removal of the bride from her parents protection.
CAKE
HORSEHOES
RICE
It is unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding cake. The cake should be a fruit cake, which signifies fertility and brings good luck to all who eat it.
Cutting of the cake shows the couple are ready to accept responsiblity for their own household. The bride and groom share their piece of cake in the hopes of a fruitful union.
The horseshoe is a moon shaped good luck and fertility symbol.
Rice is also associated with fertility which is why it is thrown or placed in the honeymoon bed.
DECORATED CARS
The brides attendants used to decorate the bed this has been replaced by decorating the bridal cars.
Red=justice, Blue=constancy, Green=youth,
Yellow=honour or joy, Gold=gaiety,
Straw-colour=plenty and flesh colour= lust!
THE BOUQUET
THE GARTER
Orange Blossom flowers and evergreens are included for chastity and everlasting love.
The bride throws the bouquet over her shoulder.
Originally a shoe was used as this represents female sexual organs and fertility.
The garter (usually blue representing faithfullness) is thrown to the groomsmen who give it to their own intended bride.
Brides might wear two garters
1 to throw & 1 to pass on.
CARRYING THE BRIDE
OVER THE THRESHOLD
Carrying the bride over the threshold was to fool the evil spirits that dwell in doorways.
It is very bad luck for a bride to stumble over the doorstep, this therefore stops the happening.
Additional good luck in the form of soot, coal or chimney sweeps are associated with the hearth of the fire symbolizing the heart of the family.
