Woodland weddings are a growing trend because they
complement so many wedding styles. After all, a wedding in the woods offers the perfect
backdrop for a casual boho wedding or a rustically elegant affair. It’s also an
ideal choice for eco-friendly-minded couples and those who enjoy the outdoors,
but there are still a handful of pros and cons to consider.
Pros
and cons
For those who feel at home beneath blue skies and yearn
for a wedding without walls, an outdoor wedding is a perfect choice, though it’s
a good idea to have a basket of travel size sunscreen and insect repellent wipes available
to guests.
Pros:
Space
flexibility: A woodland wedding is much more flexible with
guest count maximum capacity.
Natural lighting: Outdoor natural lighting makes for beautiful wedding
pictures.
Family friendly: Kids have plenty of room to run around and play in an
outdoor venue. You can even arrange to include a few lawn games for children
and adults to enjoy.
Natural landscapes create a stunning setting: The woods create the
perfect backdrop for breathtaking photographs. Couples who choose a woodland
wedding save on design costs, since the scenery provides visual interest whether
it includes spring’s blooms, summer's green canopy, or the stunning colors of
fall.
Cons:
Weather: Whether
you go with a woodland wedding, a beach wedding, or some other outdoor venue
one of the biggest disadvantages is the uncertainty of weather. For this
reason, many couples rent a tent which can cost thousands of dollars depending
on the size and type.
Insects:Mosquitoes
and other bugs are sure to attend your outdoor wedding. They not only can
pester your guests with buzzing and bites, they also swarm around the food
table. Make preparations to ensure that guests aren't bothered by the little
pests.
Reservations difficult: Since woodland weddings take place during
spring, summer, and early fall, the best locations are booked well in advance.
To avoid scheduling conflicts, book your venue as soon as possible.
Seasonal allergies: Seasonal allergies to pollen and molds can also be a
challenge with a woodland wedding. If your wedding is held when pollen counts
are high, it can help to find a site near a lake because wind off lakes can
help lower the count. Also, an afternoon wedding is better because pollen
counts tend to be highest in the morning. Either way, it's a good idea to have tissues available.
One last thing worth mentioning for woodland brides is
to consider the dress. If it’s going to bother you if the bottom of your dress
gets soiled, choose a tea length, a style you can bustle up, or buy a bridal petticoat which lifts the hem slightly, or spray the hem with Scotchgard Fabric
Protector spray before you wear it.
This ancient Byzantine wedding ring dates back to the 6th
century. It’s an octagonal ring adorned with eight scenes depicting the life of
Christ. The scene decorating the flat surface of the top of the ring depicts
the Ascension.
Byzantine ring offered protective powers and more
In Byzantine times, jewelry was far more than decoration, it carried spiritual meaning and protective power. Rings in particular were often crafted to commemorate important milestones such as betrothals or weddings, and many bore inscriptions drawn from scripture. One such example is a ring inscribed with the words, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts” (Isaiah 6:3), a phrase that would have served as both a declaration of faith and a blessing upon the union.
Unlike the later Victorian keeper rings, which focused on safeguarding the wedding band itself, Byzantine rings often featured engraved scenes from the life of Christ. These images were believed to combine into a “prayer in pictures,” imbuing the piece with protective power. The tradition reflected a broader belief in jewelry as a spiritual safeguard — talismans against misfortune, woven seamlessly into the rituals of love, commitment, and marriage.
Beyond its amulet-like role, Byzantine jewelry served many of the same purposes it does today. It marked life’s milestones, adorned the body with beauty, and displayed the wealth and status of its owner. Jewelry was not limited to women; men and even children wore it as a sign of prosperity and identity. At the same time, it held a practical function, considered a form of “liquid wealth,” pieces could be melted down or traded in times of need, making jewelry both a treasure and a safeguard.
Byzantine Style Wedding Rings Today
The appeal of Byzantine-style wedding rings has found new life in the modern era. As cultural interest in the Medieval and Byzantine periods has grown, fueled by books and films like The Da Vinci Code, The Lord of the Rings, and Game of Thrones, so too has the demand for jewelry that carries an air of history, mystery, and romance.
According to Culture Taste, a designer specializing in handcrafted Byzantine-inspired rings, “a romantic mood creates and strengthens this revival. This jewelry is mainly for those who want something more than the mainstream wedding jewelry, something different—with history, mystery, and mysticism.” For couples seeking a symbolic connection to the past, these rings offer both beauty and a sense of timeless meaning.
A Tradition That Endures
From the protective inscriptions and spiritual symbolism of the Byzantine Empire to the romantic revival of their style today, wedding rings have always been more than just adornment. They carry stories of faith, love, wealth, and identity, a tradition passed down through centuries. Choosing a Byzantine-style ring today is not only a statement of individuality, but also a way to honor a heritage where jewelry was both personal and sacred.
For couples seeking something beyond the mainstream, these rings offer more than beauty: they carry with them history, mystery, and a connection to the timeless human desire to mark love with meaning.
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Keeper rings, like many wedding traditions, are surrounded by a variety of legends. One of these dates back to Victorian era (1837-1901) when the keeper ring is said to have represented the idea that the receiver was worth “keeping.” It was considered a kind of pre-engagement or betrothal ring and was presented a year before the official engagement. While the Victorians gave the keeper ring a romantic symbolism of being “worth keeping,” the design itself was not new. In fact, the tradition of the keeper ring goes back several generations earlier.
Keeper rings origins
The Keeper ring first appeared in England in the 1760s–70s. They were originally wedding gifts from husbands to wives. The idea was that the ring would “keep” the more precious and elaborate engagement ring from slipping off the finger. This is where the name keeper comes from.
Keeper ring meaning
Whether you believe the ring goes back to the 1700s or that the Victorian keeper ring started this trend, the romantic “you’re a keeper” sentiment attached to the ring makes it a popular choice today as a unique wedding ring, engagement ring, eternity ring, and even an anniversary band. These keeper rings continued into the Edwardian era with styles that included elegant braided gold rings.
King George III era keeper ring
King George III Era Style Ring
Another story dates back to 1761 when King George the III gave his bride, Queen Charlotte, a wedding ring band encircled with diamonds. Diamond rings were a popular ring choice in the mid-eighteenth century, and a second ring – a keeper ring – was worn to protect the more valuable ring from accidentally sliding off the finger. These were also known as guard rings. These antique keeper rings came in a variety of styles from plain gold or enameled bands to diamond or gem-set bands similar to today’s eternity ring.
Over time, the diamond ring took on the role of a
betrothal ring, and the keeper ring evolved into the wedding band. Today, a keeper ring is basically a band that’s worn alongside another ring, most often an engagement ring, to help protect it and keep it in place. While it started out as a symbolic gift centuries ago, it’s now just as popular for its practicality as for its meaning. Some people still see it as a promise or anniversary ring, but plenty also wear it simply as a stylish stacking band that adds a little extra sparkle.
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When you think about it, many wedding customs can seem
unusual compared to regular everyday life. I mean when else do you think about
wearing something old, new, borrowed or blue? But as out of the ordinary as customs like that
can seem, there are some really strange marriage customs around the world that
top that by far. Here are five you won't believe.
5 strange marriage customs from around the world
1. India:
Marrying a Tree
Can you imagine a bride marrying a tree before she is allowed to marry her groom? Believe it or not, this is a real custom in India. In some Hindu traditions, a woman whose horoscope shows Mangal Dosha (a Mars affliction that is believed to cause misfortune in marriage) must first symbolically wed a tree, often a banana tree, peepal tree, or even an idol of Lord Vishnu.
This ritual, known as Kumbh Vivah, is thought to neutralize the harmful effects of the planetary alignment. By marrying the tree, the “curse” is transferred to it, protecting the future husband from potential misfortune, such as an early death. After the ceremony, the tree is usually cut down or immersed in a river, symbolically ending that union and freeing the Indian bride to marry her human partner.
For those who believe, this practice is a way to ensure harmony, longevity, and eternal joy in the real marriage that follows.
Blackening the bride.
2. Scotland:
Blackening of the bride (and groom)
If you thought marrying a tree was unusual, wait until you hear about the Scottish wedding tradition known as “Blackening of the Bride.” This messy pre-wedding ritual is all about preparing the couple for the challenges of married life. Traditionally, it involved the bride alone, but nowadays grooms often get “blackened” too.
Here’s how it works: Friends and relatives ambush the couple and cover them in the nastiest concoctions you can imagine—spoiled milk, rotting food, flour, soot, sticky treacle, even dead fish. Imagine cleaning out the worst-smelling science experiments from your refrigerator and dumping them in a bucket, then hurling it over the bride and groom while parading them through town for everyone to see.
And it doesn’t end there. After the slimy spectacle, the bride (and sometimes the groom) is taken out for a night of drinking and then tied to a tree. Why? The tradition symbolizes resilience. If the bride can endure humiliation, discomfort, and chaos, she’ll be ready to weather whatever storms marriage brings.
It’s messy, it’s smelly, and it’s unforgettable—but in Scotland, it’s all in the name of good luck.
3. Germany:
Piles of broken porcelain
In Germany, marriage celebrations can get a little… destructive. Before the wedding day, friends and family gather for a ritual called Polterabend—which literally means “noisy evening.” The centerpiece of the event? Guests smash porcelain dishes, cups, and even toilets into a giant pile right in front of the couple’s home. (Glass is avoided, since it’s thought to bring bad luck.)
Piles of broken porcelain dishes to clean up.
The
crashing sound is believed to scare away evil spirits, but there’s
another symbolic layer: once the fun is over, the bride and groom must
clean up the mess together. The lesson is clear, if they can cooperate to
tackle this mountain of broken pottery, they’ll be able to face life’s
challenges hand in hand.
It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s surprisingly heartwarming, a reminder that teamwork is at the heart of a successful marriage.
4. France:
Chocolate, champagne and the toilet
France may be famous for romance, fine wine, and gourmet food, but one of its wedding traditions is far from elegant. After the reception, when the bride and groom should be celebrating in style, friends surprise them with a strange challenge: eating chocolate and drinking champagne… out of a toilet bowl (or more often these days, a clean chamber pot).
Originally, the concoction wasn’t so sweet. In older versions of the ritual, guests would scrape leftovers (or worse) into the pot, forcing the couple to consume the unappetizing mix. Thankfully, modern versions have evolved into something far more palatable: melted chocolate, bananas, and bubbly champagne.
The idea behind the custom is symbolic. Sharing this unusual “meal” is believed to give the newlyweds strength for their wedding night and beyond. It’s quirky, messy, and a little gross, but for the French, it’s all about starting married life with laughter, resilience, and a story no one will forget.
5. Indonesia:
Honeymoon - 3 days housebound with no toilet
If you think newlyweds deserve a relaxing honeymoon, the Tidong people of Borneo, Indonesia, would disagree. Their marriage custom requires the bride and groom to stay inside their home for three full days and nights—and here’s the kicker: they’re not allowed to use the toilet.
During this time, the couple is given only small amounts of food and drink, and relatives keep watch to make sure the rules are followed. The idea may sound extreme (and definitely uncomfortable), but the purpose is deeply symbolic. It’s believed that enduring this shared trial will bless the couple with a happy marriage and healthy children.
What better test of love than surviving three days together under those conditions? If you can make it through that, you can probably make it through anything!
The thing that’s interesting with these strange
marriage customs around the world are the superstitions attached to them. But really,
the reasons many of our wedding traditions exist are superstitions. After all,
wearing a wedding veil originated to hide the bride from evil spirits.
