Besides being a traditional way of showing a couples love and making a lifelong commitment, a wedding itself brings with it a host of traditions – some of these still very much relevant and enjoyed to this day!
Whether you stick to them strictly or add a modern spin and incorporate your own personality to proceedings, there is something special about following a tradition that family have done before – it’s the way family traditions are made after all!
We share some popular time-honoured customs and how these can be included in your Big Day.
A popular and well known Victorian saying is ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe…
Something Old: Represents the bride’s family and their past. A popular choice is for the bride to wear a piece of jewellery that has sentimental family value.
Something New: Represents good fortune and success in the bride’s new life. The wedding dress is often chosen as the new item or even a gift from the groom to be worn on the day.
Something Borrowed: Symbolises the support the couple have around them and to remind them that friends and family will be there when needed. There are lots of options for this including the veil, jewellery and hair accessories, to name a few.
Something Blue: Represents faithfulness and loyalty. A popular choice is for the bride’s garter to be blue, something blue sewn underneath the dress or even blue shoes!
A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe is to wish the bride wealth and happiness.
There are also a few traditions you can follow when it comes to the big reveal of the bride…
Not seeing the bride: It is good luck for the groom not to see the dress before the wedding day. It is also supposed to bring more luck if he does not see the dress when the bride walks down the aisle.
The Big Entrance: The Bride traditionally enters on the left hand arm of her father, ahead of the bridesmaids. In more recent years, the bridesmaids enter first to build excitement for the arrival of the bride.
Which side to stand: The bride should stand on the left of the groom during the ceremony to allow his sword arm to be free ready to fight off other suitors or protect his bride.
It’s nice to give the guests a memento of the day to take home…
Favours: The tradition of giving guests something to remember the day by in the form of favours has been around for hundreds of years. Previously, the tradition was to give each guest five sugar coated almonds to symbolise health, wealth, fertility, happiness and long-life. However, in more recent times, couples choose to give gifts such as candles, chocolates or lottery tickets.
Brides wedding bouquet: The throwing of the wedding bouquet suggests that whoever catches it will be next to be married.
Who sits where and who speaks first…
Top Table: Tradition would see the table in the following order – Chief Bridesmaid, Groom’s Father, Bride’s Mother, the Groom, the Bride, the Bride’s Father, the Groom’s Mother, the Best Man. It is more popular nowadays to mix up the order to suit different families.
Speeches: The Bride’s Father would traditionally start the speeches by welcoming the guests and the groom into the family and toasting the newlyweds. The Groom would respond by thanking the Bride’s parents as well as his own on behalf of himself and his new wife. He also thanks those who have been involved in organising the wedding, and finally toasts the bridesmaids. The Best Man should then provide amusing stories about the groom, this is often the longest speech of them all.
Whichever traditions you choose to follow, try to make sure they mean something to you as a couple and your families. And most of all, enjoy every one of them!
Located in the heart of Lancashire near Preston and Blackpool in more than 100 acres of countryside, we can accommodate up to 350 of your family and friends for civil ceremonies and receptions, in one beautiful location. Whether you are looking for quirky or traditional, your wedding day at Ribby Hall Village will be an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Learn more: www.ribbyhall.co.uk/your-wedding
Photos by: Dan Wootton Photography, 2c Photo Design
Peter Anslow Photography / SJ Photographers
