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| Blue - A safe journey, longevity, understanding,and patience |
| Ceremony Symbology and History |
| Wedding Colors |
| Black - Banishes negativity, represents the universe and wisdom |
| Green - Health, prosperity, luck, fertility, and beauty |
| White - Peace, sincerity, and devotion |
| Silver - Creativity and protection |
| Ring Exchange |
| The exchange of rings became tradition in the thirteenth century, where the rings were believed to be so vital to the ceremony that if the groom was unable to buy a ring, he would rent one for the ceremony. The rings, like circles, have no beginning and no end, and showed others how great the couple's love was. The bride and groom exchange rings to symbolize the "giving" of endless love to the other. |
| Handfasting Ceremony |
| The term handfasting comes from the custom of shaking hands over a contract, and began being used in weddings to represent the bride and groom agreeing to the marriage promises. In the ceremony the bride and groom's right wrists are tied with each end of the handfasting cord, a rope which the bride has made. The cord when tied symbolizes that the couple is bound together and to the promises they made to each other. This ceremony is where the phrase "tieing the knot" came from. |
| Unity Candle |
| Something Old, Something New Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Penny for her Shoe |
| Something old is said to show that she can take the love of her family with her. Something new is to promise success in her new life. Something borrowed ensures that the bride's family and friends will be there to help her when she needs them. Something blue symbolizes constancy, loyalty, and faithfulness. The penny in her shoe is supposed to guarantee wealth for the new couple. |
| Wedding Party Attire |
| Flower Ceremony |
| At the altar is an archway under which the bride and groom get married. The arch is typically white and is sparsely decorated with ivy and other flowers. Guests wishing to bless the couple are asked to add flowers with various symbolisms to the archway. This shows the couple that they have their family and friends' support of their marriage. |
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| The two taper candles represent the bride and groom and their lives up until this day. The tapers are lighted by the bride and groom's mothers. As the mothers gave the bride and groom life, they give the bride and groom's candles light. The couple, using the tapers, lights the unity candle to represent the joining of their two lives. |
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| Traditionally, bridesmaids dressed similarly to the bride and groomsmen dressed like the groom. This was not done to provide uniformity but for protection from evil. It was believed that if evil spirits or jealous suitors were to try to harm the couple, they would become confused as to which two were the bride and groom, and therefore be unable to harm them. |