Wedding Party Guide

Historical Source of Traditions Regarding Weddings

Every culture has its traditions.  American culture is no exception and regarding tradition, nothing is more traditional that the wedding ceremony.  Of course, we as a culture are more diverse than ever before, and the actual marriage ceremony is often very different from one service to another service.  However, there are some traditions that are observed from one wedding to another which are a part of our culture.  One such tradition regarding weddings is the bridal shower.

Bridal Showers

This custom actually dates to medieval England.  In London and other major city areas, the night before the wedding, a feast would be held in which the bride would brew ale and sell it to the invited guests at very high prices.  This was referred to as the Bride Ale and is on possible source for the term bridal.  The money collected was to provide the prospective bride with a dowry.

Regarding dowries, these were sums of money that were to be paid to the family of the groom to compensate them for the “loss” of their son.  The first historical reference to a “Bridal Shower” can be found in the June 4th 1904 issue of the Grand Rapids Michigan Even Press in which the writer says “And may derive from the custom in Victorian times for the presents to be put inside a parasol, which when opened would “shower” the bride-to-be with gifts.”

The Toast

There is much historical argument regarding the origin of this tradition, but you would have to attend many weddings before you would attend one in which the best man does not deliver a speech, laden with quotes and stories regarding the groom.  Traditionally this humorous and uplifting speech is intended to give the Bride the “real story” on her prospective husband.  Of course, there is occasionally a toast to the broad, which is accompanied with wise quotes about love from the groom or the bride’s father.

The Reception

The tradition most likely goes all the way back to the beginning of the wedding itself.  The various details regarding the celebration are very different from culture to culture but always include a variety of speeches and traditional dances.  This is generally a feast and in some cultures can last days!  There are practices that involve gifts of money, gold, and other valuable items to start the couple’s life with.  Regarding the honeymoon, this term may come from a French term “lune de meil” [lit. "Month of honey"], referring to a one-month supply of Mead (an alcoholic beverage made from honey) that was given to the happy couple to allow them to be happy and left alone for one month. Talk about a wedding party!

Three and four tier wedding cakes are very popular, especially if you are having a large wedding reception. Displaying the individual cake layers on separate levels makes the whole cake display very elegant and appealing to the eye. Let’s take a look at the different options that are available when you are considering this type of wedding cake stand.

The traditional tiered wedding cake is round, but square cakes have come back in style in recent years and offer a modern and sophisticated look for today’s bride and groom. There are many cake stands available in different sizes to display either a round or square shaped wedding cake. You will need to make sure that the cake plates are the correct size for your cake layers. Some couples prefer to buy their cake stand first and then have the cake designer plan the size of the cake accordingly. You will notice that there are some standard sizes in both wedding cakes and in the cake stands, so it is not difficult to match up the cake with the stand unless you have an antique or unusual cake stand or if you have a custom cake in a special size or shape.

The different cake layers are separated from each other by columns or pillars. This is what provides the dramatic look of the display that has come to be associated with the wedding cake tradition. The cake layers often diminish in size as the layers rise up. The top layer of the cake is often given to the bride and room in a small box so they can freeze it and then enjoy it on there first anniversary as they look back on their big day.

You may also want to consider a tower cake stand which is great for displaying cupcakes, or a floating cake stand, that makes the layers appear as if they are floating in the air since the support is in the back of the display. Take a look at the options available in magazines and online and you will start to get a good idea of the type of stand that will work best for your wedding cake.