Wedding Traditions and Garter Traditions

 Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue......

	Something Old
The Wedding veil was traditionally handed down through generations of the family's brides. If you don't have something old, take a look at our 'vintage sparkle' wedding garter! Fine vintage lace is placed over luxury satin, gently gathered and sprinkled with crystals. They can be custom made to your own colours or are available in blue or ivory from stock.

'and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe'
The 'silver sixpence in her shoe' was to secure future wealth.  If you dont fancy having a sixpence in your shoe, you can have a tiny bag added to your choice of wedding garter with a genuine old sixpence piece inside!

Elvish Love Rings

I came upon these when on holiday in cornwall....
One ring to show our love, One ring to bind us, One ring to seal our love And forever to entwine us.
http://mystic-caravan.com/elvish/elfring.htm

Yellow Garters superstition

Yellow garters were thought to attract lovers, remember   'Twelfth Night'? In the 19c an obliging bride would wear a yellow garter placed there by a hopeful girl-friend, to ensure marriage for the friend within the year. One Boston bride went to the alter wearing 7 yellow garters from hopefull friends!

Throwing the bouquet /wedding garter

Flinging the stocking was a favourite wedding chamber sport: Men siezed the bride's stockings and girls the groom's, each group took it in turns to sit at the bottom of the bed and in turn to toss the stockings over their heads to fall, for an early marriage, on the bridegroom if thrown by a girl, on the bride if thrown by a man.

  Then all the younger folks in,

With ceremony throw the stocking

Backward, o’er head, in turn they toss’d it;

Till in sack-posset they had lost it.

Th’intent of flinging thus hose

Is to hit him or her on the nose,

Who hits the mark o’er the left shoulder

Must be married be ere twelve monthes older.

                                                  (Progress of Matrimony, 1733)

Throwing the garter and bouquet are believed to be direct descendants of 'flinging the stocking'

 It was customary for the bride to toss her garter to the male guest who had wone the 'race for the garter' (from the church to the bridehouse).  In 1820 Lady.... on stepping from her bridal coach, enquired who had won the race. She called to the lad, 'come Tom and claim your prize. For I intend to be properly married, and to have the luck I am entitled to.' Smiling she added 'Take it off, Tom, and give it to your sweetheart, and may it bring luck to both of you.'

 But frequently the men got too drunk, and would become impatient and try to remove the garter ahead of time. In the interests of decorum the custom changed to tossing the bridal bouquet. Recently the toss of the garter has been revived in America, where two garters will be bought one to toss and one to keep.

Valentines Day

In 19th Century London postmen claimed a special meal allowance to sustain them during the Valentines postal rush!

A Dozen Red Roses

More red roses are bought at Valentines Day than at any other time of year. A custom said to have begun in France when Louis XV1 gave his Queen, Marie Antoinette red roses on 14th February.

Leap Year

In a leap year women can traditionally propose to men. If rejected the girl can claim a compensatory silk gown!

Wedding Anniversaries

• 1st.....Cotton                         15th...Crystal
• 2nd.....Paper                          20th...China
• 3rd....Leather                         25th.....Silver
• 4th..Silk                                30th.....Pearl/Ivory
• 5th.....Wood                          35th.....Coral
• 6th....iron                              40th......Ruby
• 7th ....wool                            45th.....Sapphire
• 8th....Bronze                          50th......Gold
• 9th....Pottery                          55th.....Emerald
• 10th.....Tin                             60th.....Diamond
•                                             75th.....Diamond