The Cost of Saying “I Do
One of the biggest worries about a wedding is the expense. It’s the first thing that springs to mind of the bride and groom, rather than the actual day itself. Sure, the date that gets set is something to be excited about and look forward to, but when the items that come with a wedding: from invites to the meal, start to arise, it can get stressful.
Who Pays for What These Days?
Traditionally, the expense of a wedding is covered by the family of the bride. The bride’s father was often tasked with saving for the wedding day of his daughter from the day that she is born. However, we are now living in times where permission for a hand in marriage isn’t sired with a goat and a dowry in most cultures. We live in a more modern era where tradition doesn’t have as much of a bearing.
Old Traditions in a Modern World
The bride’s family may still pay for elements of her wedding, it’s one of those traditions that sticks in some families. Then there are others who will pay for a service rather than have the mother of the bride and groom collaborate on the wedding, as tradition once dictated. Tradition still has a place in a wedding, but which ones are still relevant today?
No More Sleeping Separately?
A night apart has been a long-standing tradition that is actually fizzling out. Modern day couples no longer wait until they are wed to live together, preferring to know what they get into before they actually get married. This is something that would not have been seen as acceptable as little as thirty years ago!
The First Look: Still a No-No?
Avoiding your future spouse on your big day has been something that has been seen as a tradition for centuries. It’s always been considered as bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, and this is one that is still going strong. Even couples that live together are still opting to book separate hotels the evening before they tie the knot, knowing that the next time they see each other should be at the altar.
Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue
Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue are the four elements that nearly all brides stick to. The items that the bride chooses for her wedding day are to bring luck, with the old representing continuity of her life before marriage, the new is the optimism the marriage will bring, the borrowed symbolising happiness she is taking with her and the blue standing for fidelity. Not many still carry this tradition with them into their wedding day, though!
Reinventing Wedding Traditions
Wedding traditions are always going to be passed down from generation to generation, as this is what keeps them alive. However, with gender equality being as prevalent as people saying that they’d rather not get married or commit to one person forever, less people are relying on tradition and are simply making their own instead. There will always be a place for those who want to keep the times gone by alive. How about you?
