Wedding Day

Fun Facts About Wedding Day

• Queen Victoria popularized the white wedding dress in her 1840 wedding to Prince Albert. Prior to that time, royal brides tradtionally wore silver or other rich colors. Her bold, stylish choice set a lasting fashionable trend symbolizing purity, wealth and status.
• Wedding rings are worn on the fourth finger because the ancient Romans and Egyptians believed a vein ran directly from that finger to the heart.
• The honeymoon is called such because medieval newlyweds drank mead (a fermented honey-based beverage) for a month after the wedding to ensure fertility and good fortune.
• In the U.S., especially in the Northeast, the month of October is a top choice to schedule weddings because of the mild temperatures and fall foliage.
• Wedding vows historically functioned as legally binding contracts, rather than mere romantic promises. They focused on the exchange of property and social status.
• In the 19th century, a man could be sued for "breach of promise" if he reneged on a promise to marry. Women could be awarded monetary compensation for damages to their reputations and for incurring emotional distress.
• The phrase "tying the knot" comes from the ancient Celtic and Medieval tradition of handfasting, where couples had their hands bound together with ribbon or cord to symbolize their union.
• In ancient Rome, brides often wore bright yellow with red veils on their wedding day to ward off evil spirits.