Where Did The Tradition Of Tying Shoes To The Bridal Vehicle Come From?

Some people believe the tradition stems from the Egyptians.  It is said that Egyptians once exchanged sandals after exchanging goods. As a result, it is thought that the father would give the groom his daughter's sandals (bride's shoes), symbolizing that they were the grooms property now.

Another  idea of shoes and wedding traditions comes from the bible.  In Ruth 4:7 it states that ; Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.

Both ideas show how shoes can be part of commitment to a contract.  Incorporating shoes into the tradition of weddings seems natural, since wedding vows and ceremonies are contracts of commitments between a bride and groom.  But how did the old tradition turn to shoes being tied to bumpers?

During the Anglo-Saxon years( 5th century), people took to throwing shoes at the bride and groom as a way to wish them luck on their journey, as well as fertility. It could be that maybe, just maybe, someone threw a shoe just a bit to hard and bit to precise. Possibly knocking either the bride or groom out thus resulting in a change of tradition at the next wedding. Instead of throwing shoes, they tied them to the carriage. After all the point of a tradition is merely symbolization. Tied shoes symbolizes the husband and wife being "tied" together (committed to one another) and tying baby shoes to the bumper certainly symbolizes fertility.

We can't be certain of when the tradition changed; but even in today's time, you will see many different countries still carrying on the "tying of the shoes" wedding tradition to the couples car.

Ask The Wedding Guide: Where could I purchase what is called a sixpence.  Jackie

Reply:

Jackie,

Today, most brides who want to follow the "something old, something new and a sixpence in your shoe" wedding tradition simply use a penny or another coin as a symbol of the six pence.  I don't believe six-pence are in current circulation. However, if you have your heart set on a sixpence try one of these places:  coin collectors who deal in British coins , wedding accessory shops who deal in wedding tradition items, wedding supply compaines with wedding tradition items.

India has many beautiful wedding customs. The majority religion of India is Hinduism. The wedding customs and traditions in India stem from their religious and culture back grounds.  In Hindu weddings the bride wears a sari (a wrap style dress) with her hair up usually in a bun style and a veil called a ghunghat.  In India the covering of the bride's head is mark of respect to the gods as well as the elders.  The groom wears dhoti, which is an un-stitched fabric about seven yards and wraps around his waste where it is tied in knot, along with a shirt.

One of the most commonly known Hindu wedding traditions is mehandi (henna tattoo).  Mehandi is an exotic non-permanent tattooing of intricate patterns that decorate the bride's hands Read the rest of Indian Wedding Customs -Traditions »

Greek Wedding Tradition… Oopah!

Greek Orthodox weddings are very theatrical. One thing that may surprise you is that in a tradition Greek Orthodox wedding the bride and groom do not exchange vows. Tradition dictates that the bride and groom meet outside the wedding ceremony location (the church) and enter together. The church sees the standing before the priest as a serious commitment and thus no need to exchange vows. They enter the church with the guest following. Yes the guest wait outside the church waiting for the couple to enter first, and take seats where ever they like, there is no brides side or grooms side in traditional Greek weddings.

There are several parts to the wedding ceremony the first is the Rites of the Betrothal. This is the beginning of the ceremony, the priest stands before the bride and groom and ask the bride first do you wish to marry this man, and then ask the groom do you wish to marry this women. After the answer the priest then says a prayer, the “Crowning” takes place the priest holds two wreaths over the bride and grooms heads. The wreaths signify how much give and take a marriage must have, as well as symbolizing that they are now king and queen of their own kingdom.

The couple then drink from a single cup of wine, symbolizing that in marriage all things are Read the rest of Greek Wedding Tradition….. Oopah! »

Wedding traditions are charming ways we hold on to our heritage and ethnicity. When we are able to incorporate even minute details of our heritage it makes our wedding day that much more special. But what if you don't have a direct relationship to a particular heritage or ethnicity?  Can you follow their traditions?  Remember imitation is the best form of flattery.  So why not incorporate the traditions of an ethnicity or  culture that you admire.  For me some of the wedding traditions that began with the Italian culture are the most special.

In fact, Italian wedding traditions are easily incorporated into any wedding celebration. If you’re a bride who Read the rest of Infusing Italian Wedding Traditions Into Your Special Day »

Irish Wedding Traditions Fit Easily Into Any Wedding

All cultures have their superstitions and traditions. A common superstition comes from the Irish and involves horseshoes. Seen as lucky, horseshoes are often incorporated by a bride and groom having an Irish wedding. To do this brides will carry a hanky with upturned horseshoes embroidered on them or the grooms will wear horseshoes cufflinks.

Perhaps your ancestry is Irish or maybe you just love the romantic culture of the Irish and Celtic ways. If so, you can easily infuse your wedding day with Irish traditions. The use of traditional music is one way to bring Read the rest of Who Else Wants A Wedding With Irish Traditions »

Why does wedding tradition suggest a bride wear or carry something old. Wearing something old is a bride’s acknowledgment of her family and the past. Family heirlooms, jewelry or a family member’s wedding dress, are often given to a bride to keep and use in their wedding ceremony. The Victorian rhyme (something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver six piece in her shoe) contributes to the long-standing popularity of this wedding tradition.

An alternative meaning to the something old wedding tradition is linking friends in hopes that the Read the rest of Something Old Wedding Tradition »

The circle shape of wedding rings represented eternity for the Egyptian. Wearing a wedding ring symbolize the marriage agreement. They placed the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand believing the left hand was directly connected to the heart. The Greeks also believed in this wedding ring tradition thus Read the rest of Why Wear Wedding Rings On The Left Hand? »

Unlike most wedding traditions, the Unity Candle is a relative newcomer. Its appearance was first noted in the early 1970s, but it has become quite popular since then. The addition of the Unity Candle gives the couple’s mothers a place in the wedding ceremony, and adds a time within the ceremony itself for celebration and reflection.

The Unity Candle ceremony actually consists of three candles: two tapers with a pillar in the middle, all typically white. The taper candles, which are lit by the mothers of the couple at the beginning of the ceremony, represent the individual families from which the bride and groom come. Later, the bride and the groom each seize a taper and direct its flames into the Unity Candle, thus symbolically uniting their families Read the rest of Why a Unity Candle? »

In most societies throughout history, marriage has been more about social and economic expediency than about love. Weddings were often arranged by a couple’s parents, when the bride and groom were still in early childhood, and were based on the families’ respective social standing and offerings. Even if the bride and groom had chosen each other, there were certain prerequisites before a wedding could take place. Sometimes the groom’s family was required to pay a "bride’s price," essentially purchasing the bride from her family and reimbursing them for their loss. For her part, the bride often had a dowry, or an accumulation of possessions and money that she took with her into the marriage. All terms had to be settled before the marriage ceremony could take place.

On the wedding day, the father of the bride would present his daughter to the groom. He would then "give her away", thus verbally acknowledging that all arrangements had been fulfilled and he was satisfied with Read the rest of Why give the bride away? »