Why brides carried a bouquet

We've seen the surprising origins of many wedding traditions on this site, and the origins of the bridal bouquet is no different. This is another ancient tradition that can be traced back to Rome. At that time, brides carried or wore flower garlands because they believed flowers signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility.

Original purposes of the bridal bouquet

Like many wedding traditions, the origin of the bridal bouquet tradition can be traced back to ancient Rome. For them, like I said, it signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility. By the Middle Ages bouquets of strong-smelling herbs and spices were carried by the bride for their magical effects to ward off evil spirits, bad luck, and sickness. 

Today, the bouquet represents happiness and satisfaction in marriage and the wedding flowers making up the bouquet are thought to have their own special meanings.

In the Middle Ages, the wedding bouquet also became a way to distract female guests who were eager to tear off a piece of the wedding dress for good luck. The bride tossed the flowers to the wedding guests who believed it would be be a talisman for good luck for the one who caught it. And so why while they were distracted as they scrambled to get their hands on the bouquet, the bride ran away with her dress in one piece. Tossing the bouquet is a tradition that is still practiced today! 

 

 

Vintage wedding bouquet ideas for the modern bride

• Consider wearing a flower garland like the ancient Romans who believed flowers signified new beginnings, fidelity and hope of fertility.
• Make up a bouquet of your favorite wild flowers, herbs and aromatic spices.
  

I'd love to hear from you. If you have a wedding story, a tradition you'd like me to blog about, a question, or have something to say, feel free to contact me. And if you enjoy reading my blog, click "follow" and you'll be notified when a new post is added to this blog. Thanks for reading.

Photo credits: wikimedia, Victorian Magazine, wikimedia, wikimedia, widimedia

History of Marriage Contracts: When Marriage Was a Family Agreement

(Updated June, 2026) 

Stories of star-crossed lovers make wonderful tales, but throughout much of history marriage was not primarily arranged around romance. Instead, marriage often served as a social, economic, and political agreement between families.

According to Stephanie Coontz, author of Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage, marriage was historically “a way of getting in-laws, of making alliances and expanding the family labor force.”

The First Recorded Marriage Contracts

Marriage is one of humanity’s oldest institutions, and the earliest recorded evidence of marriage contracts and ceremonies dates back approximately 4,000 years to ancient Mesopotamia. These early contracts focused on practical matters such as property, inheritance, family obligations, and social status.

In that world, marriage helped preserve family wealth and power. Among royalty and ruling families, marriages were often arranged to create alliances, secure peace agreements, gain territory, and produce legitimate heirs. A marriage could strengthen a kingdom in much the same way treaties and political agreements do today.

For ordinary families, marriage was also a practical decision. Parents looked for partners who brought valuable qualities to the household—such as good health, a strong work ethic, useful skills, and the ability to contribute to family life. Having nearby land or shared interests could be an added benefit.

Marriage Filled the Role of Modern Institutions

For much of history, marriage carried responsibilities that are often handled today by banks, businesses, and legal agreements. Marriage contracts could determine property rights, inheritance, financial obligations, and the transfer of wealth between families.

Arranged marriages were common in many cultures, and in some cases the bride and groom had little or no say in choosing their partner. Among wealthy families, a marriage could be a carefully negotiated agreement between households. While love and affection certainly existed, they were not always considered the foundation of marriage.

The Role of Dowries and Marriage Contracts

Dowries became an important part of many marriage agreements. A dowry was property, money, or goods provided by the bride’s family to help establish the new household. In some societies, dowries represented a significant transfer of wealth and could influence marriage negotiations.

Marriage contracts also sometimes included protections for women. In parts of Europe, the “widow’s third” was a provision that guaranteed a widow a portion of her husband’s estate after his death, helping provide financial security.

 

The Babylonian Bridal Auction

One of the most famous examples from the ancient world comes from Babylon. The Greek historian Herodotus described a Babylonian custom involving a bridal marketplace where women were presented for marriage. However, historians debate the details and accuracy of this account, so it is best understood as a historical description rather than a universal practice.

Love and Marriage Through History

This does not mean love was absent from marriage in ancient or medieval times. Couples certainly formed deep emotional bonds, and affection played a role in many relationships. However, for many centuries marriage was viewed as a partnership that connected families, protected resources, and created social stability.

By the late 18th and 19th centuries, ideas about marriage began to shift. Romantic love increasingly became an important reason for choosing a spouse, helping transform marriage from primarily a family arrangement into the love-based partnership many people recognize today.

Marriage contracts reveal an important part of wedding history: before the white dress, the flowers, and the celebration, marriage was often a carefully crafted agreement that shaped families and societies for generations.

*** 

Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

Thanks so much for being part of our success. 

 

Image credits: en.wikipedia.org,  worldhistory.org, picryl.com, en.wikipedia.org, commons.wikimedia.org

Jumping the broom tradition

Jumping the broom is an historical ritual with Celtic roots. Like many traditions, exactly how and where it started is brought into question. Some say it started with the Romani Gypsy people living in Wales and others say it originated with the Welsh people themselves. Today variations of this ritual are practiced by Welsh, Celtics and Druids as well as the nomadic Romani. In fact, the earliest mention of this tradition is tied to the Romani and dates back to the 18th century. Today, common-law broomstick weddings are still practiced in some parts of Wales as a centuries-old custom called priodas coes ysgub.

 

Along with this heritage, some say jumping the broom comes from an African marriage ritual which was practiced in the U.S. during the days of slavery when blacks weren't allowed to marry. However, others attribute this as a practice taken from the whites. Either way, secret ceremonies were held as black couples committed themselves to each other by stepping over a broomstick in front of family and friends.

Now the tradition is practiced as a folk tradition in various parts of the world from Eastern Europe to the Americas. 

 

Besom broom used for broom jumping

The type of broom used in these ceremonies was besom brooms constructed by tying twigs or straw together against a strong rod or stick. Back in the 18th century, brooms were found just inside the door to every home with bristles up to ward off evil spirits and to protect the home and all who lived there. Sometimes it was hung over the door with the bristles facing opening of the door for good luck. It was considered one of the first lines of defense for the homemaker.

Today, jumping the broom is thought to represent the couple entering a new life together, and sweeping away their single lives including former problems and concerns.

4 jumping the broom variations

 

While we can dispute where and how jumping the broom started, I'd rather focus on variations of the practice as wedding planners have started to include the custom today. Jumping the broom can take place at the church, the reception, the couples' new home, and is often included in neo-pagan unions, too.

1. Place the broom at an angle by the rear door of the church.
2. Groom jumps first, followed by the bride.
3. Broom laid on floor and couple jumps over it hand-in-hand as high as they can.
4. Broom laid in the entryway to the new home with bride and groom taking turns jumping over it. (Another variation of this one is for the groom to carry his bride over the broom into their new home.)

Another old custom involves the couple jumping over a crossed broom and sword held by the best man and the maid of honor. This practice represents cutting of ties to parents and the ties being swept away as the couple crosses a new threshold to start a new life together.

Today couples jumping the broom often design their own broom and decorate them to complement wedding colors, or they can be purchased already-decorated.

Tajiri 36" Jump Broom for Wedding

Some who want to eliminate the broom because of its Wiccan associations may choose to step over a sword instead of a broom. 

***

Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

Photo credits: wikipedia, Wikimedia, wikimedia, Amazon

The Nurnberg Bridal Cup: A German Wedding Tradition of Love and Luck

(Updated December 2025)

For centuries, the German Bridal Cup has been a powerful symbol of unity, devotion, and good fortune. Couples all over the world still use this charming two-part chalice in their ceremonies or receptions, but the tradition began with a love story that is just as captivating today as it was hundreds of years ago.

Before sharing how the cup works and how you can incorporate it into your wedding, here’s the legend that gave rise to the tradition.

 

   

The Legend of the Nürnberg Bridal Cup

Long ago in Nürnberg, Germany, a wealthy nobleman lived with his daughter, the beautiful and strong-willed Mistress Kunigunde. She fell deeply in love with a young goldsmith — a talented, ambitious craftsman with little wealth but a great deal of heart.

Her father, however, had already envisioned a more “suitable” match. One wealthy suitor after another came to ask for her hand, and one after another she refused them, holding firmly to her love for the goldsmith.

Enraged by her defiance, the nobleman ordered the young goldsmith to be thrown into the darkest dungeon in the city. Kunigunde wept endlessly, but her father remained unmoved. As the days passed, her heartbreak began to show; her complexion grew pale, her spirit dimmed, and the nobleman could no longer ignore her grief.

Finally, at his wits’ end, he offered a challenge he believed to be impossible:

"If your goldsmith can create a chalice from which two people can drink at the same time without spilling a drop, I will set him free — and you may marry him."

The Goldsmith’s Masterpiece

Driven by love and hope, the goldsmith poured all his skill into the task. What he created was nothing short of extraordinary:

• A beautifully sculpted young maiden — her smile said to resemble Kunigunde’s.

• Her skirt formed a hollow cup.

• Above her head she held a small, swiveling bucket, crafted so that it moved freely as she was lifted.

The design allowed two people to drink at once, each from a different cup, without spilling a single drop.

Against all expectations, the goldsmith triumphed. The nobleman kept his word, the young couple married, and they were said to have toasted their union with the ingenious chalice now celebrated as the German Bridal Cup.

Handcrafted bridal cups can still be purchased today.

The Bridal Cup as a Modern Wedding Tradition

Today, the Bridal Cup remains a cherished symbol of:

• Love

• Good luck

• Faithfulness

• Unity between partners

Using it during your wedding adds a touch of Old-World romance and often becomes one of the most memorable moments of the celebration. Couples typically drink simultaneously, one from the skirt cup and one from the smaller bucket cup, making for a wonderful photo opportunity and a delightful shared laugh.

Handcrafted bridal cups are still made today, often by artisans who honor the traditional Nürnberg design. They make beautiful keepsakes and can be displayed proudly long after the wedding day.

Tips for Using the German Bridal Cup

Drinking from a Bridal Cup does take a bit of practice! Consider:

• Doing a quick test-run before the ceremony or reception

• Letting your officiant explain the tradition to your guests

• Having your photographer ready — the moment is always camera-worthy

If you love the idea of incorporating a meaningful drinking vessel but want something slightly easier to manage, the Scottish quaich is a lovely alternative. It also carries a rich history and symbolizes hospitality, friendship, and unity.

***

Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

Photo credits: wikimedia, Amazon

History of flower girls

Today, flower girls are a pretty standard (but precious) part of most wedding parties. Some brides choose to have one flower girl, while others may have several. They are an adorable wedding tradition, but have you ever wondered about the history of flower girls? Like many wedding traditions the origins are not 100 percent certain. Some sources say the origin of flower girls goes back centuries to Ancient Rome while others suggest the tradition got its start in Britain.

Ancient Rome flower girls didn't carry flowers

The tie to ancient Rome goes back to young attendants who carried sheaves of wheat and herbs to ensure blessings of prosperity and fertility to the married couple. By the Medieval times, it was bouquets of garlic which were believed to ward off evil spirits.

Elizabethan Era flower girls

It was during the Elizabethan Era that the tradition of scattering flower petals came into practice.  At that time, brides followed a path of petals from their house to the church. To create this path, flower girls followed musicians in a wedding procession and carried a gold-plated rosemary branch and a silver cup adorned with ribbons and filled with flower petals and rosemary sprigs. This cup was known as the bride's cup, and the petals were considered a symbol of fertility and thought to give the couple good luck.

 

Victorian Era flower girls

In the Victorian era flower girls looked more like the flower girls of today. They were young and innocent and dressed in a simple white dress which was sometimes adorned with a colored sash made of satin or silk. She carried a gorgeously decorated basket filled fresh blooms or wore a floral hoop on her head. The circular shape of the hoop was symbolic of true love which has no end -- the same meaning bestowed on wedding rings.

In Western Europe, the tradition of including children as attendants in weddings also included a ring bearer and often included other attendants in the wedding party, too. Many royal and society weddings still follow this tradition today with two or more flower girls.

 * * *

Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

Photo credits: pixabay, wikimedia, Randy Robertson, wikimedia