Did you ever wonder why the age old wedding customs still breathe fresh in every wedding? Do you know the reason behind it? It is fun to look at how wedding traditions all started. Here are some interesting wedding facts. Trace the reason behind the customs like wedding ring, bouquet of flowers, the white glooming veil and many more.

Wedding Gowns – The symbol of purity

History dates white wedding gowns back to 1840, when Queen Victoria made white the bridal colur of choice when she wed Prince Albert. However in 17th century, red color was a favorite in Europe. Other colors were worn for symbolic reasons, for instance blue meant constancy and green meant youth. As years passed, white was worn as a symbol of purity.
In ancient Poland, it was believed that sprinkling sugar on the bride’s bouquet kept her temper sweet.

Veil- The symbol of mystique and romance

It is believed that originally, the veil was worn to show modesty and were worn at the ceremony as a symbol of her promise to obey her husband. The veil dates back to ancient Rome, when it was flame-yellow, always worn over the face, and called a flammeum.

The bouquet of flowers – The disguised blessings

Imagine walking down the aisle with garlic, herbs and grains. Well! If it wasn’t replaced with a bunch of beautiful flowers, we would still have the same tradition. It was believed that garlic, was supposed to ward off evil spirits and the herbs or grains were to insure a fruitful union. After few decades the tradition was replaced with flowers to symbolize fertility and eternal love. In ancient Poland, it was believed that sprinkling sugar on the bride’s bouquet kept her temper sweet.

The Wedding Ring- Make your way towards my heart

Wedding ring is usually worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. It relates to traditions supposedly dating to classical times, that the finger contains the “vein of love”. By wearing rings on the fourth finger of their left hands, a married couple symbolically declare their eternal love for each other.
However in countries like Germany, Greece, some parts of India, Russia, Poland, Columbia, Spain and Venezuela, it’s worn in the right hand. A traditional reason to wear the wedding ring on the right hand stems from Roman custom. According to them, the Latin word for left is “sinister”, which in addition to this sense also has the same senses as the English word. The Latin word for right is “dexter”, a word that evolved into “dexterity”. Hence, the left hand had a negative connotation and the right a good one.
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Wedding Cake - Symbolizes fertility or abundance

Ancient Romans broke a cake over the brides head to symbolize fertility or abundance. Some other cultures dropped wheat, flour or cake on the bride’s head, and then ate the crumbs for good luck. As the years rolled by with some varied addition and deletion of customs the tiered wedding cake was born.

The first kiss of union

The kiss that is given by the bride to the groom at the end of the wedding ceremony originates from the earliest times when the couple would actually make love for the first time in midst of the onlookers with praise. It was believed the first kiss that they shared would make couples exchange spirits with their breath and even part of their souls.

Small dot of Vermilion – a symbol of wedlock

Married Indian women place a red dot on their foreheads, between their eyes. It is practiced since times innumerable. In ancient times, a groom used to apply a spot of his blood on his bride’s forehead, in recognition of wedlock! Today, the groom applies a small dot of vermilion, a powdered red lead, to the bride’s forehead and welcomes her as his partner for life. It is applied for the first time to a woman during the marriage ceremony.

Honeymoon- A hideout for lovemaking

Honeymoon- the prelude to married life, is much sought by the newly wedded couples. However in the ancient days it all started with a captive lovemaking. The first weddings comprised of a groom taking his bride by capture. He would take her somewhere hidden away so her relatives and villagers couldn’t find them. There they stayed for one moon phase and drank mead, a wine make from honey, to make them more amorous. Thus, the word “honeymoon” was born. There are many such stories about this mysterious phase, above being the most popular.

Throwing rice - symbolizes fruitfulness and prosperity

The custom of throwing rice, originated with the ancient Hindus and Chinese culture. In these cultures, tossing it after the ceremony was believed to bestow fertility upon the bride and groom.

Tie tin cans to drive evil away

The tradition of tying tin cans to the back of the newlywed’s vehicle originated as a device, which would produce noise to scare away evil spirits, while they make their way of blissful lovemaking.

Trevor Warren and Jennifer Prater, who tied the knot Wednesday on their 11th anniversary as a couple, had the choice of a romantic gazebo in the countryside or the Court Street Dairy Lunch for their wedding.
Although the Dairy Lunch, with its bovine-inspired decor and walls covered with old photos of Greer, might not be the first choice for many couples looking to get hitched, the downtown restaurant was the clear choice for the Warrens.
Trevor, 31, has been a cook at the restaurant since 2001. He and Jennifer, 30, always have made it a point to seek out local cafes where they live, Jennifer said. Jennifer eats breakfast at the Dairy Lunch every morning before heading off to work at Sunnyview Labradors, where she is a kennel technician.
The close-knit atmosphere at the Dairy Lunch fit the bill for the couple. Trevor asked owner Marlene Blanchard if he and Jennifer could use the restaurant, and Blanchard was more than happy to oblige.
“We’ve had an after-wedding lunch, and years ago a reception,” she said. “But never a wedding.”
The couple deemed the venue appropriate because it fit their theme of old, Trevor said.
“We’re the oldest couple of our friends to get married, we have one of the oldest judges in Greer and we’re getting married in the oldest restaurant,” he said.
Retired Circuit Judge Richard Barber, a regular at the Dairy Lunch on Tuesdays for chicken noodle soup, officiated the ceremony.
“I didn’t know it would be here, but it’s appropriate,” Barber said.
The wedding was attended by all five other restaurant staff members and friends and family of the bride and groom. There were 20 guests.
Jennifer, as well as her approximately 7-foot train, proceeded from the kitchen to the front of the restaurant where her husband-to-be waited.
The atmosphere was casual, as was the dress code for guests.
“They didn’t want it to be fancy,” Blanchard said. “They just wanted (the Dairy Lunch) to be like it is.”
The couple exchanged vows in front of the makeshift altar, which was the restaurant counter draped with a white beaded cloth and adorned with candles and champagne flutes. Barber led the ceremony from behind the counter.
The wedding party, which was limited by space, included the Warrens’ mutual friend as best man and the mother of the groom as maid of honor. A reception, including a three-tier cake made by the father of the bride and snacks provided by the Dairy Lunch, followed the ceremony.
The Warrens are heading to Charleston for their honeymoon Friday.

Save money and avoid the hassles of the peak travel season

With the global economy in crisis and both travelers and airlines feeling the pinch, it may not seem like 2008 will be the cheeriest of Christmas Wedding seasons. Airlines have cut flights, raised fares and added a surge of surcharges for everything from checked bags to phone bookings. Meanwhile, many brides and grooms are postponing or canceling their honeymoon plans to save money.

But for honeymooners still planning to spend Christmas weekend in Paris, the news isn’t all bad. There are still deals to be found, provided you shop carefully and plan ahead. Check out our 10 tips for holiday travel and find some joy this holiday season.

Avoid peak travel dates

At Thanksgiving, Wednesday is the critical outbound “avoid” day as a rule. Traveling on Thanksgiving day proper is often a breeze and more affordable; there are often cut-rate airfare deals on Thanksgiving day.

On the return, Friday morning isn’t bad at all, with each successive day getting a little busier, more difficult and more expensive through Sunday evening. The bottom line: If you are looking for a deal, you won’t find one on the peak travel days. Travel off-peak whenever possible.

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Thursdays this year, which means that the same advice for Thanksgiving will apply to both of these holidays — fly on the holiday itself if possible, and avoid Sunday evening at the end of the long weekend.

Book early

Chistmas brides…Haven’t booked your honeymoon travel yet? It’s time to stop waiting and start booking. Fares are only rising as Thanksgiving approaches, so those who hold out in hopes of a late-breaking sale are likely to get left out in the cold or pay a very steep price for their procrastination. The same goes for the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times. With the current state of the airline industry, it is never too early to book your holiday travel flights.

While many of the best deals are probably already gone, keep an eye on our Holiday Deals section for any last-minute bargains. Be prepared to be flexible with dates and flight times.

Shop around

Whether you’re using booking sites like Travelocity, bid or auction sites such as Priceline, a comparison shopping has never been easier than it is right now. During peak travel season, casting the net as wide as possible will help you understand all of your options.

For many travelers, price isn’t the only or even the most important factor, especially during the holidays. Thoughtful, deliberate use of the “search adjacent days or airports” features found on many Web sites may also surrender greatly improved fares and travel times.

Know your airports

Checking alternate airports is a pretty standard tactic, but at this time of year it can really make a difference. At no time can the alternate airport gambit pay off better than during the holiday crush. You can score on almost every front — parking, rental cars, traffic to and from, nearby hotels — and save both time and money.

First thing, you and your betrothed must determine the wedding budget.

Kat Coffen, owner of a South Carolina event planning service — Selah Style and Events — offers the following breakdown (not including the honeymoon or rings):

• 35 percent for the reception

• 14 percent for flowers

• 10 percent for attire

• 10 percent for photography

• 10 percent for videography

• 5 percent for music and entertainment

• 5 percent for stationary

• 3 percent for the ceremony

• 7 percent for other purchases like accessories, transportation, favors and gifts.

While author Leah Ingram suggests “you need to determine up front what is important and what’s not a priority,” in her book “Tie the Knot on a Shoestring” (Alpha Books, $14.95).

Coffen suggests her brides think about their day an decide what five things are most important.

“Then the bride can decide how she wants those five things to be reflected during the day,” she said.

Experts say one of the biggest prewedding mistakes couple make is blowing off the budget.

“It costs a lot of money to throw a wedding,” the Web site states. “Excited brides start booking vendors and making purchases without having a real budget and then are shocked to discover they’ve already spent all of their money (or parents’ money) and don’t yet have half the things they need. If you bounce checks or don’t have the money to pay your deposits or make your final payments on the wedding day, your wedding will not happen. Trust us — the band is not going to play all night if you don’t pay. Planning a wedding is serious business. Make a budget and keep track of your expenditures so you won’t be walking naked down the aisle.”

Making sure that you get written agreements with each vendor you hire, and reading the fine print will also ensure wedding day success.

“Every professional you work with should present a written agreement for you to sign. If he doesn’t, you can’t just assume everything will go according to plans. Generally folks are not out to rip off brides and grooms, but should something go wrong, you’ll have no recourse if you don’t have anything in writing,” Ingram writes in “Tie the Knot.” “I don’t care how great a band or photographer is or how yummy the food at a reception locale, if the person refuses to sign a written agreement, then you should refuse to do business with him.”

Experts agree doing your homework, as well as setting a realistic budget and sticking to it, will make the road to wedding bliss all the more smooth.

“Don’t worry about what the bridal magazines say you should have at your wedding,” Ingram advises in her book. “Plan only for the things you like and that fit your budget.”

And the experts suggest: “Keep in mind that you are getting married and starting a life together, not just planning a wedding. Brides, be good to your grooms. And grooms, be good to your brides! Some tension between the two of you (and among members of your family) is inevitable due to the sticky topics that weddings stir up, but don’t ever let things get out of control. Remember why you decided to take this leap in the first place!”

Thirty-three Houston-based brides who saw their wedding ideas swept away by Hurricane Ike will finally have the chance to say “I do” in a new episode of the Rachel Ray show.

The TV presenter has organized a mass ceremony for the displaced couples, which includes everything from wedding photography and cake to flowers and decorations.

As part of the hour-long show, set to air on Friday, a reception will be held at Minute Maid Park - home of the Houston Astros - and Wynonna Judd will stage a special musical performance.

In preparation, a team from Ray’s show helped the contestants get ready for their big day, with fashion and style guru Gretta Monahan and lifestyle contributor Colby Donaldson helping both brides and grooms choose the best attire for their walk down the aisle.

Ray told the Houston Chronicle she was inspired to step in after she heard the “tragic” story of the couples’ ruined wedding day.

“We tried to replace a bad experience with a really beautiful memory,” she explained

First of all, don’t go overboard. We imagine this will be your only wedding - so why not make it special? Special-ing an event takes money. Don’t be stingy. Save in other places, if you can, thereby creating energy and resources for the big day. People “back in the day” often used the piggy bank approach to distinguish very special occasions from less special occasions. A coffee a week in the bank, instead of the mouth, won’t make that much difference but it will ritualize your intention to have a very special time on your special day. Think “Lay away,” again an old fashioned concept but a simultaneous material and spiritual preparation for your wedding. Lay away one purchase a week, like clothes or honeymoon, and you will find it more fun to buy and enjoy, in a slow and steady way.

Second, take two years from the engagement till the actual marriage. That could double your time to save and prepare.

Third, consider a double up. Do you know anybody else who is getting married? Many banquet halls have multiple rooms. You could share the rent with someone; you could even have a “double” wedding if your friends and their friends enjoy each other. Likewise many officiants would be glad to “group” the pre marital counseling with convivial people. They would also be glad to do one service at 4 and the other at 5, reducing the preparation of the space and the hiring of musicians and custodians and the like.

Fourth, have a reception at the largest apartment or house a friend has, country or city, or both. Saving your guests travel money by having two receptions could help. Saving gas and travel is a gift to guests and the planet. We often give our apartment in NYC away to people who need a large space. Don’t call or write: I am over booked with friends and congregants. But you probably know someone who is house or yard rich. Ask them for a wedding present. Or ask if they could use a little extra cash in exchange for use. Caterers are very good at catering in and are often much less expensive than hotel or restaurants.

Fifth, you could also ask an under employed friend to cater for you. You’d be surprised at how many good cooks there are “out” there. You might even cater the food yourself. I catered my own wedding and would recommend it highly. I even have recipes for 125 in a small bound book! Maybe you have not one friend who could manage the “whole” thing - so ask five. One does the appetizers, the other the main, etc. Just about any good cook knows how to make appetizers for 125 and enjoy it.

Sixth, consider having the sacred ceremony outside or in a church or synagogue or mosque where you attend. Most congregations will give a break to members. And if you don’t belong anywhere, find a friend who does. You might let that friend know that you are willing to barter your gift for their space. Do you design web sites? Or a country place some staff member of the congregation could use? Bartering is an under estimated form of economic exchange. Clergy are often quite interested in unusual economic arrangements. Don’t be afraid to ask.