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Articles » Fashion » Jewelry >> View Article
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| The Use of Jewelry in Wedding Tradition |
By:
Suta |
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Many of today's wedding traditions have origins across the globe and are ancient but wedding traditions evolve over time and new ones co-exist with the old. The wedding tradition of wearing a tiara is very old and probably comes from when kinks would wear a ribbon on their head and shoulders, usually white as a sign of their status. This tradition has actually jumped the sexes so that women now wear what is considered a feminine crown that is shaped like a half moon and can be made with expensive metal and adorned with jewels.
The bridesmaids can also wear a tiara but they must not be as elaborate as the bride's which usually sits on top of the veil to hold it in place. A wedding dress is not complete without a tiara and most brides that have one will hold onto it as a keepsake of the happy occasion. Small tiara shaped rings, as party favors would make the most memorial conversation jewelry, for maid of honor, bridesmaids and even the flower girl.
There was a time when it was customary for members of the wedding party to escort the couple to their place of honeymooning. Once there they would then race to retrieve the wedding garter from the bride's leg and either wear it upon their hat or give the newly won prize of fertility and consummation to the lady of his choice for good luck. The enthusiasm that this wedding tradition produced was often too much and the attempt to remove the garter ended in the bride being undressed so to stop this unseemly behavior, brides tried throwing the garter to the men in the party as soon as she was married.
This was considered a signal for the next male to be betrothed however; the men would generally get too drunk and make attempts at taking the garter themselves. To stop this type of situation, brides took to tossing the bouquet to the group of women after the wedding ceremony which continues today and has a similar meaning to the once tossed garter but without the poor behavior the men showed. However, although it no longer has the same significance that it once did, tossing the garter to male members of the wedding has returned and many women feel very strongly about wearing the garter once again.
Women who are trying to stick to tradition will wear a blue garter as it is considered a lucky color but many brides like the somewhat more saucy red as their preferred color. Just to keep up with the times it is not uncommon for the bride to allow the groom to remove the garter and then throw it over his shoulder to the male wedding guests. Whilst the meaning for this act has not changed over the years; the person to take hold of the thrown garter will marry within twelve months, it is doubtful many guests actually know this. |
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| Article by Suta at: http://theuseofjewelry.blogspot.com/ |
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