White is still the prevailing colour most brides would pick for their wedding gowns, even though other coloured gowns such as ivory and black gowns are available for their choosing. But, the white wedding gown isn’t a wedding tradition passed down from a long time ago. It wasn’t until the 19thcentury that a white wedding gown was in trend. And guess who started it all? It was Queen Victoria herself. She was the first to depart from the norm and had donned a white gown when she wed Prince Albert. Before she knew it, people started copying her style and over time, that became the tradition as we know it today. So, what did non-royalty brides before Queen Victoria wear at their weddings? They simply wore the best thing they could find in their closet; what colour it was was of little consequence.
2. Something Old, Something Blue, Etcetera, Etcetera
The Chinese aren’t the only ones with blessings meant to bring good luck and happiness to the happy couple. We have the four blessings for our hair combing ritual and the English has this:
Something old, something new,
Something borrowed, something blue,
And a sixpence in my shoe.
Chances are, you’ve probably heard of this saying or have come across it in a book or magazine. Bet you didn’t know this traditional saying has English origins and dates back to the Victorian age. Each item in the saying represents a good-luck token for the bride and it is said that her marriage will be a happy one if she carries all of them on her wedding day. This tradition symbolises the continuity between the bride and her family and blesses the bride’s marriage and new family with happiness, good fortune and wealth. Today, this English tradition is mostly practiced for the fun factor.
3. Single for One Last Night
You’re about to get hitched and commit yourself to a life of fidelity and monogamy, so what do you do the night or week before your big day? Paint the town red with your single friends for one last time before your obligations as a wife and later, mother, prevents you from doing so! Or, if you prefer, a quiet night with the girls will suffice too. Similarly, your groom-to-be will be treated to a stag’s night he will never forget by his groomsmen.
If you have an opinion against painting the town red and doing something outrageous, do make it known to your girlfriends. Else, expect to have exactly that on your hen’s night. Programs for hen’s night range from pub hopping to club-hopping, to private strip parties or dinner at a fancy place where you’re dared to do things you would never attempt while you’re sane.