Wedding customs and traditions of great-Britain

 

Have you ever watched the acclaimed British comedy called “Four Weddings and a Funeral” staring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell? If you haven’t rent it! If you’ve seen it, this should give you a pretty good idea of what goes into a traditional British wedding… No one throws a wedding like the Brits!… lots of tradition, inordinate amounts of flowers, lots of people, the mandatory extravagant hats, big old beautiful churches and great old castles. Although this award winning movie was a comedy, the British people are known as strict followers of tradition. Should you be lucky enough to be invited to a Destination Wedding in Great Britain, this will undoubtedly make this wedding ceremony a memorable event to watch and remember for years to come. Below are a few British wedding traditions, customs and superstitions, have fun with these and perhaps incorporate them into your own wedding ceremony!

The Proposal: Although proposals of marriage were the responsibility of the men, believe it or not, women were traditionally allowed to propose to men once every 4 years on leap year, February 29th,. Keep that in mind ladies…

The Hen and Stag Parties: In the U.K. there is no rehearsal dinner, but rather the bride will hold a “Hen Party” the night before. The groom will reunite with his friends who will cheer his good luck with a “Stag Party”.

Surnames: It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The sentiment was summarized in the following rhyme: To change the name and not the letter, Is to change for the worst and not the better … and, the bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding as this is thought to bring bad luck to tempt fate.

The Bride and Bridesmaids: As in the U.S. and the rest of Europe a traditional English wedding ceremony starts with a little flower girl throwing daisies or flower petals along the path to the church followed by the bride and her bridesmaids. The flowered path and symbolic walk meant hope for the bride’s path through life to be happy and loving. The bridesmaids sometimes wear dresses similar to the bride’s, this was thought in ancient times to act as decoys to confuse evil spirits and thus protect the bride.

Good Luck Charms: Brides sew a good luck charm, such as the silver horse shoe of royal British brides, to the hem of their wedding dresses. Old English tradition calls for the bride to carry a horseshoe, streaming with ribbons for good luck. The groom must carry a lucky mascot in his pocket.

The Ceremony: Traditionally, an English couple getting married will exchange vows outside of the chapel doorway in order for the ceremony to be witnessed by anyone who may want to watch.

The Bridesmaids Ribbon Pull: An elegant Victorian wedding reception event is called a “ribbon pull”. A sterling silver charm is purchased for each bridesmaid and engraved with a wish for the future, such as” next to marry” or “lucky in life” and “ hope and adventure in your life”. Each charm is tied to a ribbon; the baker then places the charms between layers of the wedding cake as it is being assembled. Before the bride and groom share their first slice of wedding cake, the bridesmaids gather around the cake so that each can pull one ribbon, hence the “ribbon pull” that holds the promise of her future. What a lovely tradition!

The Wedding Cake: A Traditional English wedding cake is a “fruit cake”, usually made of raisins, almonds, cherries and marzipan. The top layer of the wedding cake is called the “christening cake” which the couple saves for the christening of their first child.

Choosing the Day: Here is an old pagan verse, which tells of people when was best to marry. I have read quite a few versions of them, each varies slightly but you will get the idea…

Married when the year is new, he’ll be loving, kind & true.

When February birds do mate, You wed nor dread your fate.

If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know.

Marry in April when you can, Joy for Maiden & for Man.

Marry in the month of May, and you’ll surely rue the day.

Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you’ll go.

Those who in July do wed, must labor for their daily bred.

Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see

Marry in September’s shrine, your living will be rich and fine.

If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry.

If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember.

When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.

Shoes: Wedding guests often tie objects, usually shoes to the wedding getaway car; this is a tradition which originated in England during the Tudor period. Originally, wedding reception guests threw shoes at the newlyweds as they left the church for good luck.

The Honeymoon: The term “honeymoon” originates from the times when a man captured the bride. The bride and groom would hide from the bride’s parents before the wedding. The couple remained in hiding for the next cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine. So this is the old custom of having a “honeymoon”, is that cool or what?

These are just a few English traditions and superstitions, there are many more which are all very charming. I would like to sneak-in a Scottish tradition here, where the custom was for a woman with milk in her breasts to prepare the marital bed, hence to encourage fertility in the newlyweds. Also a glance in the mirror before the fully dressed bride leaves for her wedding is considered good luck, but should she return and look again, this is considered bad luck!

 

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