Wedding trends may come and go, but there is a long list of timeless touches that no UK wedding should be without.
UK traditions influence every part of the wedding timeline, from that romantic proposal and engagement to the hen and stag celebrations, wedding and honeymoon. Read on to discover the story behind some of the most popular UK wedding traditions to uncover their origins before your wedding day arrives.
The one-knee proposal
Whether it was you or your partner who got down on one knee, this long-standing gesture sparked the very beginning of your journey to the altar. Proposing on one knee actually dates back to medieval times as Wedding Pioneer details:
“Knights, or men of good standing, were known to kneel before noblewomen in an act of servitude while reciting oaths promising they would always be ‘truthful, loyal, devoted to the church, charitable, and to always defend a lady’. How romantic! These promises may not sound too dissimilar to modern/traditional wedding vows…”
Globally, the one-knee proposal can be traced back even further, with the custom thought to originate from the Middle East some 3,000 years ago. Again, the act of bending the knee to your soon-to-be betrothed was a sign of respect and loyalty.
The hen and stag parties
Joint stag and hen parties – or ‘sten dos’ as they are more commonly referred to – may be all the rage. Yet, whether celebrated separately or together, these pre-wedding celebrations are the newest kids on the block when it comes to UK wedding traditions.
The hen party didn’t appear in the British media until the 19th Century, with a very royal connection thrusting the new trend into the limelight. Queen Victoria hosted the first hen party, which was a very regal dinner for her daughter, Princess Alice, and all her noble friends.
The stag party was born much later, with the first reference to this traditionally male-only shindig made in the 1930s.
The white wedding dress
Queen Victoria was involved in the creation of another wedding tradition. Prior to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840, there was no traditional colour for the attire of UK brides. In fact, white wedding dresses were particularly uncommon, with brides opting for blue, red, yellow, green or even grey instead of the pristine shade that’s the most popular choice today.
Queen Victoria made it fashionable to wear white as a bride, with the colour becoming synonymous with affluence, purity and grace. She wasn’t the first royal bride to wear white, however. Mary, Queen of Scots wore a white dress on her wedding day in 1558.
The something borrowed ritual
The something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue tradition is thought to date back to the 1800s, with the old English rhyme publicised to the masses later on in the century. It quickly became the way for the bride’s loved ones to pay homage to the occasion, with each gift representing a new beginning for the couple.
The throwing of rice
Whilst, like many wedding venues, we don’t allow the throwing of rice at Bourton Hall, we encourage couples to embrace an eco-friendly alternative via the throwing of fresh petals outside and neutral paper confetti inside.
Traditionally, rice has been thrown at UK weddings since the early 1900s. Showering the newlyweds in rice was thought to bring good health, prosperity and fertility.
The cutting of the cake
The wedding cake is more than just a scrumptious big-day treat that the couple and all their guests can enjoy. It’s imperative to one tradition in particular – the cutting of the cake. According to the latest National Wedding Survey, some 79% of couples include a cake-cutting ceremony in their wedding day itinerary.
The tradition was coined during the Victorian times where the cake would represent the bride’s fertility. Back then, the bride would cut this cake alone and hand out the pieces to her wedding guests.
The tiers of a wedding cake have their own roots in tradition too. The top tier of the wedding cake would be saved by the couple to enjoy at their first child’s christening.
