Where did the wedding custom of the bride wearing white come from?
109659
The tradition of wearing white at weddings began due to the choice of colour of the wedding dress of Queen Victoria at her wedding to Prince Albert. Queen Victoria was not the first royal bride to wear a white wedding gown, but the first of the modern era. White had been a traditional colour of royal mourning, and although not often utilized as such, white was not considered a suitable choice for a royal wedding. Victoria's choice popularized the white gown as no other had before her. Previously, brides wore their best clothes or the most expensive new clothes they could afford. Gold or gold-threaded dresses became popular with royal brides; the rank-and-file wore dresses that reflected their station. White was one of many choices, pastel shades were also popular.
469643
Approx. 4000 B.C. \nEarliest depictions of shoes (flexible leather pieces held in place with lacings) in ancient Egyptian murals on tombs and temples. \n  \nApprox. 200 B.C. \nPlatform sandals called kothorni, with high wood or cork soles, become popular among Roman tragic actors. \n  \nApprox. 1000 A.D. \nAt Saxon weddings, father of the bride customarily presents the groom with one of the bride's shoes, symbolizing transfer of his authority over her. The bride's shoe is thrown to the bridesmaids; the one who catches it will be next to marry. \n  \n1154-1189 \nKing Henry II of England popularizes shoes with narrow, pointed toes. Legend says they hid his deformed toes. \n  \n1189-1199 \nKnights of Richard the Lionhearted begin to wear sollerets, downward-curving pointed toes, to keep their feet from slipping out of stirrups. \n  \n1215 \nA law passed in Paris bans university professors from wearing shoes with long, pointed toes. However, shoe toes, a symbol of rank, grow longer and pointier during the next two centuries, culminating by about 1382 in the spiky-toed cracowe. Kings and princes sometimes wore toes 30 inches long. \n  \n1386 \nKnights fighting in the Battle of Sempach in Switzerland are forced to amputate their shoes' long toes after dismounting before they can advance on foot. \n  \nApprox. 1500 \nShoes begin to be made in two pieces, with a flexible upper attached to a heavier, stiffer sole. This leads to the introduction of the heel, devised as a better way of keeping a rider's foot in the stirrup. Heeled boots for men quickly become fashionable. \n  \n1509-1547. \nHenry VIII of England favors wide-toed shoes, sometimes 12 inches across, which had to be stuffed to keep them on his feet. \n  \n1533 \nShort-statured Italian bride Catherine d'Medici, married at 14 to the Duke of Orleans, wears shoes with two-inch heels to exaggerate her height. The high heel may have been invented by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). \n  \n1553-1558 \nMary Tudor ("Bloody Mary"), another vertically challenged monarch, wears heels as high as possible. From this period until the early 19th century, high heels are frequently in vogue for both sexes. \n  \nMid-1500s \nAn extreme shoe style called chopines, popular among women in Italy, Spain and France, had pedestals of cork or wood as tall as 24 inches. A Venetian lady wearing chopines needed two servants to help her in and out of a gondola. \n  \n1628 \nPilgrims arrive in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. A law is passed prohibiting "excess in bootes." \n  \n1660 \nFrench shoemaker Nicholas Lestage, so clever at his trade that some accuse him of sorcery, becomes shoemaker to Louis XIV. The heels of Louis's shoes, some decorated with miniature battle scenes, are as tall as five inches. High "Louis" heels are also fashionable for ladies. \n  \n1745 \nMadame de Pompadour, tiny-footed favorite of Louis XV, popularizes high, narrow "Pompadour" heels. Ladies tape their feet to reduce their apparent size and faint at court. \n  \n1793 \nMarie Antoinette ascends the scaffold to be executed wearing two-inch heels. However, in the wake of the French Revolution heels become lower than at any time in the 18th century. \n  \n1794 \nQuincy Reed opens America's first retail shoe store in Boston. Around this period, Marc Isambard Brunel (1769-1849) invents machines for cutting soles and riveting them to uppers. \n  \nEarly 1800s \nFlat shoes and Grecian-style sandals become popular. \n  \nApprox. 1865 \nThe "sneaker" or plimsoll, a canvas-topped, rubber-soled shoe, is invented for badminton and tennis. Ladies' heel heights vary but stay below two inches during the rest of the century. \n  \n1904 \nThe ladies' "pump" or court shoe, a British invention, reaches America. Shoe stores begin to stock shoes with a range of widths around now. \n  \nApprox. 1955 \nTall "stiletto" heels for women's shoes, inv
269709
It's like a regular american wedding, the bride wears white and the groom a tux, after the ceremony everybody goes to the reception and dance and have a good time. I remember when my brother got married they stuck dollar bills to the brides dress while they danced the vals.
248372
What does this have to do with weddings?
533321
Here is a website that tells about how different wedding traditions of various cultures:\n\nhttp://www.vfwpost1503.org/different_cultures.htm\n\nHere are Valentine's Day traditions from different countries:\n\nhttp://www.stvalentines.net/traditions.htm\nhttp://www.romanceclass.com/miscr/vday/traditions.asp\nhttp://www.internet-at-work.com/hos_mcgrane/holidays/2_melissa.html\nhttp://www.romanceeverafter.com/valentine's_day_around_the_world.htm\nhttp://www.everythingvalentinesday.com/valentine-day-traditions/valentine-in-others.html\n\nSince most countries observe Valentine's Day~this was the best place to look for celebrations of love in other cultures.  I hope this was helpful in your research!
76008
There was a time when people were hunter-gatherers and lived a nomadic lifestyle.  Because of this, the population spread throughout the world.  Over time, peoples' skin colors changed to adapt to the amount and intensity of the sun where they lived.   For example, people closer to the equator developed darker skin because they got a lot of sunlight and people closer to the poles developed lighter skin because they got a lot less sunlight.  That's why people have different skin colors.  \n\nWhy do people marry when we are really all distant relatives?  Well, if the Biblical accounts are to be accepted, the simple truth is that we do marry our far-distant relatives.  In fact, in the South, when a person marries, one of the questions on the marriage application is, "are you related by blood?".  It is not uncommon in that area of the country, and is allowed by law, for second cousins to marry.
860096
The origins of the use of the costume are unclear, but it does seem certain that it was originally intended to be some kind of disguise. Although the organization has no relationship with Spain, the contemporary white gown with a cone hat follows the Spanish Roman Catholic "Nazareno" tradition, where such garments have been commonly used since time immemorial in festivities such as the Holy Week symbolizing the act of penance. In Spain and former colonies the pointed hat is called "Capirote".\n\nIt has been stated that the novels of Sir Walter Scott and others influenced the organisation in various ways—for example, in the use of the Fiery cross—so they may have also influenced the KKK's costume.\n\nThere are a number of explanations given as to what it represents:\n\nThe ghosts of the Confederate troops in the American Civil War. \nThe white represents the white race, reflecting the racist ideals of the organization. \nThe pointed hood also resembles that of a medieval executioner (although this was usually black, and that of grand inquisitor.) \nThe red cross on the white costume, and the horse resembles that of crusaders. \nThe costume was similar in design to those worn by the Spanish Inquisition, with the exception of the hood. \nThe white outfit may also be reflective of supposed Druid costume.[1] \nBecause of the symbolism and appearance of these costumes, superstitious blacks in the South thought KKK night riders were the actual ghosts of Confederate soldiers, riding their horses out of Hell to find a drink of water.\n\nThe KKK's own militaristic origins in the Civil War also played a part in developing, and turned the Klan into a Proto-Fascist organization (true Fascism did not arise for several decades, and then in Europe).\n\nThe KKK still exists in the US today - predominantly in the South, and has ties to numerous other "purity" groups.
767982
it's depends on your culture baby.. the western culture put the wedding ring on the left hand... but in most of the eastern culture, they put it on the right hand...
1116568
Congrats on yuor wedding... to be there.. \n\nYou can have fusion for the wedding. \nI am not sure what custom you are going to follow. \nIf you are going through the church type then you can do you christian style dress. \n\nDress has to be Red in colour....You can apply a bindi(red dot on yuor forehead) \n\nIn the evening for reception you can dress in the traditional way. It might be dificult for you to wear a saree if no one is ready to help. Else you can get a Chania Choli (red colour) with gold work on it. It will look nice as well. You can go for the mathcing jewellery with that  for the full set. \n\nAbout the food you can have 3-4 disshes which will be an add on for the people. I am sure the white americans will like the food too. \nSome Items like Papadums and samosas for starters\nItems like Paneer (cheese) Palak(spinach), or Navratan Korma. You can check this from the caterers or the Indian restarants as to what dish you like.. \nThis can be with the Indian breads (Rotis) \nIn sweets you can have Gulab Jamun or Kulfi (type of icecream made from boiling milk for long time)\n\nAnything more IM me.. My wedding was on their last year and I will send you the link for my wedding photos on the yahoo. \n\n\nSmile always
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To answer your question, there is no "wedding text"  in the Bible. Many pastors and priests do not use it anymore, preferring to use something more personal and applicable from the Bible reflecting the relationship of the soon to be married couple.\n\nThere are no ceremonies specifically detailed either, unless you count Esther's beautifying treatments before she became Queen.\n\nOn the topic of the actual marriage, the only thing it says is that a woman shall leave her family to go with the man, her new husband, and they shall become one - which means that they not only get to have sex (interesting that all the parts needed for this fit together like an interlocking Lego...), that your genes will combine to create a single human (your eventual child), but also refers to the joint decisions you will make for your lives-you are considered two halves of a whole by the community when it comes to public responsibility. \n\nThe Bible does, however, detail how a man should honor his wife and children in marriage, and visa verse. But that is after the fact. \n\nThe dearly beloved spiel is a text written to guide would-be "ministers" who must be accredited by the state to legally perform wedding ceremonies and issue marriage licenses. If you look closely, there is allot of legalese in the speech. \n\nMuch of what we call a traditional wedding really started back with Queen Victoria at the turn of the century. The popularization of the white dress, the diamond ring, the formal dinner, the rehearsal, etc., all stem from a fascination with her wedding before WW1. \n\nThe bridesmaids and men of honor are a throwback to an ancient Celtic tradition from Ireland, (whom Victoria ruled over) where they thought that evil spirits would attack the young couple to be...so friends and family dressed like the bride and the groom to confuse the evil spirits and lead them away from the couple. The shoes (or cans) tied to the back of a wagon/car also have to do with scaring away evil spirits. The flower girls are also part of a pagan tradition, but I forgot where it came from.\n\n Throwing rice has to do with securing fertility for the couple. It is not a Christian tradition either. \n\nLighting a unity candle has to do with Catholic pageantry, and is not prescribed or mentioned anywhere in the Bible. \n\nThere is a book by Robert Fulcrum called, From Beginning to End: the Rituals of our Lives. He explains the history behind our most commonly observed rituals, including the wedding ceremony that literally, is less than 100 years old. \n\nMost of your questions can be answered in his book. It's a beautiful read, and will give you new insight on what will make your wedding meaningful, and not just a copy of some fake "tradition". He is a Unitarian, and although I am personally a Christian, I think he handles the topic of God as part of a marriage with sensitivity and sound common sense. \n\nI hope this helps you get started.
140460
Many of the Eastern European customs that follow the wedding ceremony are meant to deliver the couple to their new home and to help them establish a domestic partnership. Here are just a few of the colorful traditions.\n\nTHE FIRST STEP\nIn Romanian villages, the women watch the newlyweds as they emerge from the church; if the bride steps out first, she will rule the household. This hearkens back to a time when the couple would have been presented with a circular loaf of bread with a hole in the middle. The couple would look up at the sky through the hole and then break it in half. Like a domestic wishbone, whoever got the larger piece would be dominant in the home.\n\nPASSING THE TORCH\nYugoslavian Krusevacs journey to the house of the groom's parents after the ceremony. There, in front of all the guests, the bride must sit on her mother-in-law's lap while a young man from the groom's party sprinkles water from a pitcher onto the floor. This signifies the transfer of the mother's role as the groom's caregiver to his new wife. For his part in the service, the young man is given a pair of socks by the bride -- what a lucky guy.\n\nBABY FEVER\nLatvian grooms observe the custom of carrying the bride over the threshold -- only with an added twist. A plate is placed on the threshold, upside down and covered with a linen towel. As the groom carries the bride over, he steps on the plate, breaking it. Legend has it that the number of pieces it breaks into determines how many children they will have. This is usually an occasion to tease the newlyweds, since the plate shatters into dozens of pieces. Later, the bride might be presented with a small tub of warm water and a naked doll with mustard smeared on its behind so that she may prove that she will be able to bathe her children.\n\nIN ITALY ...\n\nWhen: In Italy, wedding festivities usually kick off in the morning, ideally on a Sunday. According to regional Italian folklore, you should never marry (or leave for your honeymoon) on a Friday or Tuesday, or you’re bound to have loads of bad luck, while Saturdays are reserved for widows getting hitched to husband number two (or three, or four ...).\nAttire: Don’t bother with makeup since in addition to a white gown, you’ll wear a veil -- a symbol of virginity (don’t worry, it’s just for show). Tearing the veil, however, is considered good luck (Why? Just use your imagination). Meanwhile, the groom can lug a piece of iron (preferably a small one) in his pocket to ward off evil spirits.\nActivities: Traditional Italian brides and grooms forgo the limo and make it to the chapel on foot. In certain villages, residents throw symbolic obstacles in your path to suss out your future as man and wife: If a broom lands at your feet and you pick it up, for example, you’ll be one helluva housecleaner. After the wedding ceremony, the couple shatters a glass or vase -- and does their best to pulverize it, since the number of pieces represents the amount of years they’ll stay happily married. If someone hands you a double-handed saw, you and the groom must cut a log in half to prove you can work together without driving each other insane.\nThe Food: A roasted baby pig or lamb accompanied by wanda, bow ties of fried dough dipped in powdered sugar. Women sip Marsala wine, men guzzle the much stronger grappa (go ahead and guess who’s in store for a hangover). Confetti -- sugar-covered almonds (or Jordan almonds, as we know them) representing the bitter and sweet of life -- serves as snacks or, yes, projectiles thrown at the newlyweds as they make their exit.\nThe Music: Possibly a jaunty jig called the tarantella. Legend has it that a woman who was once bitten by a poisonous tarantula cured herself by shakin’ her booty better than Beyoncé on a very good day. The least it can do for you is to keep you from passing out due to too much Marsala.\nAdded Perk: Money -- lots of it. Forget toasters and towels: Guests place col
421613
I just got Married on the 21st and some of my friends wore white pant suites...that didn't bother me really.  But when my 2 month married sister-in-law showed up in the same white dress, that she wore to her reception, it infuriated me...I must say be kind to the bride an let her be the only one in white!
843333
In English ways or how it was when i first got married, was the father of the bride paid for the wedding. The father of the bride paid for nothing other what he wanted for his own family, i understand these days it is done differently as most Bride and grooms earn more money then there fathers do.In india it is different, i believe the bride's family pays for not only the wedding it's self but also all the gold that is wore on the day, you can now see why it once bad luck to have a girl in the family, image the large familys they have.
170040
Something age and occasion-appropriate that is not white, ivory, or black.  My mother wore a long dress that had a matching beaded jacket over it.  Hers was the same color as the bridesmaid dresses, but it doesn't have to be.
1066108
Depending on where you are is the answer.  I am married to a Pakistani man and I had a small wedding the American way but I also got married at a mosque.  Pakistanis have very beautiful weddings there dresses are usually very colorful and very very nice.  I have seen from video other family members weddings the way they do it and I am very jealous because if I could I would do it that way, I would.  My husband is very nice and now we have 2 anniversaries 1 week apart because the first one was my way by a preacher and his way by an Iman.  I love the way the way they get married and how the people dress for it but that is my opinion.  Talk to the man you are gonna marry and see what he says.  If you want a beautiful wedding dress then he should understand but depending on how your wedding is gonna be is what you should wear because if you wed the Pakistani way I don't think the white wedding dress will be appropriate.
197340
It's an old southern saying from the time of slaves. See the black slaves where not really allowed to marry so when the bride and groom jumped over the broom they thought they where married.
215700
Tradition.\n\nThe wedding cake as we know it today, with its successively smaller layers, its supporting glass or plastic pillars, fancy hand piped frosting, all came about in 1859, with a confection that commemorated the marriage of one of Queen Victoria's daughters. As is the case with today’s brides, the celebrities of the time moved the public to emulate their fashions, starting with the wealthiest Victorian families first.\n\nFor a white icing, only the most expensive, pure refined sugars could be used; so the whiter the cake, the wealthier the bride’s family must be (as most sugar at the time was browner than today’s refined type). A pure white wedding cake also complemented the bride as the focal point of the wedding, since she too was wearing white as her own symbol of purity.