Bride’s Pye a strange wedding tradition

Looking back at 16th century Yorkshire, pies were the common tradition. Rather than cakes, the Bride’s Pye (Bride’s Pie) was considered an essential dish for marriage celebrations. Like many wedding traditions its importance was tied to superstitions and thought to be necessary for the couple’s future happiness. Wait until you see what was expected of the bride in this tradition!

 

What bride’s pye symbolized

The bride and groom were presented with Bride’s Pye when they arrived at their new home. While this sounds like a nice way to welcome the couple to their new life together, in practice, the pie wasn’t only for eating. The bride only ate one piece and the rest was smashed over her head, and she wore the smashed pie for the rest of the day! Why? It symbolized her devotion to her husband.

Once the groom smashed the pie on his bride’s head, he threw the plate over his head and watched it break into pieces. The more pieces, the more years of happiness and fortune they could look forward to. Etiquette also required the bridegroom to wait on his bride. 

And so, the bride’s pye was considered essential to the couple’s future happiness. This reminds me of the wedding tradition of the barley loaf which came before the bride’s pye. The loaf was broken over the bride’s head for good luck, and the people gathered crumbs for their own good fortune. In the case of the Bride’s Pye, it was considered rude if any attending the celebration didn’t take part.

How big was a bride’s pye?

A lot of work went into the making a bride’s pye. It was always round, with a thick decorated crust. Most often it was a mincemeat or mutton pie made with sweetbreads but I’ve also read a recipe that included a fat laying hen, full of eggs, probably intended as an emblem of fertility To get an idea of the size of this dish, consider this 1808 recipe from The experienced English Housekeeper by Elizabeth Raffaid.

• Boil two calf's feet, pick the meat from the bones and chop it very fine.

• Shred small one pound of beef suet and a pound of apples

• Wash and pick one pound of currants very small, dry them before the fire

• Stone and chop a quarter of a pound of jar raisins

• A quarter of an ounce of cinnamon

• A quarter of an ounce of mace or nutmeg

• Two ounces of candied citron

• Two ounces of candied lemon cut thin

• A glass of brandy and one of Champagne

Put them in a China dish with a rich puff paste over it, roll another lid, and cut it in leaves, flowers, figures, and put a glass ring in it.

 

 

Ring inside the pie

One last thing worth mentioning about the Bride’s Pye tradition is that it had a glass ring cooked into it. The lady who found the ring in her serving of pie was thought to be the next to marry.

The bride’s pye tradition carried into the seventeenth century but then evolved into a bride cake, the precursor to the modern wedding cake. And while the smashing of the cake on the bride's head seems a strange tradition, when I think of how couples often smash wedding cake in each others' faces I guess our customs can be just as strange. I wonder if that's where smashing the cake originated.

 

Unique wedding kissing traditions and beliefs

Today, the wedding kiss is a traditional custom practiced in the West. Did you ever wonder where it started? I've heard a couple of different stories on this. One is that it goes back to the wedding taking place in the Catholic church. The priest would give the groom a holy "kiss of peace" and tell the groom to pass it on to the bride. This is where we get the commonly used phrase, "You may now kiss the bride." Others trace the custom back to ancient Rome, where the exchange of a kiss signified the completion of a contract. At that time and place, marriage was a negotiated deal. This is said to be where we get the phrase “sealed with a kiss.” Either way, it is a common tradition today, and I thought we’d look at some other unique wedding kissing traditions and beliefs that may surprise you.

The exchange of souls

While the symbolic wedding kiss may take on several different meanings for the people who practice it, this is one I hadn’t heard. Some Christians (not all) believe the wedding kiss symbolizes the exchange of souls between the bride and groom. This belief is based on the Scripture that says “the two shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31).

 

Swedish tradition “You may all kiss the bride”

The Swedish wedding kissing tradition involves all the guests and the bride and groom. If the groom leaves the room for any reason, say for instance to visit the men’s room, all the men attending the wedding can kiss the bride. The same is true if the bride leaves the room. All the women can step up and kiss the groom. An update on this tradition includes a bell. If the groom rings the bell, it’s an invitation for all the men to come up and kiss the bride. And if the bride rings the bell the invitation is extended to the women to come and kiss the groom. It can cause quite a ruckus when half of the wedding guests stand up and head toward the bride and groom.

Clinking glasses

The last wedding tradition I'll mention in this post deals with one of the most traditional ways guests get the bride and groom to kiss during the reception. The clinking on glasses. When this happened at my wedding, I had no idea that it is actually an ancient tradition. Back then, people thought the practice scared the devil away so the bride and groom were able to kiss while he was absent.

If you know of another wedding kissing custom please let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.

Photo credits: pixabay, pxfuel

4 benefits of a prewedding photo shoot

Taking prewedding photos is a growing trend and has become a new wedding tradition in its own right. A prewedding photoshoot, also referred to as an engagement photo shoot, usually takes place three to six months before the wedding. If you’re tossing around the idea and wonder if it is worth the extra cost, look for a photographer that includes it as part of the wedding photographer’s package. Otherwise, an hourly charge usually applies.

4 benefits of a prewedding photo shoot

Before the photoshoot, it best for the couple to sit down with the photographer and share their story. This can include things like how they met, what they like to do, and ideas for locations and outfits that can be worn. The photos can be taken indoors or outdoors. Other than developing ideas for where and when the photo shoot can take place, planning a prewedding photo shoot can actually be beneficial in other ways. Two of these four benefits only apply if you plan to use the same photographer for your wedding.

1. Taking prewedding photos is an ideal way to capture romantic moments between the couple and is a perfect opportunity to create special memories to be cherished in the future.
2. Helps develop a good relationship with your wedding photographer. He/she will get to know you and be in touch with how formal or informal you are and what kind of setting(s) or theme(s) are suitable for your tastes.
3. Also these photo shoots let the bride and groom get familiar with the photographer’s style and help them feel more comfortable working with them.
4. Prewedding photos can be used for save the date magnets and engagement announcements in the newspaper.

Creative Elements for Great Engagement Photo Shoot

Shooting great engagement photos relies on a few things.  

• First, you want the photos to tell the bride and groom’s story.
• Secondly, you want photos to capture more than actions. You want them to capture the emotions.
• Thirdly, choose a backdrop meaningful in some way to the couple. For instance, if the bride and groom enjoy horses, pictures can be taken with an equestrian backdrop and even include a horse or two. Another idea may be something you do together, like baking cookies, or eating a romantic picnic lunch. Or for those planning a vintage themed wedding, a fun photoshoot may include outfits specific to an era and having the photographer include some sepia photos with a backdrop like an old train station or some other historic site. Other ideas include pictures taken in a place special to the couple like where he proposed, where they met, or where they went on their first date.

Whatever concept you plan to go with for your engagement photoshoot, it’s important that both the bride and groom are excited and embrace the idea, because a grumpy or bored participant will not make for good photos.

Photo credits: wikimedia.org, maxpixel.net, pexels.com

Irish wedding bell tradition then and now

Did you know ringing of wedding bells began with an Irish wedding bell tradition? Yes the ringing of church bells goes back to a tradition when the bells were sounded to ward off evil spirits to make a happy family life for the bride and groom certain, but this wedding tradition goes back even farther -- before church bells -- to the Irish wedding bell.
 

Irish Wedding Bell Tradition

The Irish wedding bell tradition began with the Irish family giving the couple a set of bells after they recited their vows. And like the bridal veil tradition, the bells were rung to ward off evil spirits. After they were married, the wedding bells were kept in the couple’s home to remind them of their vows to each other.

Irish Wedding Bell

Why it is called the Irish make up bell

Today, the Irish wedding bell makes a great wedding gift for Irish couples and even those who aren't Irish. The custom is to place the bell in a prominent place in the newlywed’s home, and if/when the couple happens to argue they ring the bell as a reminder of their wedding vows. According to this custom, if the argument can’t be settled affably, the bell is rung louder for these reasons:

• The sound of the bell can purify and dispel over stimulated emotions. 
• The result is supposed to be a change in perspective. 
• The sounding of the bell signals the end of the argument, even if neither the husband or wife capitulated. It offers the equivalent of a “time out” in the “discussion,” and allows time for both people to cool down and think rationally. 

For this reason, it is also known as the Irish make up bell.

Waterford Irish Wedding Bell

Irish wedding bell tradition rejuvenated

The Irish wedding bell remains an endearing wedding tradition with its origins in an old superstition. Today it can be celebrated in a number of ways. Some couples give their guests small bells at the ceremony to be rung after the vows are completed, or at the reception to be used as kissing bells. Some brides choose to wear a small bracelet or charm with tiny bells. All of these offer ways to include this tradition in your special day, but having an Irish wedding bell on display in your home offers a special keepsake marking the couple’s Irish heritage and the special vows exchanged that day. And even if you're not Irish, having a make up bell handy in your home can help remind you of what's really important when you have a falling out.

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Why do brides wear a veil?

When you think about all the wedding related trappings, have you ever asked why? How about the bridal veil? It can be a beautiful accessory but do you know how that tradition got started? It's no different than many practices associated with the marriage ceremony and wedding apparel, it goes back to superstitions.

 

Princess Beatrice 1885

Bridal veil tradition

Bridal veil history can be traced back to Rome. This custom of veiling the bride was originally meant to disguise her from evil spirits as she walked down the aisle. Why would evil spirits even care about the bride? It was thought that they would be jealous of her happiness. So the original purpose of the bridal veil was to protect the bride who was thought to be vulnerable to enchantment.

Original wedding veil was flame red.

 

Another fact about the original wedding veil is that it wasn't white, it was flame red. Even the color was connected to superstition. According to the belief system of that culture, not only did the veil hide the bride from the evil spirits, but the color of the veil was thought to actually scare them off. This explains why traditionally the bride wears her wedding veil over her face.

Arranged marriage.

Lifting the wedding veil

Over time, of course, beliefs changed and new meanings were attached to the veil. Today blusher veils are a popular choice among brides, but not all brides cover their face. If they do, some brides:

• Have the groom lift their veil
• Have their father lift the veil when he gives the bride away
• Others go through the entire ceremony with their face covered until the father lifts the veil so the groom can kiss his new wife.

In today's wedding tradition, brides can feel free to walk the aisle with their veil drawn back, covering their face, or not to even wear a veil at all.

Vintage birdcage blusher veil

Other reasons brides wore a veil

Some suggest that back in the days of arranged marriages the veil hid the face of the bride from the groom until they were married in case he didn't like how his bride looked. This way everyone would be saved the embarrassment of the groom's disappointment.

2 Tier Beaded Edge Fingertip Length Bridal Veil

Beyond the evil spirit superstitions, veils were also considered a sign of humility and respect for God. However, during Victorian times, it became just the opposite. It became a status symbol, with the weight, length and quality of the veil a sign of the bride's status. Back then, Royal brides had the longest veils. Even in modern times I remember Princess Diana's wedding veil was 24 feet long.

Today, brides walk the aisle without worrying about evil spirits, and grooms already know what their brides look like, so for those who choose to wear them, the bridal veil tradition is more of a finishing touch to the bride's ensemble. However, many cultures never embraced wedding veils.

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