Bridal Garters – are an old Wedding Tradition

Bridal Garters are still very much a significant part of a Brides’ attire. A very old Wedding Tradition, Bridal Garters were thought to bring good luck and fortune to the happy couple. They have stood the test of time when other Wedding Traditions have long been forgotten.  Bridal Garters – are an old Wedding Tradition.

WeddingGarterTraditions

Dating back to England in the 14th Century it was good luck for anyone to obtain a piece of the Brides’ attire from her Wedding Day.  The Brides’ dress was literally torn away, much to the horror of both the Bride and Groom!
To keep themselves and the Bridal Dress intact, the Bride and Groom began to throw the Bridal Garter at the guests. It became customary for the Groom to remove the Garter from the Brides’ leg himself.

Bridal Garters – are an old Wedding Tradition

In the 17th and 18th Centuries, the Bridal Garter was a silk sash tied below the Brides’ knee.  Bachelors considered the sash to be a trophy.  Whoever “captured” it would wear the garter on his hat for the remainder of the Wedding Celebration.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue. Where did this saying come from? The complete phrase was actually Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe.

A sixpence is a coin made of silver. It was worth six pennies and was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1967.  This would indicate that this Wedding Tradition is most likely English.  Many sources say that it began in the Victorian era.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the Bride. If she carries all of them on her Wedding Day, it is said her Marriage will be a happy one!

Something Old symbolises continuity with the Brides’ family and the past. Something New means optimism and hope for the Brides’ life ahead. Something Borrowed is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member. Their good fortune in Marriage is supposed to carry over to the new Bride.  The borrowed item also reminds the Bride that she can depend on her friends and family. Something Blue has been connected to Weddings for Centuries.

In ancient Rome, Brides wore blue to symbolise love, modesty and fidelity. Purity was also associated with the colour blue. Before the late 19th Century, blue was a popular colour for Wedding Gowns. It appears in proverbs like “Marry in Blue, Lover be True”.

Today, Brides are working the old, new, borrowed and blue objects into their Weddings themselves in their own way.

Brides’ often choose to wear a blue garter.

Eva Wedding Garter in Blue

Beautiful Something Blue Wedding Garter
Something Blue Wedding Garters

Order of the Garter

The concept of a Bridal Garter may also be linked to the following award.  Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348 by Edward III, awarded as the highest order of chivalry.  The Order consists of Her Majesty The Queen who is Sovereign of the Order, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and 24 Knights Companions.

The Order of the Garter is symbolized by a mantle (blue ribbon and very similar in function and connotation to a garter). It is one of the oldest orders of Knighthood. Knights were known as the consummate protectors of women.

http://www.royal.gov.uk/monarchUK/honours/Orderofthegarter/orderofthegarter.aspx

The mantle of a Knight of the Garter has been worn by Royal Bridegrooms over their Wedding attire. Prince William wore this blue mantle for his marriage to Kate Middleton the Duchess of Cambridge in April 2011.

garter traditions

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Cambridge (Prince William) kisses his new Bride, The Duchess of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Royal Wedding with his Knight of the Garter mantle proudly displayed.

Bridal Garters – an old Wedding Tradition!

2 thoughts on “Bridal Garters – are an old Wedding Tradition”

  1. Hi Zielona, thank you so much for your positive comments! Wedding Tradition’s are such fun to discover. I’m in Queensland at the moment experiencing a Wedding at Villa Botanica in the Whitsundays. If you have some time, please take a look at Wedding Garter Bling’s Facebook Page for an update – its been an amazing visit! Catch up with you soon!

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