Emily Post wasn't the only one who wrote books on etiquette, and surprisingly, the wedding traditions were the ones that she could be most relaxed about. However, there were plenty of other staunch wedding traditionalists out there writing the rules on politeness. Clara de Chatelain wrote "Bridal Etiquette" in 1856 and outlined rules pertaining to weddings. One of them even says that telling people you have just been wed is a big faux pas. Once the couple leaves for their honeymoon, they are to stop talking about the wedding because it's over.Â
One thing you'll notice about historical wedding traditions is that a lot of them were based on keeping evil spirits away, confusing the evil spirits or bringing good luck and good weather to the day. Those traditions have been updated to fit the modern era, but some are just flat-out interesting. Did you know it was commonplace for brides to have complete control over the color of their wedding dress? It wasn't until religion became the forefront of weddings that the virginal white became a tradition. But a lot of strong women have followed those traditions, and a lot have not. Plan a wedding based on historical traditions and we'll tell you which strong woman you are!
Back in the day, bouquets were made out of pungent items to ward off evil spirits. Which of the below would you rather have?
Would you want your parents to be the first people to congratulate you after the ceremony, as outlined in "Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness?
People still do this today, but back in the day, the first look the groom got at your dress came as you walked down the aisle. That was the only option. How do you feel about that?
It's common knowledge in tradition that the bride's parents, specifically the father, would foot the bill for the wedding. Does that sit well with you?
People get really creative with rings these days, but would you be OK with diamonds being the only permissible gem for the rings, as it was in the 1930s?
Veils have become a popular accessory for brides, but it used to be that only brides who were of appropriate age could wear them. If you got married today, would you be able to wear a veil?
Nowadays, the top tier of the wedding cake is saved for the first anniversary, but historical tradition calls for it to be saved for the birth of the first child. Which would you rather save it for?
Saturdays are arguably the most desired day for a wedding, but back in the day they could only take place on weekdays because Saturdays were considered unlucky. Would you have a weekday wedding?
If you wanted to walk down the aisle to anything other than the traditional bridal chorus (Here Comes the Bride), you're out of luck. Does that song work for you?