Wedding Customs

Our modern Western marriage ceremonies also have their customs and traditions. These are so engrained into our subconscious that often we don't even stop to think about them. The symbolism of the ring might seem obvious - but why do we buy rice or confetti and throw it over the newlyweds? When did the white wedding gown originate? And where on earth did the "something borrowed, something blue" tradition originate?

Some of these customs are relatively new, others go back many centuries and have links with ancient cultures. On these pages I'll investigate some of them and try to give you some information on where they came from, as well as more practical issues such as buying wedding insurance.

Discovering the origin of these things is interesting and fun, but what really matters is what they mean to you. It's your day and it's your choice which customs to adopt and which to ignore. A wedding has links with the past but is more than anything about the future.

Have a great wedding day!

Note: These pages are in the process of transitioning to Wedding Lore, a dedicated new website.