The old, new, unique and emerging trends we are seeing on the South Coast explained:
Eleven Eighty is a paradox. Being a heritage listed venue we love the history of the property and are sympathetic to the traditions and stories of days gone past. However, we are also “the venue with a twist” and adore anything unique and different and silently applaud our couples when they put their own twist and individual stamp on their big day.
When it comes to the old and new traditions for your wedding day – we say “do you”…….there are no rules. If the old traditions strike a chord, then it can be meaningful to incorporate them into your day. But don’t be scared to follow your own path and set new traditions for others to follow.
Ever wondered where the most popular wedding traditions came from? We’ve got all you need to know on the old traditions and the new, unique, and emerging trends.
- Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue. Brides carry or wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue on their wedding day. The “something old” symbolizes ties to the past; “something new” represents a bright future ahead; “something borrowed” is a transfer of happiness from a long-married couple to the newlyweds; “something blue” is a symbol of purity.
- Wearing a Veil. Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the wedding veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Brides have worn veils ever since. Veils were also used during the time of arranged marriages to hide the bride’s appearance until the very last minute (in case the Groom to be changed his mind!) I wore a veil to walk down the isle 20 years ago, but have noted that the majority of our brides at Eleven Eighty have opted to go without.
- White wedding dress: In many societies, the colour white has long been associated with purity and virtue. Queen Victoria wore white at her wedding in 1840 (prior to which it was quite usual for brides to wear a multitude of colours) and popularized the wearing of white. Today traditional white ball gowns are no longer the norm. Brides are increasingly opting for unique styles to walk down the aisle allowing brides to express their own personality and put comfort first. Here is one of my favourite “unique” dresses from an Eleven Eighty Wedding.
- Seeing each other before the wedding. This superstition dates to the time of arranged marriages, when people believed that if the couple saw each other before the ceremony, it would give them a chance to change their minds about the wedding. Today, however, many couples choose to meet up for a “first look” and even have portrait sessions before saying their “I dos.”
- Rain on your wedding day. In Australia there is fear of so much as a drop of rain falling on your wedding day but in some cultures, rain on your big day is sought after as it symbolizes fertility and cleansing. With the amount of rain that South Coast Wedding venues have seen over recent years, if this superstition is true we must be due a population explosion!
- Carrying the Bride over the Threshold. This superstition began in Medieval Europe where many believed that a bride was extra vulnerable to evil spirits through the soles of her feet. To avoid bringing in any evil spirits, the groom carried the bride into their new home. Today this custom is less of a superstition and more a great photo opportunity!
- Using Your Married Name Before the Wedding. Some think it is tempting fate for the bride to write out her married name or monogram before she’s married, and that the wedding will not take place if she does so. If you’re superstitious, save the monogramming for your reception decor and registry items. (That’s if you intend to change your name as many ladies these days choose to keep their maiden name)
- Ringing Bells. Bells are traditionally chimed at Irish weddings to keep evil spirits away and to ensure a harmonious family life. Some Irish brides even carry small bells in their bouquets as a reminder of their sacred wedding vows, and they are a common gift for newly weds. At Eleven Eighty we have the old school bell that many couples have chosen to incorporate in their day.
- Best day to marry. In English tradition, Wednesday is considered the “best day” to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health. Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day, according to English folklore. Interesting that in modern times, Saturday is the most popular day to get married, however at Eleven Eighty we are seeing a surge in mid-week weddings.
- Engagement and wedding rings are traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand because it was once thought that a vein in that finger led directly to the heart.
- Wedding Cakes: The tradition of a wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where revelers broke a loaf of bread over a bride’s head for fertility’s sake. The custom of tiered cakes emerged from a game where the bride and groom attempted to kiss over an ever-higher cake without knocking it over. The cake cutting used to be done by the bride only, to symbolize her virginity and future fertility. Nowadays, the couple participates in the cake cutting as a duo, representing their setting up a home together and caring for each other. Today’s weddings anything goes from cakes made entirely out of cheese wheels to cupcakes and donut displays.
- Bridesmaids served as decoys for the bride during Ancient Roman times to confuse evil spirits. Some couples these days choose not to have bridesmaids.
- In many cultures around the world the hands of a bride and groom are literally tied together to demonstrate the couple’s commitment to each other and their new bond as a married couple giving us the popular phrase “tying the knot”.
- The bride stands to the groom’s left during a Christian ceremony, because in bygone days the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors. Can you imagine!
- The tradition of the bouquet toss comes from England, where female guests used to try to rip pieces of the bride’s wedding gown and bouquet for good luck. Over time this turned into the bouquet toss, where the bride tosses her bouquet to single female guests, the one who catches it is considered the next to marry.
The great thing about weddings today is that you get to pick and choose which customs (if any) you want to follow, without the fear of repercussions. Not only that, but you also get to do things your way. Today couples getting married on the South Coast include their pets on their wedding day (did I mention that Eleven Eighty is pet friendly?).
We’ve seen couples walk down the isle together, stand to sign the register, use sparklers for a spectacular
kiss and choose not to have anyone give the bride away. In terms of new traditions, we are seeing an upsurge in micro weddings (typically mid-week and sub 30 guests). Many couples are saving their vows for only their closest friends and creating a more intimate experience. Destination weddings are on the rise. Why make your celebration only one day, when you and your guests can make a weekend out of it?
What new traditions did you incorporate in your special day?
