It is also said that deliberately aphrodisiac-smelling flowers were used in the Middle Ages. To chase away evil spirits – thanks to particular aromatic herbs – and protect the new family. Over the centuries, the meaning stayed more or less the same. In pre-Christian times, brides used to show up to the ceremony with a branch of myrtle and rosemary, symbols of good luck, fertility and loyalty. ![]() This very traditional element of marriage has an extremely ancient history. The symbol of the bouquet is linked to protection too. Today the symbolism of the wedding veil is associated with the same symbol as the white dress: the purity of the couple’s love. With the spread of arranged marriages, the veil had the sole purpose of obscuring the bride’s face until the ceremony to prevent her future husband from repudiating her because she did not appreciate its aesthetic appearance.įortunately, that time has ended. If this is the romantic part of the story, the veil took on a decidedly more materialistic connotation in the Middle Ages. For this reason, like the surcoat, the veil was also orange – or yellow or red – to represent the flames of the Goddess Vesta, protector of the hearth.įurthermore, during the ceremony, the head of the groom was also covered by the veil. The veil was used in Ancient Rome to protect the bride from evil spirits and preserve the fertility and happiness of the future couple. The veil that we see today as an almost essential accessory for the bride has a symbolic history that is not the most romantic, at least in the Middle Ages. Indeed a profound symbolism, both in a Catholic and secular key! Wedding veil symbolism The couple is reborn again in the family on the wedding day. Today, although white is rarely a symbol of purity, as it is traditionally understood, this colour still represents the new birth. A knot which only her husband could untie! She completed the outfit with a saffron yellow surcoat. Going even further back, in Roman times, the bride was characterised by a simple white tunic tied at the waist by a woollen belt knotted in the traditional Herculean knot. Or the classic fur coat that we see so often in historical films. For this reason, the bride often wore velvet and silk. In France at that time, white was even a symbol of mourning, as is the case today in India and China!ĭuring the Middle Ages, the brides’ dresses were in precious fabrics, embroidered and very colourful, to symbolise the wealth of the birth family. But the tradition took hold only over 400 years later with the marriage of Queen Victoria of England in 1840. It seems that the first bride to wear a white dress for her wedding in 1406 was Princess Philippa of England. ![]() Since 1800, the white dress has become a practice in wedding symbolism. However, not everyone knows that this tradition is not only exquisitely Christian and Jewish but also relatively new. ![]() It is precisely this virginity that is highlighted by the white colour of the dress. It is no mystery that historically the bride must walk down the aisle chaste. Within the wedding symbolism, the white dress is another element of which almost everyone knows the meaning: purity. Indeed, the areolae of the saints are perfect golden circles.Īlthough various wedding bands are common today – in rose gold, white gold, diamonds or platinum – yellow gold remains by far the favourite of Catholic spouses.Īlthough I’m sure, few of them know its deep symbolism! White or colourful dress? This is not only another symbol of the strongness and solidity of the relationship but also a value in front of God in the Christian tradition. In most of Europe, the material is usually yellow gold. Wedding rings are traditionally perfect rounded circles to symbolise the endless love that connects the couple.įurthermore, if placed side by side, the two circles inevitably create an infinity symbol-another element of the mutual commitment of eternal love. I will dwell a little on the symbolism of the rings since almost everyone knows their romantic meaning. The symbol of eternal love: the yellow gold wedding rings From the bride who wants to get married in a colourful dress to non-gold wedding rings, to the absence of sugared almonds and many other variations to a traditional wedding.Īlthough every wedding should be completely customised according to the spouses’ wishes, it is helpful to know what lies behind every traditional symbol that appears on the wedding day: let’s discover the wedding symbolism. What do we know about the wedding symbolism and what is behind every unique tradition of the big day? As a wedding planner, I often work with couples who don’t like some of the more classic wedding traditions.
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