Wedding Traditions in the UK
Planning a British wedding? Whether you’re choosing a charming countryside church, a grand stately home, or a traditional venue, you’ll want to include some classic British wedding traditions in your celebration. From the proposal to the last dance, British weddings are rich with customs, superstitions, and sayings that add meaning and charm to your big day.
Popping the Question: British Engagement Customs
Before the wedding bells ring, there’s the all-important proposal. In Britain, some intriguing traditions surround this momentous occasion:
Leap Year Proposals: An old Irish tradition, adopted in Britain, allows women to propose on February 29th. This custom dates back to the 5th century.
Engagement Rings: The British spend an average of £1,865 on engagement rings. Diamond rings became popular after Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a snake-motif diamond ring in 1840.
Asking for Permission: 71% of Brits believe it’s important to ask the partner’s parents for permission before proposing.
There are traditions and superstitions regarding weddings and marriage the world over. Weddings come with their own set of superstitions in Britain, including beliefs about the best time to marry. For example, it was traditionally considered unlucky to marry during a full moon.
There are old sayings as well, for example, “if you marry in Lent, you’re sure to repent”.
The Bride’s white dress
The bride’s dress today is usually a really big deal. Prices range from £1000 to – well, anything you want really!.
It was Queen Victoria who made the white wedding dress fashionable. She married Prince Albert in an ivory-white gown in 1840. Before that, brides would wear a dress in any colour.
There is a wide range of fabulous British designers and dressmakers creating bespoke beautifully crafted wedding dresses.
For the Groom
For the groom, a morning suit or tuxedo is traditional, often paired with a waistcoat and cravat or tie. However, in Scotland, many grooms choose to wear a kilt in their clan tartan, adding a proud nod to their heritage. Similarly, in Wales and Northern Ireland, traditional dress elements may be incorporated, celebrating regional pride.
The wedding rings
The wedding ring is the symbol of marriage and exchanging rings at the ceremony is a highlight. In the UK, wedding rings are traditionally worn on the fourth finger (ring finger) of the left hand.
Wedding rings have been a symbol of love and marriage throughout the world for thousands of years. Worn on the left hand, it is believed the ‘vena amoris’ (the vein of love) connects to the heart.
In the UK, women typically wear both their engagement ring and wedding ring on the same finger. The wedding ring is usually placed on the finger first, closest to the heart, with the engagement ring worn “on top” of it. During the ceremony, the bride often temporarily moves her engagement ring to her right hand or another finger. This leaves the left ring finger free for the wedding ring to be placed during the ceremony. After the ceremony, the bride can move the engagement ring back, placing it on top of the wedding ring.
There are superstitions when it comes to wedding rings.
It is considered unlucky for a bride to try on her wedding ring before the wedding. It is also said to be unlucky to remove a wedding ring before seven years of marriage.
Something Old, Something New
No one knows exactly where it first came from, but the Victorian rhyme “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” has been a part of the wedding culture for generations.
‘Something old’ symbolises the connection to the bride’s past. It is common for the bride to wear a sentimental piece of jewellery or even a grandmother or mother’s wedding dress.
‘Something new’ is there to bring good fortune to the marriage.
‘Something borrowed’ is there to symbolize the importance of family and friends.
“Something blue” symbolises faithfulness and loyalty. The tradition dates back to biblical times when blue represented purity. The colour blue was believed to ward off evil. Often, the bride’s garter has a blue ribbon on it, making that the blue item.
And finally the lesser-known part of the rhyme about the ‘silver sixpence in your shoe’. The sixpence coin represents good fortune.
Many brides still honour this tradition, incorporating family heirlooms, new dresses or accessories, borrowed jewellery, and blue ribbons or garters into their wedding attire. It’s a fun way to blend meaningful items with wedding day fashion.
The Wedding Party: Roles and Responsibilities
British weddings involve a cast of characters, each with unique roles:
Best Man: Besides organising the stag do (bachelor party), the best man is responsible for safeguarding the rings and delivering a humorous speech.
Maid of Honour: Known as the chief bridesmaid in the UK, she assists the bride and often plans the hen do (bachelorette party).
Page Boys and Flower Girls: These younger attendants, typically aged 3-10, add charm to the procession.
A typical order of service will run as follows:
- Entrance of the Bride
- Welcome and Introduction by the celebrant
- Hymn
- Readings
- Sermon
- Exchange of Marriage Vows
- Prayers; Hymn
- The Signing of the register
- The Final Blessing
- Exit
Giving away the bride
This is a tradition that is rooted in the idea that marriage was a family business arrangement or commercial ties. Brides would be given usually in exchange for money or dowry.
Here comes the bride
Who goes first, bride or bridesmaids?
Do the bridesmaids and flower girls walk down the aisle in front or behind the bride? In the USA it is common for the bridesmaids walk first, but in the UK the bridesmaids walk last.
Why does the bride stand on the left?
The bride stands to the left of the groom during the wedding ceremony so that the groom can protect her with his left arm and use his sword with the right.
Throwing rice and confetti
The tradition of throwing rice, or confetti over the newlyweds as they leave the church symbolises wealth and fertiliy.
Wedding Reception Seating arrangements and table plans
Wedding etiquette dictates that the top table seating plan at the wedding party should be, starting from the left is; The Chief bridesmaid, father of the groom, mother of the bride, The groom, The bride, Father of the Bride, Mother of the groom, the best man.
Wedding Speeches
No British wedding would be complete without the traditional toasts and speeches. The first wedding speech is given by the father of the bride. This ends with a toast to the bride and groom. The groom will then thank the bride’s parents and the guests, before making a toast to the bridesmaids. Finally, it’s the best man’s speech!
The Wedding cake
It has always been tradition for cake to play a part in a wedding, but originally, guests would bring small cakes and place them in front of the couple. They would then kiss over the pile of cakes to guarantee future prosperity.
Pies, buns, and cakes have played a part in British weddings for centuries. During medieval times, the groom had to try to kiss the bride over a pile of sweet bread rolls. By the 1800s the tradition had evolved: relatives would leave a pie hidden underneath the bride’s pillow.
The modern UK custom, where the couple cuts a slice out of a wedding cake, is a little less messy!
The first dance
The first dance has traditionally been the start of a ball or high society party. The male guest of honor would request a dance with the lady of the house. This tradition subsequently became a wedding custom.
Today the father of the bride leads the first dance to then hands over to the groom.
Throwing the brides bouquet
We have all seen the videos of bridesmaids scrambling to catch the bride’s bouquet after the wedding ceremony. It is thought to bring luck in finding a husband for the bridesmaid who catches the bouquet.
In Britain during the 15th century, it was custom for wedding guest to try and tear a piece of the brides’ dress or flowers for good luck. This has evolved into the throwing of the bouquet.
Carrying the bride over the threshold
Starting married life together the new husband will traditionally carry his wife over the threshold of their new home.
Lucky Charms: Horseshoes, Bells, and Chimney Sweeps
In Britain, weddings often feature lucky charms like horseshoes, bells, and even chimney sweeps. It’s said that if a chimney sweep appears at your wedding, you’ll have good luck. This tradition dates back to King George II’s reign, when a sweep reportedly saved the monarch from an out-of-control horse. Since then, sweeps have been seen as lucky omens at weddings.
Horseshoes are another symbol of good fortune. Brides often carry a small, decorative horseshoe on their bouquet or wear it as a charm. In Scottish tradition, bells are rung at weddings to ward off evil spirits, a practice still seen in many ceremonies today.
The Honeymoon
The honeymoon tradition is believed to originate from Viking times when newlyweds were sent to a secluded place for a month (“a moon”) and given honeyed wine. Today, couples often jet off to exotic locations, but many also choose to honeymoon in scenic spots around the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast.
A Celebration of Love and Tradition
British weddings are filled with charming customs and rich traditions that add depth and meaning to the celebration. Whether you’re a bride or groom planning your big day, or a guest hoping to learn more, these traditions offer a beautiful glimpse into the history and culture of Britain, making every wedding a unique and memorable event.
