Wedding Ceremonies

Do you even know the history of marriage where it all came from ? 

The word, "Wedding" comes from the Roman Pagan word "wedd" that meant a man would marry a woman and pay the Bride's father. 

Roman Pagan Wedding Ceremony Vows 
A Tradition that goes back over 6 thousand years 
I, N., take thee N to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, for fairer or fouler, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to Goddess's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth. 
I N. take thee N to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to be bonny and buxom at bed and at board, to love and to cherish, till death us depart, according to Goddess's holy ordinance; and thereunto I plight thee my troth. 
Sound Familier this tradition is still carried to this very day 

Wedding Ring 

The first recorded marriage rings date back to the days when early man. Approximately 3,000 BC, Egyptians originated the phrase "without beginning, without end" in describing the significance of the wedding ring. These rings were made of woven hemp which constantly wore out and needed replacement. Later Romans used metal rings Although Romans originally used iron but later gold was used now as a symbol of all that is pure. Diamonds were first used by Italians, who believed that it was created from the flames of love. 

Bridal Veil 
During the Roman and Greek Empire 
Brides wore a crown of flowers during the wedding ceremony. The couple may walk around the altar three times representing the Holy Pagan Trinity Goddesses to give thanks and blessings from 
Pagan Goddesses , 
Athena Goddess of Wisdom 
who blessed the wedding with fertility and knowledge 

Artemis She was also a goddess of childbirth, 
Goddess of Virginity and the protectress of the women against abusive husbands 

Hera Her chief function was as the goddess of women and marriage. In Roman mythology, Juno was the name of Hera 

June which named for Juno or Hera is the most popular month for women to get married is there is any reason why maybe this is why 

Bouquet 

Wedding bouquets were originally made of such strong herbs as thyme and garlic, which were meant to frighten away evil spirits, and to cover the stench emitting from people who had not bathed recently 

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue 

A tradition that goes back to the Roman and Greek Empire days 

This superstition of the Bride wearing something that fits each of these four categories originated in Europe to ward off evil spirits. Something Old: This tradition symbolized the sense of continuity while making the transition from a single person to that of a married couple. Something New: This tradition symbolized that marriage represented a transition to adulthood. Something Borrowed: This tradition symbolized the popular belief that by borrowing something from a happily married couple, good fortune would follow the newlyweds. Something Blue: In ancient Israel, blue was the border color of the Bride's dress, symbolizing purity, constancy and fidelity. 


Tying The Knot 

This comes from the days of the Roman empire when the Bride wore a girdle that was tied in knots. The Groom untied the knots prior to the consummation of their marriage. 

Wedding Cake 

Also during the days of the Roman empire, wedding cakes were baked of wheat or barley. At the reception, they were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of her fertility. Guests would then scramble for pieces of the cake, and take them home for good luck. It later became a tradition to place many small cakes on top of each other as high as possible. 

Shoes On Vehicle 

Ancient Romans used to transfer to the Groom his authority over his Bride when her Father gave the Groom her shoes. In later years, guests threw their own shoes at the newlyweds to signify this transfer of authority. Today, this tradition is kept alive by simply tying old shoes to the back of the newlywed's vehicle before they leave their wedding reception celebration. 


Stag Parties 

This is the male equivalent of the Bridal Shower. Roman empire soldiers would feast with the Groom the night before his wedding to say goodbye to his irresponsible days of bachelorhood, and to renew their vows of allegiance to their friendships. 


Carrying The Bride Over The Threshold 
Symbolic Roman and Greek tradition 
the Theshold or doorway was a Reference to the Pagan god Janus 
looking from the past and looking into the future steeping or carrying the bride over the Threshold means 
leaving the past and going on future together 
back then people kept thier Brooms over the Threshold 
and would jump over a broom to symbolize new life from old 


Tossing Rice 
An Ancient Roman and Greek Tradition 
By believing that newlyweds brought good luck, guests used to shower them with nuts and grains to insure a bountiful harvest, and many children to work the land. During years of a poor harvest, rice was tossed instead. This tradition continues today with rice or birdseed (where permitted), or bubbles to wish the Bride and Groom much happiness. Incidentally, it is not true that birds eating rice thrown after a wedding ceremony will cause their stomachs to enlarge and eventually explode. This myth may have simply evolved from church and synagogue employees weary from cleaning up after every wedding ceremony! 

Today couples also Release Butterflies which is a pagan Symbol of Transformation 

Walking or Throwing of Rose petals 
is a tribute to the Pagan Goddess Venus the Goddess of love and beauty 
the Rose is her Symbol 


Wedding Toast 
am Ancient Roman and Greek and Eygptian tradition 
where bread would be placed in the bottom of two drinking glasses usually of wine or mead or sweet honey drink for the newlyweds. They would then drink as fast as they could to be the first person to get to the toast. According to legend, the winner would rule their household! 
A tradition still carried to this day 

White Wedding Dress 
was not orignally part of the wedding tradition 
Back in Roman and Greek and even Eygptian times 
Women could not afford expensive gowns so 
Brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding day 
This was made popular in the 1840's by Queen Victoria, who chose this instead of the traditional royal "silver" wedding dress. 
contratory to popular belief white is not a symbol of purity 
but GOLD or Silver are Symbols of Purity that is why wedding gowns of Royaly used to be made of gold or silver until queen Victoria who wore white now traditational wedding gowns are white. 

Tuxedo 
this was not a Original Custom 
Orginally in Roman and Greek and Eygptian empire days men 
wore what they could afford to the wedding 
and most men wore battle armor to a wedding 
Early marriages were literally carried out by the Groom and his "Bridesmen" (or "Bridesknights") who would kidnap a woman (the origin of "carrying a Bride over the threshold") from another tribe! The Groom and his fellow conspirators would then fight off the female's family of tribesmen with swords held in their right hand while the Groom would hold the captured Bride in his left hand, which is the origin of why a Bride stands on the left side of the Groom at a wedding. 

After a successful capture, another politically correct practice was for the Groom to hide his new Bride for one month for mating purposes. It is said that the word "honeymoon" was created to describe this one month cycle of the moon when they would drink mead, which was a honey sweetened alcoholic brew that effects both sobriety and the acidity of the womb, thus increasing fertility. 

Classic example King Author married in armor 
Until the 20th century, the Groom simply wore his "Sunday best" on his wedding day. It is said that President Teddy Roosevelt popularized the modern tuxedo. 

Hand Fasting a Tradition when Pagans were not allowed to marry 
so they married in Secret with Hand Fasting 

The very word handfasting got it's origin in the wedding custom of tying the bride and groom's hands (actually, wrists) together. 

Handfasting is a traditional Roman ceremony of (temporary or permanent) Wedding 
Traditional trial-marriage ceremony, during which couples were literally bound together. The handfasting was a temporary agreement, that expired after a year and a day. However, it could be made permanent after at that time, if both spouses agreed. 

Hand Fasting is in many Cultures in Asia 
but It stems from Roman Empire and Greek Empire 


During the 1995 movie, Braveheart, Mel Gibson, in the role of William Wallace, was handfasted with his girlfriend Murron. Handfasting has since grown in popularity among non-Pagans.

This information came from my group Pagan is Us on Sodahead : http://www.sodahead.com/fun/pagan-is-us/group-22609/hang-out-station/forum-54417/many-of-todays-popular-wedding-ceremony-and-reception-traditions-can-be-traced-to-ancient-pagan-rom/discussion-527137/