How much do you know about Irish wedding traditions? For instance, do you know that the tradition of wearing white on your big day only dates back 178 years?
Or that brides historically wore veils to ward off evil spirits? Here are 10 things that might surprise you about our wedding traditions:
Queen Victoria started the trend for a white wedding
Queen Victoria in Ireland during her 1900 visit to Ireland.
It might feel like a tradition that's been around forever but the trend for wearing white on your wedding day is less than 200 years old.
Queen Victoria started the trend when she married Prince Albert in 1840 shunning the trend for wearing bright colours.
Soon wealthy brides adopted the trend and white has been the go-to colour for brides ever since.
The bride traditionally stands to the left of the groom
The bride traditionally stands to the left of the groom
Have you ever noticed that the bride always stands to the left of her groom?
This is because in the past it was believed that the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other men!
Wedding cakes are a symbol of a happy marriage
Wedding cakes are a symbol of a happy marriage.
Your wedding cake might be a symbol of prosperity.
As you deliberate over which flavour filling will please your guests consider this, your wedding cake might be the key to a happy marriage.
In medieval times wedding cakes were made from wheat which was a symbol of fertility and prosperity.
They were then thrown at the bride for luck!
Engagement rings originated with the Egyptians
Engagement rings originated with the Egyptians.
The Egyptians believed that an engagement ring was a symbol of a never-ending cycle.
In ancient Egypt, an engagement ring was a symbol of a never-ending cycle and the space inside it was a gateway.
The Sicilians added a diamond because it was believed that the stone was forged by the fires of love.
The tradition of wearing your ring on the fourth finger of your left hand comes from Ancient Greece. It was thought that the 'ring' finger contained a vein leading to the heart.
In ancient times bridesmaids acted as stand-ins for the bride
In ancient times bridesmaids acted as stand-ins for the bride.
Bridesmaids were often at risk of being kidnapped.
Nowadays a bridesmaid's job is to make sure everything runs smoothly on the big day but they used to have a much more precarious role.
In ancient times, brides were regularly kidnapped at weddings by rival clans so her bridesmaids were dressed identically as a means of protecting her.
Brides historically wore veils to protect them from evil spirits
Brides historically wore veils to protect them from evil spirits.
A veil can fend off evil spirits. A theory by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who knew?!
The lifting of the veil at the end of the ceremony traditionally symbolized the groom taking possession of his bride.
Flower girls are usually under ten
Flower girls are usually under ten.
Having a flower girl at your wedding is a symbol of innocence and fertility.
Having a child in your wedding party can make your day really special but flower girls are usually under ten.
After that, they should be promoted to Junior Bridesmaid and wear a similar dress to your maids.
Traditionally the flower girl walked in front of the bride to symbolise her innocence and fertility.
The first kiss holds a spiritual meaning
The first kiss holds a spiritual meaning.
For some people, the first kiss is a symbol of two souls becoming one.
In some Christian traditions, a married couple's first kiss at the end of a ceremony has a wholly spiritual meaning.
The theory is that the kiss symbolizes two souls becoming one, fulfilling the scripture that the two shall become one flesh.
Ever wondered where the expression tying the knot comes from?
Every wondered where the expression tying the knot comes from?
It's a phrase that has become synonymous with getting married but the expression once had a very literal meaning.
In Celtic tradition, the hands of the bride and groom were literally tied together to symbolize their commitment to one another.
Your dress really can take six months to arrive
Don't forgot to order your dress WAY in advance!
Your perfect wedding dress can take up to six months to arrive from the order date.
This, of course, is dependent on the designer but it's recommended to shop for your dress 8-12 months before your wedding.
* This article was originally published on Evoke.ie.