What Are the Origins of the Wedding Ring?

The Ancient Egyptians

Obviously the exact beginning of the use of the wedding ring is unknown, many historians believe that the wedding ring tradition originated in Ancient Egypt. There have been archeological discoveries, some dating back well over 3,000 years ago, leading to this hypothesis.

Drawings on artifacts, such as papyrus scrolls, demonstrate a culture in which the marital couple exchanged rings made from hemp and reeds. The associated hieroglyphics explained how the Ancient Egyptian society acknowledged the ring, the circle, as a symbol of unending love between the bride and groom.

The Egyptians also wore their wedding rings on what we now call the “ring finger”, on the left hand. They believed that this finger contained a special vein, which was directly connected to the heart. The belief was embraced by other cultures, and many centuries later, it was known by the Latin term “vena amoris” or the “vein of love”.

The Ancient Romans

In Ancient Rome, marriages were recognised in different forms, and these marriages were categorised by the specific social class. They were Usus, Coemptio, and Confarreatio.

Usus was the informal marriage, reserved for the lowest class. It could be compared to today's defacto relationships.

Coemptio was the marriage that required that the bride be purchased from her family. Historians believe this “purchase” was symbolic (not really bought) but that the  fathers were paid for the marriage of their daughters.  

Confarreatio was reserved only for the elite class, and this was the only true legal form of marriage in Ancient Roman times. The groom, giving a wedding ring to the bride, confirmed this marriage. The majority of these wedding rings were made of iron, which then led to the lovely tradition of modern metal wedding rings. However, unlike the Egyptians' rings as symbols of unending love, historians have determined that the Romans viewed these wedding rings as symbols of ownership, in that the wife now belonged to the husband.


Source: http://www.jtv.com/library/wedding-ring-history.html

The Tradition of the Bridesmaid's Dress.

Why do we have bridesmaids, and why do we dress them in the manner that we do?

The earliest known tradition involving what the bridesmaids wore shows us that the bridesmaids wore exactly the same as the bride. The idea behind this was to protect the bride: that by standing the bride next to the lookalikes, any malicious ghosts or spirits at the wedding could not focus on the bride and ruin her wedded life.

That old custom eventually fell away in Victorian times (thank goodness) to dressing the bridesmaids in white dresses but with short veils, in contrast with the bride's ornate veil and wedding dress train.

Finally, when commercial dyes became more easily affordable and accessible, we saw our first contrasting bridesmaids dresses make their appearance in the bridal party. Bridesmaid dresses were then seen in colours like bright green, fuchsia, gold, tangerine. Those dresses all then ensured that the bride would be the best-looking girl in the church.

But surely, no bride would ever consciously do that right??  

A Wedding at the Bellinzona Grange.

Yesterday Joh and Nick were married, with their eldest bestest boy escorting Joh down the aisle and their youngest bestest boy sitting contentedly in his grandmother's arms. It is a beautiful setting at The Bellinzona Grange, and this time of year the garden is a rash of autumnal tones. It was a joyful day, with a focus on the children, and not just their own. I must say, I had fun with these guys, the bridal party were so warm and welcoming to me, and this is what makes weddings so great: the people I get to meet.

A Lake House Wedding

Last weekend I had the privilege of officiating the wedding of Sherri and Yin Wei. This was a true destination wedding, as everyone attending had to travel significant distances to be there. The wedding was at the gorgeous Lake House, in Daylesford, a truly beautiful venue for a wedding and reception. We were so lucky as we had great weather, warm breezes, dappled sunlight, on the lake foreshore. We had curious ducks joining us, which I loved. This lucky couple had an enormous amount of people who attended their big day, which I thought was a true testament to what great people they are. Congrats to you both, I know you will have a long, joyful, married life together.

Wedding Superstitions & Traditions.

I was having a think about what is supposed to be good luck for a wedding day, and I found out these "facts". What do you think?

1. According to Greek culture, having sugar with you on your wedding day will "sweeten" your marriage: so brides, tuck a cube of sugar in to your pocket or bag.

2. Urgh! The English believe that finding a spider in your wedding dress means good luck. 

3. The groom should carry the bride across the threshold to protect her from evil spirits lurking within.

4. According to English tradition, Wednesday is considered the luckiest to marry, although Monday is for wealth and Tuesday is for health, whilst Saturday is the unluckiest wedding day. And now, Saturday is the busiest day for weddings.

5. The ancient Romans studied pig intestines to try to determine the luckiest time of the day to marry.

6. According to Hindu tradition, if it rains on the wedding day then the bridal couple will  have good luck.

7 . Middle Eastern brides paint henna on their hands and feet to protect themselves from the evil eye. 

8. In Holland, a pine tree will be planted outside the couple's home as a symbol of good luck and fertility.

9. Peas are thrown at Czech newlyweds instead of rice.

10. A Swedish bride will put a gold coin from her mother and a silver coin from her father in to each of her wedding shoes to ensure that she'll never do without. 

11. For good luck, Egyptian women pinch the bride on her wedding day. 

12. Finnish brides traditionally visited all their neighbours collecting gifts, accompanied by an older married man who represented long marriage.

13. Moroccan women traditionally have a bath in milk to purify themselves before their wedding ceremony. 

Happy Naming Day for Norah

I have had a lovely morning, with a naming ceremony for the daughter of a dear friend of mine. I love naming ceremonies, I love working with the parents to develop a ceremony which reflects their love of their child and their wishes for that child's future. And it is just a nice reason to get all the family and friends together to party on, to reunite, to enjoy that feeling that you only get from being with those you love.

Mother’s Heart: Author Unknown

I loved you from the very start,

You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

Our life together has just begun

You’re part of me my little one.

As mother with child, each day I grew,

My mind was filled with thoughts of you.

I’d daydream of the things we’d share,

Like late-night bottles and Teddy bears.

Like first steps and skinned knees,

Like bedtime stories and ABC’s.

I thought of things you’d want to know,

Like how birds fly and flowers grow.

I thought of lessons I’d need to share,

Like standing tall and playing fair.

When I first saw your precious face,

I prayed your life be touched with grace.

I thanked the angels from above,

And promised you unending love.

Each night I lay you down to sleep,

I gently kiss your head and cheek.

I count your little fingers and toes;

I memorize your eyes and nose.

I linger at your nursery door,

Awed each day I love you more.

Through misty eyes, I dim the light,

I whisper, “I love you” every night.

I loved you from the very start,

You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

As mother and child our journeys begin,

My heart’s yours forever little one.

Sarah and Lachlan: a fantastic garden wedding.

Every now and then I have the privilege of marrying my friends. And just yesterday I married more recent friends, one of whom is the son of an old friend from my nursing training days back in the 1980's, with the twist also that my husband knows the bride's Dad really well. It was so lovely to see both generations, both sets of our good friends celebrating such a happy family event together. We were also invited to the reception, where much remising occurred. Thank you, Lach and Sar for having me as your celebrant, it was so sweet to be with you both, and with your parents. This was a particularly brilliant day in my career. x

This was my first wedding at the Buninyong Gardens, in the area of the old wartime baths, which has been converted to a gorgeous walled garden. Check it out: it is one of my more favoured venues now. The photos from in there would be divine.