Queen Victoria helped turn white gowns into wedding default
A wedding unites two people in marriage, usually through vows, an exchanged gift such as rings, and a public declaration by a celebrant. Customs vary enormously, and the Western white gown and veil spread widely after Queen Victoria wore them at her own marriage.
Whether Victoria’s white dress signalled extravagance or her emphasis on sexual purity is debated. The veil carried an older belief that a bride’s innocence could ward off evil spirits. Ring customs may trace to the Roman notion of the vena amoris, a vessel supposedly running from the fourth finger to the heart, though historian Vicki Howard argues the ancient pedigree is largely a modern invention; in the United States, grooms seldom wore bands before the early 20th century.
The send-off varies: Ethiopian newlyweds and their party bow and kiss the elders’ knees, while in much of the West and in India and Malaysia guests throw rice for prosperity and fertility, which, despite the myth, does not harm birds; some cultures toss shoes instead. Receptions bring speeches, a first dance, and cake. Clothing ranges from the Filipino barong tagalog and Japanese shiromuku kimono to the Scottish kilt, the Bengali groom’s conical topor, and the white kittel an Orthodox Jewish groom wears only under the chuppah.
Wagner’s Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin, known as Here Comes the Bride, is a common processional but is usually avoided at Jewish weddings because of the composer’s anti-Semitism; Pachelbel’s Canon in D is a popular alternative. UK law bars religious music from civil ceremonies. Until the Marriage Act 1994, weddings in England and Wales had to take place in authorized religious buildings or register offices; afterwards venues from stately homes to former warships sought approval.
About 2 million Americans marry each year, and nearly 70 million guests each give a present worth over $100. A British survey put typical gift spending between £24.70 and £111.46, and 85% said they would spend more on someone they were close to.
Source: Wedding
