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Wedding Traditions - What do they mean?

If you are just about to take your wedding vows, you are probably preoccupied with many things - guest list, costs, catering, photography and your honeymoon. Chances are that you probably haven't given too much thought to the often odd traditions and rituals that most couples will participate in, many of which are centuries old. Most of these were originally intended to bring wealth, fertility and good luck.

The role of the best man is second only in importance to those of the bride and groom themselves. Traditionally, one of his duties has always been to ensure that the groom didn't change his mind at the last minute - for this reason, the ideal best man has always been a bachelor, in case he has to marry the bride himself. During the first and second centuries, the groom would choose from among his strongest friends - the "best" man became the man chosen, and was on hand in case the bride's family should object to the marriage.

Today, the best man is usually the groom's brother - the one closest to him in age. If the groom has no brother, the role usually goes to another male relative, or otherwise the groom's best and closest male friend. If the groom just can't decide, it's also acceptable to have two best men, who would divide up the duties between themselves - and it's also acceptable for the role to go to a woman.

Many wedding guests enjoy the tradition of catching the bouquet, a practice that has its origins in medieval Europe. During that time, the bride was not expected to ever wear her wedding dress again and it was seen as a symbol of good luck and fertility by other women who would try to cut pieces off the dress. To avoid wedding dresses being ruined, the dress was replaced with flowers which were tossed into the crowd.

Not everybody enjoys the tradition of catching the bouquet - some single women can feel uncomfortable and some don't like being put on the spot. Like many other traditions, it isn't mandatory - you can do away with it altogether, or arrange the event so that an engaged woman catches the bouquet. Another solution that avoids embarrassment is to give every female guest a flower from the bridal bouquet.

Every bride wants to look beautiful in her wedding dress. Of course, white has always signified purity, but in times gone by, white was also thought to ward off evil spirits. It is considered bad luck for the bride to wear green - unless she is actually from Ireland. And there are several possible reasons for the veil - in ancient times, it was thought to ward off evil spirits and it has also been suggested that during arranged marriages, the groom wouldn't see the bride's face and couldn't possibly change his mind.

In western culture, the honeymoon has its roots in early 19th century Britain, when newly married couples would take a trip primarily to visit family who weren't able to attend the wedding. Gradually it became more of a chance for the couple to spend time together and less of an opportunity to see family. There are several explanations as to the origin of the word - one likely explanation has it that the first month of a marriage is the sweetest.

Perhaps the most important accessory at any wedding is the wedding ring. The ancient Egyptians are said to have first used wedding rings made from twisted plant material to symbolize a never ending love. The second finger of the left hand was chosen because it supposedly follows the vena amoris or vein of love, which is connected to the heart. And if you wear both your wedding and engagement rings, tradition has it that you should put your wedding ring on your finger first - that way it is closer to your heart!

And have you ever wondered why we use the phrase "tying the knot"? The expression comes from the Romans - a bride would wear a girdle tied in many knots, which the poor groom would then have to unravel. Perhaps it's a good thing that this tradition is no longer around!