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Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented the first known "official" engagement ring to Mary of Burgundy, on August 17, 1477.  During the 15th century, monarchs in Europe embraced the diamond as the seal to their future wives, due to its enduring qualities.  Ancient belief held that the diamond was the perfect stone because its sparkle symbolized a "flame of love."  To the Romans, diamonds were thought to be "splinters falling from heavenly stars," while to the Greeks, diamonds were considered "tears of the gods."

Gimmel rings were used during the Renaissance period.  These rings were double interlocking bands.  One part was given to the bride-to-be, and the other was kept by her fiancé, to be reunited at the wedding ceremony.

Fede rings, named for the Roman word for faith, originated in the early 1600s.  These rings are still seen today and are made with two small gold hands encircling either side of the ring and clasping the other at the center of the ring.  Some fede rings have a small gold heart hidden under the hands.

European grooms have worn wedding bands for centuries.  In America, wedding bands became popular with men during and after World War II, when military men wished to carry a token of home with them while serving their country overseas.

Traditionally, engagement rings and wedding bands are worn on the third finger of the left hand.  Ancients believed that love traveled to the heart from the finger.  The most direct route was thought to be from the third finger of the left hand - the only finger, it was believed, with a vein that made a direct connection to the heart.

Today, wedding bands have evolved in intricasy and are often able to be engraved on the inside with words, initials or the wedding date.  Be sure to ask the jeweler how many letters may be engraved so that you can write the inscription to fit inside the ring. 

Most brides today would never even dream of taking their walk down the aisle without the traditional "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" included in the bridal wardrobe.  The "old" refers to the bride's ties to her past, especially her childhood and family life.  The "new" is a symbol of hope for her new life with her new husband.  The "borrowed" represents her current friendships and the "blue" symbolizes faithfulness.

In early times, this familiar expression included an additional line, "and a lucky six pence in her shoe," and every English bride had one there.  It represented good fortune in the future for the newlywed couple.  Today, some brides choose to place a shiny, new penny in one of their shoes to symbolize that sentiment.

"Tie the knot" is another saying used quite frequently when referring to an upcoming marriage.  According to an ancient Chinese legend, the gods tie an invisible red string around the ankles of a boy and girl who are destined to be united someday as husband and wife; red symbolizes love.  As the years pass, the red string, which can never be untied, becomes shorter and shorter until the couple finally meets and weds.

Originally, veils were meant to represent a virgin bride's innocence.  Society, today, considers the bridal veil an essential wedding custom.  Nelly Curtis, George Washington's adopted daughter, is thought to be the first bride to wear a veil made of lace.  When she was first introduced to her love (an aide to Washington), she was standing behind a lace curtain.  In order to duplicate this moment at the ceremony, Nelly made her own veil from white lace.

The custom of "giving away the bride" goes back to the time when a daughter was considered the be a possession of her father.  Part of the wedding ritual was the formal transfer of "ownership" from the father to the groom.  Now, the custom (thankfully) simply signifies the parents' blessings on the marriage.  Some brides choose to have both their mother and father walk them down the aisle as a symbol of love and support; however, most still prefer to be "given away" by their father.

In 1866, Griswold Lorillard, a wealthy tobacco heir, shocked the guests gathered for the annual Autumn Ball of the Tuxedo Park Country Club in Tuxedo, New York, when he arrived to the ball wearing a tail-less black dinner jacket.  Mr. Lorillard explained that he had the coat tailor made after a close friend had given him a description of a cut-off coat worn by the Prince of Wales.  The style soon caught on and continues to be the most popular style of formal wear for men today.

Most of the time tuxedos are rented because members of the bridal party do not all own dark suits.  It's often more expensive to insist all the groomsmen purchase a new suit in your wedding color than it would be to simply rent formal wear.  Tuxedo shops are generally small, but they are serviced by large tuxedo warehouses.  Orders need to be in no later than ten days before the wedding.

When the groom and his party go for their fittings, they should allow for plenty of time.  Each member needs to try on the entire ensemble and make sure all parts are there.  The rental shop usually has a tailor available to make any needed adjustments.  Do not wait until the day of the wedding to try on a tuxedo!

If it is possible, arrange for your groomsmen to pick up their tuxedos as early as they can on the Thursday before the wedding.  Tuxedo shops can be very busy and chaotic on Fridays.  If someone ends up needing an alteration, he will be picking up his corrected tuxedo the morning of the wedding.  Try to avoid this!

Most rental shops request the tuxedo be returned on the first business day after the wedding, usually a Monday.  The store clerk will count the tuxedo parts to insure everything has been returned.  Sometimes the best man will make arrangements and return all the tuxedos at once.

Today, more and more couples are opting for informal weddings.  The groom may choose to wear a dark suit, a navy blue blazer with white trousers or perhaps an oxford suit, a handsome time and khaki slacks.  The groom's attire needs to coordinate with the formality of the bride's wedding gown.  Whatever you decide, your groomsmen should be similarly dressed and wearing a boutonniere.

White has been a traditional wedding color for hundreds of years.  Queen Victoria, who reined from 1837-1901, is believed to be the one who made the white wedding dress fashionable when she wore one in her wedding with Prince Albert.  She wore a pale gown trimmed with orange blossoms.  Before that, the bride wore her best dress; the color did not really matter.

White has been a symbol of joyous celebration since the early Roman times.  White is a color that is commonly associated with purity.  Since weddings are a religious rite, it is said that white was used as a symbol of God's holiness.  The white aisle runner was used to signify walking on holy ground.

There are several traditions that people will say have to be included in the ceremony.  In reality, it is up to you which ones you choose to acknowledge; after all, it is your day.  Here are few traditions that are important to have as part of you ceremony.

Probably the oldest, most universal and most important tradition is the exchanging of the rings.  The ring is a circle which is a symbol of perfection and never ending love.  People have been exchanging rings since ancient Egyptian times, maybe even before that.  The wedding ring is worn on the third finger on the left hand.  There are two possible origins to this particular part of the tradition.  Ancient Egyptians believed that the "vein of love" ran from the ring finger on your left hand directly to your heart.  A ring was placed on this finger to indicate eternal love.  In the 17th century, the ring was placed on this finger for religious reasons.  During the ceremony, the groom would slide the ring part way up the bride's thumb, index finger and middle finger while the priest said, "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."  The next available finger is the third finger, which is where the the ring is placed when the priest says, "Amen."  The ring was said to have been blessed and be an outward sign of the unity between man, wife and God.

The tradition of giving the bride away is quite literally that.  The marriage would be arranged by the bride's parents and she would be given to her groom for monetary gain. It does not mean quite the same thing today, however.  The bride is still given away, usually by her father, but now it symbolizes her parents' blessing and support of her union.  It is seen as a promise of continued trust and support as she starts this new part of her life.

The bridal bouquet is another must have tradition.  Each flower means a different thing (see Flowers: The Bridal Bouquet).  In ancient marriages, the bride would wear herbs under her veil as a sign of fidelity.  In Greek weddings, the bride usually carried ivy as a symbol of never ending love.  Spaniards would wear orange blossoms to represent happiness and fulfillment.  Today, however, flowers are usually chosen based on the wedding colors to bring beauty to the wedding ceremony.

The ceremony kiss is another major tradition.  This kiss concludes the marriage ceremony.  It is to represent the sharing and joining of the bride and groom's souls.  In ancient roman times, the kiss sealed the agreement between the two families to join in a lifelong commitment.

A final tradition is throwing rice.  This can be done either at the wedding ceremony as the couple leaves the church or it can be done after the reception.  Rice, in particular, is considered a life giving seed.  By throwing it on a couple, the couple is bestowed with fertility.  Many churches now will not let you throw rice because of the mess and the potential harm to birds.  If that is the case, you might consider bubbles instead.  It will have the same message, but is easier to clean up.

There are few traditions that are important for your wedding reception.

Probably the most important and most celebrated tradition for your wedding reception is the cake.  The tradition of the wedding cake dates back to early roman times when a thin loaf of bread was broken over the bride's head at the end of the ceremony.  The breaking of the bread symbolizes fertility.  Guests would pick up the crumbs as good luck charms.  The tradition later evolved and spread to England.  In the middle ages, guests would bring small cakes with them to the ceremony and stack them together.  The couple would then kiss over the cluster of cakes.  Later the multiple cakes became one cake - today's modern day wedding cake.

The tradition of cutting the cake and sharing the first piece has a few different meanings.  One meaning is that by cutting the cake together and sharing the first piece, the couple is signifying sharing their lives together.  Guests will share in the good luck by eating the cake.  Another meaning is that by cutting the cake, the bride is breaking kinship with her family and by eating the first piece together, the bride is ready to accept all her new responsibilies as a wife and a mother.  In ancient Rome, it was said that the couple creates a bond when they cut the cake and share the first piece.  Wheat was symbolic of fertility and the sweetness of the cake was thought to bring sweetness to all areas of their lives.

Another must have tradition for your reception is the bouquet and garter toss.  This tradition symbolically passes the torch to the man and woman that are lucky enough to catch them.  The garter toss is the chance for a single man to share in the good fortune of the groom.  In the 14th century, the bride actually tossed the garter herself.  The tradition changed to the groom tossing the garter because of all the drunken men fighting to get a piece of the bride.  The bouquet toss has its roots in England.  It is believed that the bride could pass good fortune to others.  In order to obtain this good fortune, guests would try to tear off pieces of the bride's clothing and flowers.  In an attempt to get away with her clothing intact, the bride would throw her bouquet to the crowd.

Trying shoes and cans to the bumper of the couple's car is another tradition.  Loud noises were said to ward off evil spirits.  So by tying cans or other objects to the car, the loud noise made when the couple drove off would help ward off evil spirits as the couple begins their life together.  The shoes are a tradition that started in Tudor times.  Guests would actually throw shoes at the bride and groom.  If they or their carriage were hit, it meant that good fortune had been bestowed upon them.  In Anglo Saxon times, the groom would actually strike the bride with a shoe to establish his authority.  Brides would then throw a shoe at the bridesmaids to see who would get married next.  Throwing shoes at the bride is also a sign that authority over her is being transferred from her father to her new husband.  A variation was for the bride's father to throw her shoe at the groom as a toke of his surrender of his daughter.  This evolved through the years to just tying the shoes to the car.

See Important Traditions for the Ceremony

Most people know what the honeymoon is but do not know its origins.  There are a few different thoughts on how the honeymoon came to be.

In ancient times, many first marriages were not by choice; they were actually by capture.  When early men felt that it was time to take a wife, they quite literally took a wife.  The man would actually carry the woman off to a secret place where her family could not find her.  They would stay in the location until the moon had gone through all of its phases, which is about 30 days.  While there, they would drink a brew made of honey, thus the term honeymoon.

In other ancient times, the Teton people would hold their weddings only under the light of the full moon.  After the ceremony, the bride and groom would drink honey wine for thirty days, while the moon went through all of its phases.  So, the period right after the wedding became known as the honeymoon.  The name has survived through the years though the purpose has changed.  Today, the honeymoon is a time for the newlyweds to leave their family and friends and go on vacations, usually somewhere romantic, to spend time together alone. 

In the 16th century, the word honeymoon had a more symbolic meaning.  Honey is a reference to the sweetness of the new marriage.  Moon does not actually refer to the lunar moon, but it is actually a bitter reminder that the sweetness of the marriage, like the full lunar moon, quickly fades.  Basically, the term honeymoon in the 16th century was not a happy word and was used almost like an omen for things to come.

The last origin for honeymoon comes from a tradition where the bride drinks meade, a honey brewed drink, for one month after the wedding.  This is said to encourage fertility, particularly a male child.

Just remember, your honeymoon should be a time of happiness and fun.  It is the start of your new life together.  Wherever you decide to go on your honeymoon, just be sure to start your marriage off right. Enjoy the time alone together, without worrying about the lives you'll soon be back to, the house, the bills, the thank you notes. Take the time off to relax and just enjoy being married.

The tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold is not a new tradition; it dates back centuries and has a few different origins.

The first idea for carrying the bride over the threshold stems from the same ancient belief as the idea of an aisle runner and throwing flower petals on the aisle.  This belief is that the newlywed couple is very susceptible to evil spirits.  By carrying the bride over the threshold, the groom is putting a protective space between her and the floor; thus, protecting her. 

Generations ago, it was considered lady like for the new bride to be, or at the very least appear to be, unwilling to "give herself" to her new husband.  Whether she was or not was not the issue, it was all about appearances.  At the threshold to the bedchamber, the husband would have to carry her over to encourage her to go in.

Another tradition dictates that the new wife must enter her home for the first time by the main door and to avoid bad luck, she must not trip or fall.  To avoid this, the groom would carry her into the house.

During the ancient times when people were married by capture, the bride obviously would not go willingly into her husband's home.  So she was either dragged or carried in.  Over time it evolved and became the tradition that is practiced today.

Even earlier times believed that family demons followed the bride to her new home.  To keep them from entering the home, the groom would carry her across the threshold the first time she entered the home.  After that demons could not come in and the bride was free to come and go as she pleased.

• The term honeymoon came about from ancient Teutons. Couples would only marry beneath a full moon then drink honey wine for thirty days after.
   
• Rice throwing began in the Orient. Rice is a symbol of fertility and was thrown on newlywed couples in hopes of a marriage that would produce many children.
   
• The bridal shower custom began in Holland when a father disapproved of his daughter’s choice for a husband, the local miller. The father withheld his daughter’s dowry so the townspeople "showered" her with gifts from their own households.
   
• The ring finger is considered to be the only finger connected by a vein directly to the heart.
   
• The wedding cakeoriginated in Rome, when a loaf of wheat bread was broken over the head of the bride. This symbolized fertility and a fulfilling life. The custom found its way to England during the Middle Ages. Guests would bring small cakes and all were piled together for the bride and groom to kiss over. Eventually someone came up with the idea of a multilayered cake covered with icing.
   
• The term trousseau originated in France. French brides brought their clothing and other personal possessions with them to their new home in a small bundle, called a trousseau. Even though the standard dowry became significantly more than a bundle, the word remained the same. The gifts the bride-to-be receives today are considered the modem day trousseau.
   
• Carrying the bride over the threshold is another custom that originated in Rome. The reluctant (or pretending to be) bride had to be carried into the wedding chamber. There also a legend that evil spirits were believed to linger at the threshold so the groom would carry his bride over them.
   
• Today old shoes may be tied to the rear bumper of the newlywed’s car but at one time they were actually thrown at the bride by her father! This act showed his yielding possession of her to her husband.
   
• Tossing the garter and bouquetbegan in the 1300’s in France where guests chased the bride and tore off her garter. This was considered good luck. As years passed brides wisely began to remove the garter themselves and then throw into the crowd. Later the bridal bouquet was added and the lucky girl who caught it is believed to be the next one married. And the man who catches the garter is supposed to be the next groom.

The idea of having different colors for your wedding is not a new one. The tradition of wedding colors dates back several centuries. Legend says that the bride, groom and the wedding party used to walk to the church together. In order to trick rejected suitors and evil wishers who wanted to kidnap the bride the bridesmaids would dress like the bride.

Another legend is that since each color means something different you wanted to pick colors that meant love, happiness and good fortune. Here is an example of an old wives’ tale:

• If you marry in white then you’ve got it right
• If you marry in blue then your love is true
• If you marry in pink your fortune will stink
• If you marry in green then you’ll never be seen
• If you marry in red then you’ll wish you were dead
• If you marry in yellow then you’re ashamed of your fellow
• If you marry in brown then you’ll live out of town
• If you marry in gray then you’ll live far away
• If you marry in black then you’ll wish you were back

The idea of wedding colors has obviously evolved through the years. It now really only has to do with adding beauty to the wedding. Here are a few tips that you will want to remember when choosing your wedding colors.

1. Choose your colors based on your favorite colors or your favorite flower. Look at the colors you have in your wardrobe and in your home. Those are more often than not your favorite colors and the ones you feel most comfortable with. If you choose based on your favorite flower then that is a flower you will want to use in your bouquets.
2. Choose one main color and one or two accent colors. You do not want to go overboard when it comes to wedding colors. Really when it comes to the colors, less is more. The more colors you have the more distracted the guests will be. It is your day, so you want the focus to be on you, not the five or six different colors.
3. Take into consideration the season in which you are getting married. For spring and summer weddings it is customary to use pastel or bright colors. For fall and winter weddings it is customary to use either harvest colors or deeper, darker colors.
4. Make sure to consider the colors of the location. You do not want your wedding colors to clash with the colors of the location. Your pictures and everything about the day will turn out badly.
5. Avoid too much black. It is ok to have black as one of your wedding colors, but remember this is supposed to be a celebration not a funeral. If you are using black you might want to use it as an accent color or balance it with white or other bright colors.
6. Probably the most important tip when it comes to color is do not lose your personality. Do not pick a color just because of the season or location. This is your day and it is your wedding. Pick a color that you like.

From the earliest times, brides have carried bunches of fragrant herbs and flowers or adorned their hair with flowers on their wedding day.  Bouquets were first used in medieval times and consisted of herbs and roots to ward off evil spirits.  Later, brides added fragrant flowers to their bouquet to help disguise body odors, since soap and deodorant were non-existent.

For centuries, flowers have represented a variety of meanings and emotions. For example, Orange Blossoms have always been associated with weddings because they signify purity and chastity. Orange Blossoms are also thought to be very significant because they bear both the flower and the fruit at the same time, a trait highly unusual in most plants. This trait also symbolizes great abundance and fertility. It was believed that by carrying blossoms from the orange tree in the wedding bouquet, the blessings of all things beautiful and nurturing would be passed along to the new marriage. Other significant and popular wedding flowers include roses, which symbolize love, carnations, which represent fidelity and love, red chrysanthemums, "I love you"; ivy is symbolic of never-ending love and violets, which stand for faithfulness. Some flowers to be avoided include peonies, which represent shame, yellow hyacinth, which symbolizes jealousy, hydrangea, which symbolizes heartlessness and any combination of red and white flowers should be avoided by the superstitious because they symbolize blood and bandages. However, people from different regions may attach different meanings to the same flower. For example, lilies symbolize virtue to some but are thought unlucky by others because of their association with death. Marigolds symbolize cruelty in love and grief, but in India, they represent luck.

The tradition of tossing the bouquet holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next one present to marry.

The groom’s flower, which is worn on his lapel, should be one that matches a flower in the bride’s bouquet. This tradition dates back to medieval times when knights would perform in tournaments and wear something in his lady’s colors to show his affection, often a scarf, feather or flower.

The circular ring, symbolizing undying and unending love, is traditionally worn on the third finger on the left hand. This finger was chosen based on the Greek belief that the artery from that finger flows directly to the heart. Placing the ring on the vena amoris, or love vein, thereby joined the couple’s destiny. Early Christians are believed to have chosen the third finger on the left hand because when you touch the ring to three fingers while repeating, "In the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Ghost", it lands on the third finger.

Another theory as to why the wedding ring is worn on the left hand is that when the groom faces his bride and reaches out with his right hand (as most people are right-handed), he naturally touches her left hand. During the Elizabethan era, wedding rings were placed on the third finger of the left hand at the marriage ceremony and then moved to the thumb after the ceremony. In India, wedding rings were only worn for a few days after the ceremony. Since a wedding ring was considered a luxury, it was often only worn a short time and then melted down to make something more useful.

The practice of men wearing wedding rings did not become popular until World War II. Up until this time, only the bride wore a wedding ring. Many couples married in anticipation of a long separation and wedding bands, one for each partner, were considered critical to the war effort. They represented comfort to the lonely soldier and as a reminder to the bride of her husband.

It used to be when a man wanted to get married, he would give his intended's family something of great value as a sign of his wish to marry her. If the woman accepted his gift, it signified their pledge to marry and it was considered a legally binding contract. In ancient times, the betrothal gift was of a more practical nature, usually livestock, fabrics, herbs, spices, arid land; something the family could actually use. The Greeks are credited with beginning the tradition of the betrothal (or engagement) ring. The groom-to-be presented a ring to his intended as a promise of marriage.

Early Roman engagement rings were simple bands with a carved key. There are two theories surrounding this particular style. The romantic version states that the key was to "unlock" her husband's heart. The more practical version was that the key represented the wife's ownership of her husband's estate. When a Roman woman married, she received half of her husband's wealth,

In 860 A.D., Pope Nicholas I ordained that an engagement ring was a requirement as a statement of nuptial intent. He insisted that they be made of gold to show financial sacrifice on the part of the prospective husband,

In Renaissance Italy, silver became a popular metal for engagement and wedding rings. These rings were often very ornate and inlaid with niello, a method of decorating metal objects with engraving techniques. An alloy of silver, copper, lead and sulfur is rubbed into an engraved pattern on silver or gold and then fired. Darkened areas remained in the crevices after the object is polished.

Elaborate engagement rings of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and other precious gems became commonplace among the wealthy. Many rings would feature a group of stones to spell out a sentimental word. For example, if one wanted to spell out LOVE on their ring, they would use Lapis Lazuli, Opal, Verde Antique and Emerald, Some husbands-to-be would have a ring fashioned featuring his and his fiance's birthstones. Since the color blue symbolized purity and fidelity, Sapphire engagement rings were quite popular, especially during the Victorian era.

The ancient Greeks believed the fire of the diamond reflected the flame of love, while the Romans thought diamonds to be splinters from falling stars that tipped the arrows of Eros, the god of love. In the Middle Ages, these gems were looked upon as charms that had the power to enhance the love between a husband and a wife. However, diamonds were quite rare and only the wealthy could afford them.

The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began in 1477 with the Archduke Maximilllan of Austria, who presented his betrothed, Mary of Burgundy, with a simple gold band with a diamond. Since diamonds are the hardest, natural substance in nature, it was considered an appropriate symbol of enduring love. From that time forward, the royal tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring began to be embraced by people around the world,

In the 1939, a brilliant: advertising campaign by the De Beers Company, the world's largest miner and marketer of diamonds, made the diamond THE engagement ring to have and the only socially correct option.

The wedding cake has been a special part of wedding celebrations since the Roman era. The original wedding cakes were made of wheat flour, salt and water and made into loaves. The loaves were then broken over the bride's head at the dose of the ceremony to bestow good luck and fertility to the newlyweds. Thought to be good luck charms, guests eagerly picked up the crumbs.

During the middle Ages, guests were expected to bring little cakes to the wedding celebration. The cakes were piled up in a tiered cluster and it became traditional for the couple to kiss over the cluster of cakes. Later, a clever baker decided to amass all these small cakes together and cover them with frosting. Thus, the modern tiered cake was born. It is said he was inspired by the unusual shape of the spire of Saint Bride's Church in London.

Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. Traditionally, the newlyweds make the first cut together, symbolizing their shared life together. Every guest is expected to eat a little of the cake in order to bring good luck to the bride and groom. It is said that a single woman who sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow will dream of her future husband. Furthermore, it is considered good luck for the bride and groom to save the top tier of their wedding cake and eat it on their first anniversary.

The white wedding dress hasn't always been the first choice for a bride. In ancient times, brides dressed in brilliant colors, especially red or yellow. In biblical times, the color of choice was blue because it symbolized purity.

Until the 1900's most brides did not have a special dress for their wedding day. They simply wore their best dress. The following traditional rhyme offered advice on what dress color to choose:

Married in white, you have chosen right
Married in blue, your love will always be true
Married in pearl, you will live in a whirl
Married in brown, you will live in town
Married in red, you will wish yourself dead
Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow
Married in green, ashamed to be seen
Married in pink, your spirit will sink
Married in gray, you will go far away
Married in black, you will wish yourself back

A green dress is thought unlucky, unless the bride is Irish. It was said that if the woman had a green gown it implied that she had loose morals, because the green symbolized grass stains from rolling in grassy fields.

White, or a variation of white, was a sign of purity and innocence. Ann of Brittany wore the first known white wedding dress to her marriage to Louis XII of France in 1499. However, it was not a practical color. Cloth was very expensive to bleach and if one wanted a white dress, it would require more than one bleaching. It was believed that the whiter the cloth, the more affluent the person. So when the rich wed, they chose a white dress to show off their wealth.

White did not become a practical choice for a wedding gown until the 1800's when machine made fabrics and cheap muslins imported from India became affordable to common society. The Victorian era placed a heavy emphasis on feminine purity and chastity, and since white represented these attributes, it was considered a most suitable color for a bride. Queen Victoria made the white wedding dress fashionable in 1840, when she broke with tradition and wore white on her wedding day instead of the traditional silver worn by royal brides.

White hasn't always signified purity and innocence. In Roman times, white was the symbol of joyous celebration. In China and Japan, white is the symbol of mourning and thought to be appropriate as the bride is leaving her family of birth to Join her husband's, thereby undergoing a symbolic death. Today, the white wedding dress is worn as a symbol of joy and not as a sign of purity and innocence.

There are many superstitions surrounding the wedding dress. It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding gown. The bride should not loan her wedding dress to another, for is thought unlucky for the lender, but good luck for the borrower. It is said that the bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony. Once a bride has looked at herself in the mirror wearing her complete outfit, it is said she must not look at herself again, or have bad luck. If the bride rips her dress on her wedding day, it is said the marriage will end in death. And finally, it is unlucky for the groom to see his bride in her wedding dress before she arrives at the ceremony.

In ancient times, brides were thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits, so in order to protect the bride, her friends dressed in outfits very similar to the bride's and acted as decoys to confuse the evil spirits.

It was once common for the bride and groom, as well as their friends, to walk to the church on the morning of the wedding. Afraid that a rejected suitor would try to place a curse on the bride and groom, their friends would dress in similar apparel in order to trick the evil wishers.

Today, the function of the bridesmaids and groomsmen is to be a support to the bride and groom as well as their confidant and friend.

Have you ever wondered about the purpose of groomsmen? Legend has it that this came about during ancient times when women were in short supply and a man had to literally kidnap his bride from her village, clan or tribe. The groom-to-be would bring along his 'best men' to help fight off angry family members or competing suitors.

The best man of days-gone-by was responsible for more than the holding the wedding ring. Since there remained a threat of the bride's family attempting to forcibly gain her return, the best man stayed by the groom's side throughout the marriage ceremony, protecting the bride and groom from any threats. He also served as a sentry outside the newlyweds' home.

It is believed to bring good luck to the groom if the best man arranges for the groom to carry a good luck charm in his pocket on his wedding day. It is also considered good luck for the best man to pay the officiant's fee in an odd sum,

Nowadays, the role of the groomsmen and best man are really only honorary positions. There is no need for them to be armed or to stand guard since most weddings are by choice.

Flower girls began appearing in wedding parties during the middle Ages. She would lead the procession down the aisle bearing a bouquet of wheat, which symbolized fertility. Now the flower girl throws flower petals as she walks down the aisle, symbolizing that the bride's path through life will be happy and laden with flowers.

The tradition on the wedding veil dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They were wary of evil spirits and demons, so to ward off these evil spirits the bride would cover herself in brightly colored veils. Others believe wearing the veil stems from the time of arranged marriages. The father of the bride may have feared the groom would not want to marry his daughter if he found her unpleasant looking, so the bride would be heavily veiled and she would not be revealed to the groom until after the ceremony when it was to late for him to back out of the arrangement.

Many believe the tradition of the 'unveiling' stems from the Biblical story of Jacob and his two wives, Jacob's father-in-law, Laban, tricked him into marrying Leah instead of his true love, Rachel. Leah was heavily veiled and Jacob did not realize he had married the wrong woman until after the ceremony. Thus the Jewish tradition of Bedeken was born, where the groom lowers the veil before the ceremony and raises it prior to the kiss. This way he knows exactly who he's about to marry.

The veil became popular in England during the 1800's as a symbol of modesty and chastity.

In the Christian tradition, the veil is lowered by the father before the processional and is raised by the groom prior to the kiss.

In some Eastern ceremonies, the bride is veiled throughout the entire ceremony and is not unveiled until after it is over.

The wedding veil has evolved over the centuries, and has signified youth, virginity and modesty, Roman brides were married in swathes of brilliant red or yellow, while Viking queens wore metal skullcaps. Many Japanese brides still wear the traditional tsuno-kakushi, a white hood that supposedly hides the horns of jealousy. Veiis made of lace were made popular in the United States by Nelly Curtis, the adopted daughter of George Washington. Legend has it that Major Lawrence Lewis, her father's aid, saw Neily standing behind a filmy lace curtain and he was so taken by her beauty that he asked for her hand in marriage. She then wore a lace veil on her wedding day in order to preserve the effect for her groom.

The circular ring, symbolizing undying and unending love, is traditionally worn on the third finger on the left, hand. This finger was chosen based on the Greek belief that the artery from that finger flows directly to the heart. Placing the ring on the vena amoris, or love vein, thereby joined the couple's destiny. Early Christians are believed to have chosen the third finger on the left hand because when you touch the ring to three fingers while repeating, "In the name of the Father, of the Son, and the Holy Ghost", it lands on the third finger.

Another theory as to why the wedding ring is worn on the left hand is that when the groom faces his bride and reaches out with his right hand (as most people are right-handed), he naturally touches her left hand. During the Elizabethan era, wedding rings were placed on the third finger of the left hand at the marriage ceremony and then moved to the thumb after the ceremony, In India, wedding rings were only worn for a few days after the ceremony. Since a wedding ring was considered a luxury, it was often only worn a short time and then melted down to make something more useful.

The practice of men wearing wedding rings did not become popular until World War II. Up until this time, only the bride wore a wedding ring. Many couples married in anticipation of a long separation and wedding bands, one for each partner, were considered critical to the war effort. They represented comfort to the lonely soldier and as a reminder to the bride of her husband.

The wedding ring has a long and rich history. The Egyptians are credited for beginning the tradition of the wedding ring around 3,000 BC when an Egyptian Pharaoh gave his beloved a ring as a symbol of his love for her. In Egyptian hieroglyphics, the circle is the symbol of eternity because it has no beginning or end. The earliest wedding rings were made from braided reedy plants like hemp. These primitive rings generally did not last more than a year and had to be replaced often. Later leather, bone and ivory were crafted into rings as tokens of love.

The Romans used rings made of durable iron; however, the symbolism behind the use of the ring was not quite as romantic as the Egyptian's. To the Romans, the husband used a wedding ring to signify a binding, legal agreement of ownership and the ring was a token of purchase. In the third century, silver and gold replaced iron. Iron tended to rust and gold and silver had more aesthetic beauty. Gold or silver rings also symbolized the groom's faith that his betrothed was to be trusted with his valuable property.

Early Celtic rings were made of hair. The bride and groom would weave locks of their hair together into a braid and the bride would wear the ring as a token of their commitment to each other.

Puzzle rings, called a Gimmel, were popular engagement/wedding rings in the 15th century. The Gimmel ring consisted of two or more interlocking rings, joined by a pivot, so they could slide together to form one ring (symbolizing the union of two lives). The most popular Gimmel ring depicted two hands and a heart, which symbolized faith, trust or plighted troth. When all three rings were joined, the hands clasped over the heart. This variation of the Gimmel ring was called a Fede (Italian for faith) ring. One part of the ring was given to the bride as her engagement ring, the groom-to-be and the witness of the engagement ceremony kept the second and third parts of the ring. At the marriage ceremony, all three parts would be reunited on the bride's finger.

The Claddagh ring, a version of a Fede ring, became popular in 17th century Ireland and remains popular to this day. It depicts two hands holding a crowned heart, symbolizing "Let love and friendship reign". The Claddagh ring is considered the traditional Irish wedding band.

During the Renaissance and throughout the 18th century, sterling silver poesy rings were popular wedding bands. Poesy rings were engraved with mottoes or verses, mostly with a religious or romantic overtone.

At the same time poesy rings were popular, the Puritans were renouncing wedding bands, because they considered jewelry frivolous. Colonial Americans often exchanged thimbles during the wedding ceremony, Thimbles were acceptable to the Puritans because they were viewed as a practical item. After the wedding, the women would slice off the bottom of the thimble and created a wedding band.

During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, wedding bands were engraved with intertwined hearts, flowers, intricate leaves and delicate filigree. In the 1920's and 1930's, the art deco movement introduced styles focusing on bold colors and geometric shapes and became a popular wedding ring style.

Today, wedding rings can be made of gold, silver, platinum or a combination of two or more metals.

Superstitions

There are many superstitions associated with the wedding ring. Here are a few:

• It is unlucky to go shopping for wedding rings on a Friday, due to the bad luck associated with that day (Friday the 13th).
• It is unlucky for the bride or groom to wear their rings before the wedding ceremony, Once the wedding ring has been placed on the finger, it is considered bad luck to remove it. If the ring accidentally comes off, your spouse must replace it on your finger.
• Dropping the ring during the ceremony is an evil omen. Whoever dropped the ring would die first. If the ring rolls away from the alter and rested on a gravestone in the floor of the chapel, it would mean the bride would die first if the person buried there was a woman; the groom would die first if it was a man.
• A tight ring might point to painful jealousy or the stifling of one party by the other.
• Having the wedding ring(s) blessed by a clergyman is believed to give the ring the power to rid disease and guard the wearer from devils.
• A ring that is too loose could mean a parting of the ways through careless acts of forgetfulness.

The Wedding Toast

When someone is toasting the bride and groom they should not raise their glasses like everyone else. Since they are the ones being honored, it is not considered polite to toast themselves.

Why do they call it a 'toast'? It comes from the French custom of putting a piece of bread at the bottom of a wine goblet. The goblet was passed around to honored guests and the guest who got it last would eat the bread.

The Receiving Line

It was believed in ancient times that the bride and groom were blessed, and those who touched them would receive good luck and fortune.

The Garter

Tossing the garter is much like the bouquet toss, but for the single men. The single man who catches the garter is believed to be the next to marry. This custom originated in the 14th century when it was believed lucky to have a piece of the newlyweds' clothing. Many times, the eager and drunken guests would destroy the bride's dress in their attempt to gain a lucky charm. In order to prevent this from happening, the bride's garters were removed and thrown to the unruly crowd to distract them. Today, the tradition of tossing the wedding garter is much tamer.

Why on the Left?

Have you ever wondered why the bride's family is seated on the left side of the church and the groom's side is seated on the right? The tradition stems from medieval times when men wore swords on their right side. It is said they needed that side free in order to draw their sword and protect his bride.

The Wedding Kiss

The wedding kiss symbolizes more than just an endearment. In Roman times, a legal bond or contract was always sealed with a kiss. Therefore, when newlyweds kiss, it represents an agreement to enter into a life-long contract with each other. Some believe the wedding kiss symbolizes an exchange of one's soul with another. When the bride and groom kiss, their souls mingle together.

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History of Wedding Favors

Wedding favors have become an important part of marriage celebrations around the world. The tradition dates back thousands of years. Favors were given to guests in appreciation for sharing in the newlyweds' special day.

Wedding favors are as diverse as the cultures surrounding them and the different cultures have different favors. Though there are a lot of differences, many of the traditions are similar. For example, it is quite common for many cultures to provide each guest with a wedding favor that contains five candies. Each piece of candy is a symbol of the five common wedding wishes: health, wealth, happiness, long life and fertility.

Favors are considered among the most important wedding accessory and range from very unique to practical. Chocolates, picture frames, candles and candle holders are some of the most popular wedding favors. Many brides today try to make some sort of a statement with their favors. Personalized wedding favors provide an especially effective way to display a brief message to the reception guests.

Historically favors were usually in the form of sugar, which was a very expensive product, so favors were commonly given by the upper class only. These sugary treats were nicely packaged and presented to guests at celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and christenings. When sugar became accessible to everyone, the custom of giving favors became wide spread. The most common sugared treat was the almond because of the symbolism behind it. Almonds represent the bitter aspects of life and the sugar represents the sweetness of life. Today, the tradition of giving five sugared almonds is still practiced. Many brides package them in netting, favor boxes, tins and gift bags.

Bridal Showers

Wedding showers derived from the time when men would prove their intent by bringing gifts to the bride's father. Livestock, food, land, cloth and money were given to the bride's family as "payment" for the bride. Eventually, this ritual evolved into men giving gifts of enticement to the daughter to show he was a man of good intentions. Fabric for clothes, the finest dishes and gold and jewels would prove that groom to be could provide a good home for her and their future children.

Some believe the tradition began in Holland when a poor couple was denied the bridal dowry because of the groom's lowly status as a miller. The groom's friends showered the bride with gifts to help them set up housekeeping, which evolved through the years into the tradition we now practice today,

Today, friends of the bride and groom 'shower' the bride (and sometimes the groom) with gifts to start their new lives together. It is believed to be good luck if the first gift the bride opens at her shower is the first gift she uses after the wedding.

Bachelor Parties

Bachelor parties originated with the soldiers of ancient Sparta. The groom feasted with his male friends the night before the wedding, pledging his loyalty and friendship to them. The soldiers provided loose women, food, drinks and good times for a night of male bonding. The function of this rite of passage was simply to say good-bye to the wild antics of single life while swearing the groom's continued allegiance to his comrades.

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The cake has been a special part of wedding celebrations since the Roman era. The original wedding cakes were made of wheat flour, salt and water and made into loaves. The loaves were then broken over the bride’s head at the end of the ceremony to bestow good luck and fertility to the newlyweds. Guests would then pick up the crumbs from the cake as good luck charms.

During the middle Ages, guests were expected to bring their own little cakes to the wedding celebration. The cakes were piled up in a tiered cluster and it became traditional for the couple to kiss over the cluster of cakes. Later, a clever baker decided to gather all these small cakes together and cover them with frosting. Thus, the modem tiered cake was born. It is said he was inspired by the unusual shape of the spire of Saint Bride’s Church in London.

Cutting the wedding cake is now a traditional part of the wedding reception. Traditionally, the newlyweds make the first cut together, symbolizing their shared life together. Every guest is expected to eat a little of the cake in order to bring good luck to the bride and groom. It is said that a single woman who sleeps with a piece of wedding cake under her pillow will dream of her future husband. Furthermore, it is considered good luck for the bride and groom to save the top tier of their wedding cake and eat it on their first anniversary.

Here is an ideal and fun way for any bride to convey her affection for her attendants. Spend an afternoon with "just the girls" and let them know how much you appreciate their participation in your wedding plans.

In the early twentieth century a different type of party gained popularity — it was called the Chocolataire. The menu included chocolate candies, chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream!

Why not treat your attendants to an updated version, and have nothing but chocolate desserts to munch on! Let your sweet tooth be your guide, and let that inner chocoholic out into the open.

Keep the decor simple by using white lace, or linen table coverings. Blooms from red roses floating in clear glass containers will be all the flowers you will need, except for one long stem chocolate rose at each place setting for every guest. These edible roses are available at gourmet thod stores that specialize in desserts.

For a special touch, you may want to shop the flea markets and resale stores for unique, one of a kind china tea cups and saucer sets. Purchase one for each attendant, and have them on the tables when they arrive. Be sure to have hot chocolate and any of the chocolate flavored coffees that are available to serve for refreshments. Let the girls know that the tea cups and saucers are for them to take home as a thank you gift.

Tiered serving trays piled high with dark, milk and white chocolates, fudge, brownie squares, chocolate covered cherries and chocolate truffles will be the main course. If you have access to a fondue pot, melt milk chocolate in the pot and let your guests dip fresh strawberries, marshmallows, pineapple chunks and sliced bananas. YUM! For the guests watching their waist line, they can eat the fruit without the chocolate -- bummer!

For the "dessert," serve chocolate pie, chocolate cupcakes, chocolate ice cream or chocolate mousse. After that, serve everyone a night cap of crème de cacao! Take the time to savor each and every silky morsel as well as the wonderful friendships you have in your life.

A once long standing tradition that seems to be fading fast, is the shower of rice over the newlywed couple. Rice is a symbol of abundance and fertility. It also represents prosperity and good fortune. Traditionally, this shower was done after the reception, once the bride and groom had changed into their "going away" attire, and were leaving for their honeymoon. These days, the bride and groom want to stay at the reception to celebrate with their family and friends. Staying until the last guest leaves is not unheard of today. They really do not want to make the quick getaway — they would rather stay and party!

Most couples are now choosing to have bird seed, rose petals or confetti showers as they exit the church. Then, they escape to a waiting car, and are driven to the reception site. Other variations of the newlywed shower include blowing bubbles, or ringing tiny bells as they leave the church. These are all charming ways to keep the tradition of showering the couple alive and well, in the twenty-first century.

You will need to check with the church, or other wedding site venue, as to the rules pertaining to what they allow for the showering. Rice is now considered environmentally hazardous because of the ill effects it has on our feathered friends, the birds, and is not allowed at most churches.

Some traditions are sentimental, some are beautiful and some are practical, but remember, there are always alternatives. If doing something different makes you feel uncomfortable, then go with the long standing tradition. Being "different" for the sake of being different is not always appropriate, especially when planning your wedding. The long lasting traditions were created for very special reasons, and should be included in your very special day.

Recently, a friend planning her wedding asked my advice about what music should be played when she walks down the aisle. Somewhat a traditionalist, I suggested the "Bridal Chorus," which is more commonly known as "Here Comes the Bride." I was amazed when she told me an acquaintance at her church had suggested selecting something else, as that particular piece was originally the accompaniment to a rape scene in a play.

I’m sure the acquaintance in question was well meaning, but sadly, mistaken. The "Bridal Chorus" was written by the German composer, Richard Wagner, for his opera - Lohengrin. In the opening scene of Act 3, the "Bridal Chorus" is played as Elsa and the mysterious knight, Lohengrin, retire to the bridal chamber after their wedding. The couple express their love for each other. Their reverie is smashed when the bad guys, led by Telramund, who had been defeated by Lohengrin, rush in to attack the hero. A violent clash ensues and Telramund is killed. Then, Lohengrin turns to his bride and asks her to follow him to the king, to whom he will reveal his identity. Then the scene changes. Sorry, no rape scene here.

The "Bridal Chorus" is the most popular wedding march there is. I have attended many weddings, and it was the bride’s choice in every ceremony, except one, which is another story altogether. While the music was not part of the wedding ceremony in its original context, it has been the number one choice of brides for many years, and remains so today.

I wondered how the story of Lohengrin and Elsa could have become so twisted as to lead to its current defamation, so I did a little research. I discovered that it is seldom played at Jewish weddings, as Wagner had a reputation for anti-semitism, and the Nazis held Wagner to be among Germany’s greatest composers. The piece is also disliked by some Lutheran pastors, but that dates back to a general bias against the theater before World War I, and for pagan themes in some of Wagner’s works. The Roman Catholic Church does not approve of its use because it is secular music, and as such, is considered inappropriate as a processional hymn to the altar.

If you are being married in a church, the music should always be discussed with the minister. There may be valid reasons not to include a particular piece, and you should consider those, but please don’t reject a musical piece, especially one as beautiful and traditional as the "Bridal Chorus" based on rumors.

Another very popular piece to accompany the bride as she "takes her walk" is Felix Mendelssohn’s "Wedding March," which he wrote for William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, however it is more commonly used as the recessional music when the bride and groom leave the church together as man and wife.