Today's popular wedding traditions have evolvedover hundreds, even thousands of years, of people joining together in some form of matrimony. Some wedding traditions that have endured are based on blessing the couple with good luck; others are a means for the couple to convey their feelings for one another. Here are just a few for you to consider for your wedding day:

Tossing the Garter and Bouquet

This began in the 1300's in France, where guests used to chase the bride and tear off pieces of her dress and her garter, believing it brought good luck.  To save herself, the bride began taking the garter off herself and throwing it at the crowd of guests.  Later, the bouquet was included in the toss.  The woman who caught the bouquet is now believed to be the next woman to be married.  The man who catches the garter will be the next groom.

 
Unity Candle

A familiar wedding tradition originally used by interfaith couples.  Research suggests that this ceremony started during the 1960's or 1970's.  The bride and groom will use two separate candles to light the wick of one larger candle.  This of course, symbolizes two flames, or lives, that become one. 

Sand Ceremony

This ceremony originated in Hawaii where sand from two seperate vials was poured into one larger bowl to symbolize the joining of two lives.  According to weddingengraver.com "Once the sand is poured together it can never be separated-the sand becomes one-as in marriage."

The Wedding Ring

This dates back to ancient times.  Caveman would wrap circles of braided grass around the bride's wrists and ankles, believing it would stop her spirit from leaving her body.  Later the bands evolved to carved stone, leather, metal, silver than gold.

The Dress

The first known white wedding dress was worn in 1499 by Anne of Brittany, for her marriage to Louis XII of France.  Until then, women simply wore their best dress, often yellow or red in colour.  In biblical times, most dresses were blue because it symbolized purity. 

The Veil

This tradition derived from a time of arranged marriage.  The groom was not allowed to see the face of the bride until after the ceremony.

The Bestman and Ushers

Centuries ago, men who had chosen a wife would have to forcefully take her with him, basically kidnapping her, if her family did not approve  of him being her husband.  The groom-to-be would sometimes face resistance from the woman's male family members or competing male suitors, who would try to fight him off.  So, the groom would bring along his "best men" to help him fight for the woman he loves.  Today the bestman and ushers still hold honourary positions in the wedding party.

The Maid of Honour and Bridesmaids

These were women who helped the bride get away from her overprotective family, so that she could be captured by the man she wanted to marry.  The role of these women has survived even though the tradition of getting the bride and groom together has faded.

Throwing Rice

This tradition began in the Orient where guests would throw rice at the couple in hopes that this would bring a happy marriage, yielding many happy, healthy children.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in her shoe.

 This good luck saying dates back to Victorian times and many brides try to arrange their wedding attire accordingly. Something old represents the link with the bride's family and the past. Many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family jewelry or a mother's or grandmother's wedding gown. Something new represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life. The wedding gown is often chosen as the new item. Something borrowed is to remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed. The borrowed object might be something such as a lace handkerchief. Something blue is the symbol of faithfulness and loyalty. Often the blue item is the garter. A silver sixpence in her shoe is to wish the bride wealth.