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Who started the tradition of wearing a white wedding dress?
Queen Victoria on her 1840 marriage to her first cousin Prince Albert. Before her, brides would wear their best dress, regardless of the color.
Nevada is the #1 state in the US for weddings, mostly because of Las Vegas. What state is #2?
Hawaii, mostly because it’s a popular destination wedding that doesn’t require an international passport.
Who was the Greek/Roman goddess of marriage?
Hera/Juno, who was Zeus’/Jupiter’s wife. She was also the goddess of childbirth and women.
Why do we ask the groom to kiss the bride at the end of the ceremony?
The Roman Empire kissed each other on the cheek to seal contracts of any kind, especially weddings.
Diamonds are the most popular gemstone found in engagement rings. What’s the second most popular gemstone?
Sapphires.
What do Middle Eastern brides do to make their wedding day safe?
They paint themselves with Henna, as a way to protect themselves from “the evil eye,” a demon usually found in the Muslim faith (also more commonly referred to as a Jinn).
From which country do we get the tradition of throwing rice at a newlywed couple, and why?
China, as they believe that rice is symbolic of life and will make the couple fertile.
In England, if you find this in your dress before your wedding, you’re considered lucky. What is it?
A spider! The tradition goes back to the Anglo-Saxon days where pagan gods were worshiped, and believed to inhabit the bodies of animals, arachnids included.
Which religious figure should a bride avoid on her wedding day according to Italian folklore?
Nuns! To the Italians, if a bride sees a nun on wedding day, she’ll be destined for an unhappy marriage.
Where did the tradition of wearing a wedding veil come from?
Ancient Rome, as a way to confuse any evil spirits that might try to sabotage the wedding!
What color do most Chinese and Korean Brides wear on their wedding day?
Red, for it is consider the color of luck in their culture.
Which ancient civilization gave use the concept of wedding rings?
Ancient Egypt, as a way for the Pharaohs to show their unity to each other. However there is evidence of cavemen using grass to create a primitive form of wedding rings too.
In Northern Africa, what is thrown at the married couple as a symbol of fertility?
Figs
From which ancient civilization to we get the concept of the bachelor party from?
Sparta. Warriors and generals would have a huge night of drinking before their wedding, which means that not much about humans has changed over the course of thousands of years.
What gem is considered the most unlucky to be found in an engagement ring?
Pearls, because the Germans believe they resemble tears and are an omen of an unhappy marriage
New York is the most expensive state to get married in. What is the cheapest state?
Idaho
Italy, for in Ancient Rome, a loaf of seed bread was literally broken over the bride’s head as to wish her fertility.
Confetti is used to decorate at many bridal showers and weddings across the world. Where did the tradition of confetti at weddings come from and why?
Confetti literally means “Sugared Almonds” and has been an Italian wedding tradition since Ancient Rome.
They’re also commonly referred to as Jordan Almonds.
Usually 5 almonds are given out, symbolizing the five hopes for a marriage: health, happiness, fertility, wealth and a long life
Where does a portion of every marriage license in WV go to help those in need?
Domestic Violence Services and Awareness.
Where did the tradition of the bridal bouquet come from and why?
Back in medieval times, people used to only bath once a year, usually in the month of May. People usually got married in June, so the bouquet was used as a primitive form of deodorant so that the bride would smell “ok” on her wedding day.
During WW2, brides often used what material to make their wedding dresses?
Parachute Nylon, as most clothing fibers were rationed for the US soldiers on the front lines.
Where did the Bridal March (Here Comes the Bride) originate from?
An Italian opera from 1850 named Lohengrin. Princess Victoria popularized it in her 1858 wedding.
“ To cook” in German. Sexist much?
What do snakes and weddings have in common for English brides in the Victorian era?
Which US State has the youngest brides? Which one has the oldest?
Utah has the youngest brides (24 on average) thanks to the Mormons, and Massachusetts has the oldest (30 on average).