As you plan one of the biggest days of your life, you’ll want to think about the traditions involved. Which ones will you keep? Which ones will you do without? And which ones will you alter and update for a modern twist? All of these decisions are important factors to consider as you make your wedding day your own. You and your partner will want to personalize your day to suit your style while maintaining or modernizing certain wedding traditions that matter to you. The professionals at Marco Island Weddings are here to help you think through which age-old traditions you might want to keep and which ones to update or discard.
The Bridal Bouquet
The bride’s bouquet is iconic as her dress and the ceremony itself. Centuries ago, this tradition began with brides carrying herbs, garlic and grains down the aisle to ward off evil spirits that might try to steal the newlyweds’ joy on such a happy occasion. Eventually, the herbs and garlic were replaced with beautiful flowers, maintaining the symbolism but bringing a fresh new look (and scent!) to the wedding ceremony. Today, you can update this tradition with intriguing floral bouquets that match the theme, colors or vibe of your wedding. Anything goes, from wildflowers to tropical blooms to oversized individual blooms. Since the act of carrying a bouquet is traditional in itself, go ahead and choose a bouquet that shows off your sense of style!
Your Bridesmaids
Surrounding yourself with your sisters and college roommates seems like a logical choice- after all, this is your tribe. You want them by your side on such an eventful day. However, this tradition dates back to Ancient Rome when bridesmaids would dress the same as the bride to confuse evil spirits, giving the bride and groom a chance to start their marriage off on the right foot without being cursed. Today, we update the look-alike bridesmaid tradition by allowing for variations on the style of dress but keeping the color the same. This allows for tradition to shine through with a modern twist (your bridesmaids will be grateful, too!).
The Sweet Flower Girl
Including your little cousin or niece in the wedding ceremony is as sweet as it is traditional, though the tradition of scattering rose petals along the aisle is a relatively new twist. Originally, in Ancient Rome young girls would carry sheaths of wheat down the aisle before the bride emerged. The wheat represented prosperity, fertility and good will for the new couple. Over time, the sheaths of wheat were replaced with flowers whose petals were scattered before the bride’s entrance. Some alternatives have included interpretive dancers or the scattering of confetti or ribbons along the aisle to welcome the bride to the ceremony.
The Little Ring Bearer
This Victorian tradition comes from pageboys who carried a prayer book and the wedding rings down the aisle. A show of wealth and prosperity on the part of the bride’s and groom’s families led to the rings being presented on pillows. These luxury items were not owned by everyone, much less used for such frivolous purposes as a wedding, making the act that much showier. Today’s modern brides and grooms have update this tradition to include a special box, meaningful palette or even the family dog as the carrier of the rings.
The Groom’s Boutonniere
While today’s boutonnieres are a symbol of unity between the bride and groom, as well as the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the beginning of boutonnieres dates back to medieval times when women would give their love a flower before he left for war. The flower usually matched her clothing and the men would wear the flower proudly in their lapel to show they were supported by a woman at home as they marched into battle. Now the flower men wear for their wedding tend to match the flowers in the bride’s bouquet, though it can definitely be redefined and modernized to suit his sense of style or celebrate his favorite hobbies.
Wedding traditions have certainly changed over the centuries and there’s no going back. At some point in time, someone chose to make a change, leading to the traditions we recognize today. Whether you and your partner are trailblazers who want to start something new, or sentimentalists who want to honor age-old traditions, the point is to make your wedding your own. Talk to the wedding experts at Marco Island Weddings about your ideas and we’ll help you make them a reality. We want your wedding to be a reflection of your style, personality and taste. Let us help you make the most of your special day.