EVER WONDER WHY...

...the Groom celebrates a Bachelor Party?

Spartan soldiers are thought to have originated the tradition with feasting and drinking on the night before the nuptials of one of their army, as the groom celebrated a rite of passage into married adulthood while pledging his continued loyalty to his fellow soldiers. From those origins evolved the contemporary tradition of a final fling before commitment!

...the Bride is thrown a Bridal Shower?

Back in the times when a dowry was expected from the family of a bride-to-be, on occasion, the family did not have the resources to provide an adequate dowry (or perhaps refused to provide it in the event they did not approve of the groom.) At this point, close friends of the bride would step in and assist with generating a suitable dowry. This tradition evolved to a gift-giving party, and eventually, into the custom of putting small gifts inside a parasol, which would be opened above the head of the bride. Hence, the bride was “showered with gifts.”

...the Groom has a Best Man?

In ancient times, often a groom had to “shop” for a bride outside of his village. This “shopping” trip was likely to be done unannounced, and was, understandably, not typically well received by either the targeted bride or her family and clan. Hence, the groom would take along the “best fighting” man he knew to assist in the successful return with the new bride. As the ritual evolved, the best man would also stand guard over the groom and his (perhaps not so) happy bride in the unfortunate event that the family of the bride came looking for her. Thankfully, in modern times, the role has further evolved into a far more friendly role!

...the Father gives the Bride away?

This custom originates from the time when brides were “given” (for the right price) in marriage to a groom who had been arranged by the father. The father would take his daughter to the groom, and present her to him. Today, thankfully, the practice has come to signify the parental consent and blessing!

...guests sign the Guest Book?

In older cultures, the entire wedding party served as legal witnesses to the wedding, and signed the wedding document attesting that they had witnessed the event. Now, the document serves as a memory aid to make sure all those thank you cards are sent, and as a long term keepsake of the beginning of a hopefully long and joyous marriage!