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14 Vintage Wedding Trends That Would Be So, So Weird If We Did Them Today

By Marisa Martinez,

2024-08-24

Current wedding trends reflect current and past cultural values and societal norms from different time periods. These traditions have impacted trends in attire, ceremonies, and pre-wedding rituals.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3LzRGL_0v8m40ND00 — Kkshepel / Getty Images/iStockphoto / Via Getty Images

Some of the current trends have connections to historical wedding practices that are quite...odd.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=19wC0K_0v8m40ND00 — Chuanchai / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

Here are some past weird, vintage wedding trends:

1. Holding A Bouquet That Masked The Bride's Body Odor

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3FakDk_0v8m40ND00 — In the 15th century, it was common to get married in June. Bathing wasn't as common, so you can only imagine the body odor! Getting married at the beginning of summer surely wasn't the best choice. Bridal bouquets served as a deodorant and masked the bride's scent for her special day.
Ieva Gigele / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

2. Gifting A Bride A Black Cat On Their Wedding Day

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=08oESn_0v8m40ND00 — In an old English tradition, it is believed that gifting a black cat to a bride on her wedding day brings good luck to the couple's marriage. This superstition is based on the belief that black cats symbolize good fortune and prosperity in the lives of the newlyweds.
Suzanne Marshall / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

3. Brides Didn't Always Wear Wedding Dresses

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2yHDU4_0v8m40ND00 — In 1840, Queen Victoria popularized the trend of wearing white wedding dresses . Before this trend, brides typically wore their best dress, and white was not a common choice due to its association with wealth and the likelihood of getting dirty. However, after Queen Victoria's wedding , the tradition of wearing white wedding dresses became widespread.
Sion Touhig / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

4. People Would Tear Up The Brides' Dress

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0rT7ix_0v8m40ND00 — In Medieval Times, the bride's clothing was believed to bring good luck. As a result, guests would tear pieces of her dress to obtain some of that good luck. To prevent this, the bride would toss the garter (a popular tradition today) to distract the guests from tearing her dress. **Modern-day brides would be PISSED if their dress was torn up and ruined.**
Rick Gomez / Getty Images/Tetra images RF / Via Getty Images

5. The Bride And Groom Were Kidnapped And Hazed

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2wdoGv_0v8m40ND00 — A tradition with European roots and common in the Midwest in the 19th century was an intense celebration for the newlywed couple on their wedding night. It involved kidnapping the couple and parading them around town; the town folk made loud noises, banging pots and pants, shooting guns, serenading, and even dunking the couple in water.
Stock_colors / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

6. Only Men Used To Give Wedding Toasts

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3zbgwz_0v8m40ND00 — In the past, traditionally, only men gave speeches at weddings, while women were not given the opportunity to speak. The speeches would typically begin with the father of the bride, followed by the best man, groom, and family friends, excluding women from this tradition. **How RUDE!**
Izusek / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

7. The Bride And Groom Would Wear Each Other's Clothes

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1MeB1y_0v8m40ND00 — In numerous cultures, a prevalent tradition exists where the bride dresses as the groom and the groom wears a wedding gown. This ritual is believed to ward off and confound evil spirits, ensuring the couple's protection and happiness in their marriage.
Yuri Arcurs / Getty Images/Tetra images RF / Via Getty Images

8. "Something Borrowed" Used To Mean Another Woman's USED Underwear!

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3kmWD4_0v8m40ND00 — The tradition of "something borrowed " had a different meaning. Women would wear second-hand underwear from a friend or family member who had children, as it was believed to bring fertility luck. **Glad this trend is no longer around!**
Fotoduets / Getty Images/iStockphoto / Via Getty Images

9. Brides Wore Veils For Protection From Evil Spirits

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Fxufc_0v8m40ND00 — In Ancient Rome and Greece, brides wore veils during their weddings as a protective measure against evil spirits. It was a common belief that on her wedding day, a bride was particularly susceptible to the influence of the spirits. The veil was thought to be a shield, safeguarding the bride from any potential harm or malicious interference by spirits.
Getty Images / Via Getty Images

10. Part Of The Wedding Cake Was Saved For The Birth Of The First Child

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1lBGQ0_0v8m40ND00 — A 19th-century tradition involved saving the top tier of the wedding cake to be eaten on the celebration of the first child's birth, as it was believed that doing so would bring good luck to the couple.
Tom Wilde / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

11. Weddings Were Only In June

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Dq7bM_0v8m40ND00 — During Roman times , June held special significance as it was believed to be good luck for marriages. This was due to the association of June with Juno, the Roman Goddess of marriage, childbirth, and women. It was believed that getting married in June would bring blessings and ensure fertility and prosperity for the couple. **Could you imagine now if every bride had to get married in the same month? POOR WEDDING PLANNERS!**
Larisa Gherghe / Getty Images/500px / Via Getty Images

12. Bridesmaids Used To Wear White

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2rcgeL_0v8m40ND00 — In the 1800 s, it was customary for bridesmaids to wear dresses that closely resembled the bride's attire and, in some cases, even matched the bride's dress exactly. This practice was rooted in the belief they could help ward off evil spirits and confuse anyone who may wish to harm the bride. This tradition of dressing in similar attire was seen as a way to protect the bride. **Brides would be very upset if this trend was still around!**
Edwin Tan / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

13. Guests Would Plant Trees Outside The Newlywed's Home

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2nbX6Z_0v8m40ND00 — An old tradition commemorates the union of a newly married couple by planting pine trees. This custom symbolizes the optimism and good fortune believed to be bestowed upon the newlyweds' future. **It is very climate-friendly and should be more common!**
Apos Tophy / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

14. Wedding Baths Were A Must Before The Wedding

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4KxVRN_0v8m40ND00 — In Ancient Greece, part of the bridal preparations included a ritual bathing of the bride on the morning of her wedding. This act symbolized purification and the bride's readiness for the role of motherhood. Following the bathing ritual, the bride and groom would proceed to a temple where they would make offerings.
Mediterranean / Getty Images / Via Getty Images

What do you think of these old wedding trends? Let me know in the comments!

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Michael Ragusa

08-25

Which one of these would make sense today? I'm not sure.

Americangirl

08-25

I am 50 years old and I have never heard of any of these wedding 💍💒 traditions.

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