Classic Wedding Traditions: Incorporating Unique Customs to Your Big Day
Getting married is one of the most significant events in one’s life, and all of us would love to make it extra special. We all have our ways of making this big day perfect, from the venue to the flowers and the cake, but have you considered incorporating traditional practices into your wedding? Wedding traditions have been in existence for centuries and have been passed down from generation to generation. They bring not only a sense of history but also a sense of community, invoking feelings of warmth and belonging for everyone who partakes in them. So, let’s put a little bit of history into your big day with this blog on incorporating classic wedding traditions.
![Modern wedding venue with an arch of fresh flowers](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/wedding-venue-arch-1024x683.webp)
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This adage dates back to the Victorian era and is still around to this day. There are many ways to incorporate these four elements into your wedding day, making for an excellent addition to your bridal ensemble. For “something old,” you could wear a family heirloom or have an old photograph of your grandparents’ wedding sewn into your dress. “Something new” could be your wedding gown, or a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers. “Something borrowed” could be a piece of jewelry or a veil from someone who has already tied the knot, and for “something blue,” you could opt for blue shoes, blue lingerie, or even a blue ribbon on your bouquet holder.
![Wedding bouquet with blue flowers](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/wedding-bouqet-blue-rs-1024x683.webp)
![Unity Candle Lighting Ceremony](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Unity-Candel-Lighting-rs-1024x681.webp)
The Unity Candle Lighting Ceremony
The lighting of the unity candle is a beautiful tradition that symbolizes the coming together of the two families. It’s typically done during the ceremony after the exchange of vows and rings. The couple lights a single candle from two separate candles, symbolizing the joining of their two families into one. If you want to add a unique twist to this tradition, choose candles with meaningful colors or have a family member light the candles, making it even more sentimental.
Cutting the Cake
At the end of the reception, the couple shares a slice of cake and slices the rest of the cake for their guests. This tradition is said to represent fertility and longevity, and the sharing of the cake indicates the couple’s commitment and devotion to each other. To spruce up this “classic,” you could try having a dessert bar, a variety of tasty treats, or even different cakes with different flavors.
![Wedding Cake](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Wedding-Cake-rs-1024x683.webp)
![Tossing the wedding bouquet](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bouquet-toss-rs-1024x512.webp)
Tossing the Bouquet and Garter
The bride tosses her bouquet, and the groom tosses the garter to single guests. It’s said that whoever catches either of them will be the next to get married. A fun and unique spin on this tradition would be to have the groomsmen catch the bouquet and the bridesmaids catch the garter and reverse the roles.
The "First Look"
In previous times, the bride and groom didn’t see each other until the ceremony. The “first look” is a modern trend that’s becoming more and more popular. It involves the couple seeing each other before the ceremony, which makes for a beautiful moment. You could add a unique twist to this tradition by thinking of arranging a “first look” with a grandparent, parent, or sibling, making it even more memorable.
![The "First Look"](https://simplicitybridal.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/First-Look-rs-1024x683.webp)
Every bride to be wants her wedding day to be perfect, and what better way to make it perfect than to incorporate classic wedding traditions. They bring not only a sense of history but also a sense of community, invoking feelings of warmth and belonging for everyone who partakes in them. From adding “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” to having a dessert bar instead of cake, there are endless ways to add unique variations to these classic traditions. Remember, it’s your day, and your unique spin is what makes it memorable. So go ahead, incorporate the classics while adding a touch of your personality and style.