Weddings are full of traditions, even the most alternative ones. But do we actually know where any of them come from? Here’s a short, surprising history of ten popular wedding traditions in the UK.
1. GIVING AWAY THE BRIDE
This tradition comes from a time when a daughter was literally her father’s property. He “gave” her to a husband, often in exchange for money. Grim.
Today the moment can feel totally different. Many brides choose to walk with a father, a mother, both parents, or a close friend. It’s now more about honour, connection, and support rather than ownership.
2. WEARING A VEIL
Veils have a wild backstory. They were originally used to hide the bride from evil spirits. Later on, veils were used to hide the bride from the groom until the ceremony, so he couldn’t see her (or judge her looks) until he “owned” her.
Some veils were even made heavy to stop brides from running away from their new husband. Lovely.
These days, the meaning has shifted. Many brides wear veils simply because they’re beautiful, dramatic, or meaningful in a modern way.
3. WEARING A WHITE DRESS
People often think white dresses symbolise purity, but that’s not true. Historically, women married in colourful dresses — red was very popular. Blue was associated with the Virgin Mary.
White only became fashionable after Queen Victoria wore a white dress in 1840. Everyone copied her, and white became the norm.
4. BRIDESMAIDS + GROOMSMEN / THE WEDDING PARTY
Weddings once needed ten witnesses to make the marriage legally binding. That’s the early version of a wedding party.
The matching outfits? Those had a purpose. Bridesmaids dressed identically to confuse evil spirits and jealous ex-lovers who might try to kidnap the bride. The groomsmen’s job was similar.
Bridesmaids also carried herbs and garlic to scare spirits away. Over time, those herbs evolved into beautiful bouquets.
5. THE BESTMAN
The original Best Man wasn’t chosen for his charm. He was chosen for his strength. His job was to help the groom kidnap the bride if her family didn’t approve of the marriage. He stood beside the groom in case of an attack… or in case the bride tried to run.
Thankfully, things have changed.
6. THROWING THE BOUQUET
This tradition comes from an old (and honestly, creepy) custom. Guests would try to tear pieces off the bride’s dress for good luck. To escape the grabby crowd, brides began throwing the bouquet as a distraction.
That’s how the bouquet toss began.
7. THE WEDDING CAKE
Weddings once ended with the groom breaking bread over the bride’s head to symbolise fertility. Guests collected the crumbs for luck.
Later, the “bride’s cake” became a thing. She handed out slices to share her good fortune. Queen Victoria influenced wedding cakes again — her white cake made white icing fashionable.
Fruit cake showed wealth, because dried fruits were expensive. The bigger the cake, the richer the family.
8. SOMETHING OLD, NEW, BORROWED AND BLUE
This tradition comes from an old rhyme:
“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.”
Old = connection to the bride’s family.
New = a fresh start with her new household.
Borrowed = luck passed on from a happily married woman.
Blue = love and fidelity.
The sixpence symbolised wealth and prosperity.
Most people skip the coin these days (probably for the best).
9. NOT SEEING EACH OTHER THE NIGHT BEFORE THE CEREMONY
Lots of couples still keep this tradition. Its origins, however, are far from romantic. Arranged marriages were common, and families kept the couple apart so they wouldn’t change their minds and run for it.
Now it’s simply a meaningful way to build anticipation.
10. CONFETTI
Confetti has been around since pagan times. It symbolised prosperity and fertility. Rice was the original choice, although it hurt when thrown, so people swapped it for paper confetti.
Later, flower petals became popular as a softer — and more eco-friendly — option.
So There We Have It
A quick history of some of our most common wedding traditions. These days, some people embrace them, some skip them, and many couples create versions that feel true to them.
If you’re feeling brave and want to break even more traditions, take a peek at this blog post — it’s a bit of a shocker: 5 controversial ideas for weddings on a budget.