Congratulations on your wedding! Finally, the big day is arriving, and you are surely feeling anxious because your dream special day is just around the corner. Weddings are all about love, culture, and tradition. These traditions hold significant importance not only for the couple but also for their families. They celebrate the rich cultural identity of the families passed down through the generations. You will be surprised at how many customs are in UK weddings. Most couples try to incorporate some or none of this heritage into their ceremonies per their preferences. However, there are a few customs that all couples follow when it comes to wedding ceremonies. As you embark on your new journey, looking back at the UK’s most important wedding legacies is essential. Join us on this journey as we guide you through the rich UK wedding traditions.
UK Wedding Traditions: Our 8 Picks
Wearing White
To begin with, we have the meaning of colour itself. White represents purity! The trend started by Queen Victoria is still popular, and brides prefer wearing this colour to mark their new beginnings. Before this, for a British traditional wedding brides wore the most expensive dress they owned.
In addition to many UK wedding traditions, there is another rule that not all brides usually stick to. Conventionally, people perceive it as bad luck for a bride a bride to be seen before her wedding. Nowadays, there is a small exception to this rule. The maid is permitted to see the bride once after the dress is ready.
“Old, New, Borrowed, Blue”
This wedding tradition is based on an old rhyme in which the old represents the past and the new stands for the future. Here, borrow refers to the happiness given to the bride by her new husband, while blue refers to warding off evil. The poem goes like this: ” Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and silver sixpence in her shoe.”
Wedding Rings
The custom of exchanging wedding rings during the ceremony dates back to Old Egyptian times. People consider the circular shape to represent eternity. In those days, people wore wedding rings on the left finger of the left hand, believing that it led directly to the heart.
Wedding Cake
Cakes, buns and pies have played a pivotal role in wedding traditions in Great Britain. It is a time-honoured wedding custom. During mediaeval times, the groom should kiss the bride over a pile of sweet bread rolls.
However, the heritage evolved, and the family and friends leave a pie hidden underneath the bride’s pillow. Now, as per modern UK wedding traditions, pies have been replaced by cakes where couples cut a slice and share it. It’s less messy and, of course, more enjoyable.
Giving away the bride
Next, we move on to matters we are familiar with. This is an age-old tradition about giving away the bride by her father. People began the tradition back when they viewed marriage as more of a business arrangement. Therefore, fathers considered the brides their property, handing them over to the new owner in exchange for money or a dowry.
Nowadays, things are very different. It is totally up to the future wives. But still, it is a special moment to share with family members or siblings.
First Dance
Now, let’s turn our attention to some more popular wedding traditions in Great Britain. In the old days of royal balls, there was no such thing as the first dance. It was instead referred to as the typical opening number. As a custom, male guests of honour invited the house lady to join them for the dance. Over the years, this became a traditional British wedding custom.
The host, usually the bride’s father, dances with her first, followed by the groom. However, even this has gone through several changes. Whilst this formality now no longer exists. Therefore, the first dance is between the bride and groom as a start to the evening party. Afterwards, the dance floor is open to everyone.
Couple Not Seeing Each Other- Before the Ceremony
Next among the well-known UK wedding traditions is seeing your spouse on the morning of the special day. Dating back to time-honoured wedding custom when marriages were arranged for dowries, lands or property. Therefore, most of the time, couples did not know each other. As a result, the bride was kept hidden until the ceremony to prevent the groom from running away until the marriage was solemnised.
Surprisingly, the bride’s parents used to cover her face with the veil until they exchanged “I Do’s” to be on the safer side. Now, the times have changed. Therefore, couples usually arrive at the ceremony together and even get their first look shoot done with the photographer capturing the wow moments in their wedding attire.
Bouquet Toss
This wedding tradition is kind of funny. During the 15th century, there was a peculiar custom that guests would have to tear off bits of the bride’s dress, hair, or flowers at the end of the wedding.
People believed that grabbing a piece of the bride’s dress would bring them good luck. However, it often gets messy, and now the bride simply tosses off her bouquet at the guests and runs for her life.
To sum up, every of the above-mentioned UK wedding traditions holds a special place in the hearts of the couple and the guests. If you are planning a destination or local wedding in Great Britain, it is going to be an extraordinary event. The traditions are not just an ode to our values and customs but also a fun way of staying connected to our roots. In essence, they are a way of displaying our cultural pride and celebrating the uniqueness of our community.
If you are looking for more inspiring information, feel free to read through our blogs. Also, contact us if you are looking for a UK wedding photography and videography team for your big day. We would love to be part of your new beginnings!
