From engagement rings to wearing white to tossing the bouquet, there are so many traditions around weddings, that we just take them for granted. But they had to start somewhere – and you might be surprised at the backstories. Birkat Elyon is in the business of offering couples high-quality cubic zirconia engagement and wedding rings and is here with the history behind certain wedding rituals.
ENGAGEMENT RINGS: The Egyptians started the practice of offering a ring to a beloved. In the 12th century, it became common to offer one ring at the betrothal and another at the actual ceremony. For centuries, only women wore the ring(s); it wasn’t until World War I that men started wearing wedding rings as well.
DIAMOND RINGS: In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria nabbed the hottest bachelorette in Europe with an engagement ring that spelled out her name in diamonds. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s when diamonds were made the “go-to” stone due to a slick advertising campaign by the biggest jeweler of the day. Fortunately, these days, cubic zirconia is a smarter alternative. Birkat Elyon offers dazzling CZ rings that are more affordable and almost indistinguishable from diamonds.
WEARING WHITE: When England’s Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840, her light, champagne-colored satin gown caused a sensation. Victorian-era brides copied her style, opting for white as a symbol of purity.
In Eastern countries like China, brides wore red dresses for the ceremony and many still do. However, the modern tradition is to change into a white dress for the reception.
“TYING THE KNOT”: This phrase stems from an ancient Celtic tradition in which the couple’s hands are bound together by a cord as a sign of unity. A knot was tied for each vow spoken, with the final product given to them as a reminder.
THE BOUQUET TOSS: In England of the 1700s, single women would rush the new bride to rip off a piece of her dress for luck in love. A tossed bouquet became a diversion that allowed the bride to keep her dress intact!
BRIDESMAIDS & GROOMSMEN: Back in more dangerous times, there was a real threat that a bride-to-be might be kidnapped (or worse) by rivals. From ancient Rome to China, bridesmaids, dressed in identical garb and with veils to disguise them, were a kind of decoy. Groomsmen were essentially bodyguards, with the Best Man chosen for his superior fighting skills.
Even as traditions evolve, one thing you can count on are the enduring quality cubic zirconia rings offered by Birkat Elyon!