Ribbons, Garters & Bouquets
Anything worn by the bride was considered good luck. The bride would literally “ribbon” the sleeves of her gown so she could rip them off and throw them into the crowd in order to distract the crowd so she could escape.
In the 14th century it was customary for the bride to toss the garter, but the men would get too drunk. They would get impatient and try to take off the garter ahead of time. It became less trouble for her— just to toss the bridal bouquet.
The bouquet was considered a sign of happiness. Throwing the bouquet today is an offshoot of the garter toss.
Be Fruitful: Fertility Rites
An ancient Pagan rite was showering the happy couple with grain to wish upon them a “fruitful” union. Pagans believed that the fertility of the seeds would be transferred to the couple on whom they fell.
Tossing Coins:
In Scottish tradition as the bride and groom departed, the groom and groomsmen may sometimes toss handful of low value coins to the ground.
Rice:
Raw wheat or rice showered the bride, in the leaner times of the Middle Ages.
Maids & Grains:
Wheat, long a symbol of fertility and prosperity, was one of the earliest grains to ceremoniously shower new brides. Unmarried young women were expected to scramble for the grains to ensure their own betrothals, as they do today for the bridal bouquet.
Bridal Flowers
Warding off Evil
Carrying flowers by the bride has its roots in ancient times. Strong smelling herbs and spices were thought to ward off and drive away evil spirits, bad luck and ill health. Garlic and chives were popular for the same reason.
For Fertility
During Roman times, this tradition was extended, with the bride and groom wearing floral garlands signifying new life and hope for fertility.
Secret Messages
The bouquet symbolized a woman in bloom. During Victorian times, flowers took an additional significance, as lovers would send messages to each other using different flowers, with each flower having its own meaning. These associations were soon adopted for the bride’s bouquets and are still used today by many brides.
Declaration of Love
The groom is supposed to wear a flower that appears in the Bridal Bouquet in his buttonhole. This stems from the medieval tradition of a Knight wearing his lady’s colors, as a declaration of his love.
Tidbit:
Shoes: Tie, toss, or trade:
Tying shoes to the bumper of the couple’s car is a Hindu custom of good luck. This represents the symbolism and power of shoes in ancient times. Egyptians would exchange sandals when they exchanged goods, so when the father of the bride gave his daughter to the groom, he would also give the bride’s sandals to show that she now belonged to the groom. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom would tap the heel of the bride’s shoe to show his authority over her. In later times, people would throw shoes at the couple, and now they tie them to the car.