11 WEDDING TRADITIONS EXPLAINED

We’ve all seen them — the bouquet toss, the best man speech, the cake cutting.
But ever stopped and wondered why we actually do any of it?

As someone who’s deep in weddings week in, week out, I see these traditions all the time. So I did some digging. And spoiler: some of the origins are wild.
From sword fights to evil spirits, here’s where it all comes from…

 

1. Why does the bride stand on the left?

Not just for photo symmetry.
This goes waaaay back to when grooms might have to literally fight people off at the altar.
(Yes — really.)

Back in the day, brides were sometimes “stolen” from their families, and the groom needed his right hand free to draw a sword in case someone tried to reclaim her. So… the bride stood on his left, ready for action.

Chivalry? Maybe. Terrifying? Definitely.

 

2. Why is it called a “best man”?

It’s not just because he’s a top bloke who knows your worst stories.
Originally, the “best man” was your best fighter.
He was your literal wingman — armed and ready to defend the bride from being kidnapped mid-ceremony.

So next time you see the best man fumbling for the rings, remember: it could’ve been worse. He could’ve been swinging a sword.

 

3. Why does the father “give the bride away”?

Yup… it’s as outdated as it sounds.
Back in the day, daughters were considered property, and marriage was more of a transaction than a love story. A dowry would be paid to the bride’s father, who’d then “hand her over” to her new owner — I mean, husband.

Oh — and tying boots to the back of the wedding car? That comes from the same idea. Along with the bride, the father used to give the groom his old shoes too. Bargain.

 

4. Why does the bride carry a bouquet?

Because it’s pretty? Sure. But also… garlic.

Back in the unwashed olden days, strong-smelling herbs (like garlic and dill) were carried to mask body odour and scare off evil spirits.
And somewhere along the way, this turned into a fertility symbol too — because nothing says romance like sweaty symbolism and cloves of garlic.

 

5. What were bridesmaids originally for?

Not for holding your veil or your Prosecco.

Back in the day, evil spirits were blamed for everything, including bad weddings. So bridesmaids were dressed exactly like the bride to confuse the spirits — basically acting as decoys.

Imagine ten lookalikes running interference on the aisle like a budget Marvel movie.
We’ve come a long way.

 

6. Why do we have wedding cake?

Because we like cake… but also because ancient customs were a bit intense.

In Roman times, the groom would break a loaf of barley bread over the bride’s head to assert dominance and encourage fertility.
Later, in Medieval times, guests would stack bread rolls in a big tower — and the newlyweds had to kiss over it. The higher the pile, the more kids they were expected to have.

So yeah… bring on the Victoria sponge.

 

7. Why is the cake white?

In Victorian England, white symbolised purity (you know the drill). But white icing was also made with finely milled sugar, which was expensive.

So the whiter the cake? The wealthier the family.
Basically, it was edible bragging.

 

8. Why does the cake have tiers?

Back to the whole stack of bread rolls = more babies idea. The height of the cake symbolised how fertile the couple was. (Because of course it did.)

These days it’s less about kids and more about aesthetics. Though if you really want to go traditional? Croquembouche is still a thing in France. Profiterole tower, anyone?

 

9. Why throw the bouquet?

Once upon a time, guests would literally rip parts of the bride’s dress to steal some “good luck” (and apparently, fertility magic).
To distract them, brides started lobbing their bouquets instead — and the tradition stuck.

Nowadays, most brides use a second, cheaper bouquet for the throw. Because launching £500 worth of peonies over your head is not the vibe.

 

10. Where does the “first dance” come from?

Not actually a wedding thing originally — it comes from grand society balls.
The guest of honour would open the dance floor with the first waltz. Weddings borrowed the idea, and now the newlyweds get the spotlight (and 100 people filming them awkwardly on iPhones).

Don’t worry though — I’ll guide you through it, cue the right track, and get your guests joining you before it gets weird.

 

11. Why the ring? And why that finger?

This one’s actually kind of romantic.
The circle represents a love with no beginning or end. And Ancient Greeks believed the third finger on the left hand had a vein that led straight to the heart. (Not true, but sweet.)

Also: gold = precious. Like love.
Symbolism levels: high.

 

💬 Too Much Information?

Most wedding traditions are either:
✔️ Slightly bonkers
✔️ Based on fighting, fertility, or superstition
✔️ Or weirdly sweet when you dig into them

The good news? You don’t have to include any of them.
But knowing the stories behind them can make the ones you do keep feel a little more meaningful — or at least make for a good toast.