Bridal Association of America

The wedding cake was originally made of many little wheat cakes. These were broken over the head of the new bride. This tradition was meant to bestow fertility and good luck to the new bride for her married life. Fortunately for the bride, this tradition is no longer practiced. The cutting of the wedding cake was once cut only by the bride and was symbolic of her upcoming loss of virginity. In modern times this tradition of cutting the cake includes the groom as well. Cutting the cake and sharing the first bite with each other symbolizes the couple’s promise to share their new life together.

The top tier of the wedding cake was traditionally kept and used at the christening of the couple's first child. But today, this tradition has been modified and the top tier is saved to be used at the couple's first anniversary.

Another wedding cake tradition is if an unmarried person sleeps with a piece of a wedding cake under their pillow, they will dream of their future spouse that night. This is one custom that is sure to excite the single guests at your wedding!

You may exchange souls with the bride

Yes, this is what the big wedding kiss symbolizes--the swapping of souls between the bride and groom. Even earlier than this Christian belief, the Romans used a kiss to seal a contract. The kiss was considered legally binding. I don't know about you, but I'm glad that a handshake suffices today.

What's more, a bride marrying in the Church of England had to kiss the minister before she smooched the groom. I would really love to go to a wedding where the minister said, "Now, I may kiss the bride."

In days of old, the bride was literally given to the groom in an arranged
marriage. Today "giving away" is seen as symbolic of her parent's
support for her union.

The white runner, signifies a pure pathway into happiness. Rose petals
in the bride's path lead her to a sweet and plentiful future

To insure a happy and lasting marriage, a bride should carry something
old from someone who has been married for a long time and something new,
to carry her into her new life. Something borrowed, "borrowed happiness",
something blue, "the color blue has been associated with purity and
modesty". A penny in your shoe, place a penny in your shoe to bring
good fortune and protection against want

Historically, flowers and herbs have played a significant role in the
attraction of "good" and/or the warding off of "evil".
Greeks used ivy for the sign of lasting love. Today, pretty wedding flowers
convey a message of fertility and enduring love and romance.

In Colonial times a bride often wore her "Sunday Best" to her
wedding. It was not until the 1840's, when Queen Victoria was married
in a white wedding gown, that "white gowns" became the rage.
White is also a symbol of affluence, purity, and joy. Today, brides choose
many shades of white, from bright white to champagne.

It was believed that a veil would protect the bride from harm. Today the white veil is a symbol of modesty and purity.

As far back as literature documents weddings, the wedding ring has been
in evidence. Some believe the wedding ring was the first element of wedding traditions. The circular shape of the wedding ring symbolizes never-ending love. Third finger, left hand? It is believed that the vein in the third finger of the left hand runs directly to the heart.