The wedding season is hotting up in the UK along with the weather, with thousands of couples set to tie the knot this year. The pandemic restrictions saw rapid changes to the way we get married. For example, it is now legal to be wed outdoors at licenced venues, and this has proved to be a hugely popular option.

The trend for micro weddings with 50 guests or fewer has persisted even after the restrictions on numbers were lifted. It seems that many couples decided they would prefer to share their special day with the people who genuinely mean the most to them, rather than pad out the guest list with acquaintances and distant relatives.

However, weddings and traditions go hand in hand, and there are some centuries old customs that will no doubt endure long into the future. Here’s a look at some of the stories behind our oldest and best loved traditions.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed & Something Blue

This rhyme originates from the 19th century, and it refers to items that the bride should wear or carry during the ceremony. There are various theories for the meaning behind this tradition. ‘Something old’ is understood to be a tie from the past that has a connection to the bride’s family. This could be a family heirloom such as earrings or a necklace.

‘Something new’ refers to the future that will represent God’s favour and blessing for a long and happy marriage. ‘Something borrowed’ serves as a reminder that the bride will always have the support of family and friends to draw on even after she has entered the married state.

A strong support network was important in the days when women usually had large families and there was no official social security system in place, and of course friends and family are still highly valued today. ‘Something blue’ is thought to represent faithfulness within the marriage, as blue is traditionally associated with purity and loyalty.

Getting down on one knee to propose

It has always been customary for a man to get down on one knee to propose, but why should this be the case? It’s thought to be an ancient chivalric gesture that signified respect and loyalty. In past times, it was a way of emphasising a man’s willingness to act as a faithful provider for a future family.

This is a very romantic notion that still carries weight today, even when in modern marriages both partners are likely to act as breadwinners. The qualities of love and devotion will hopefully never fall out of fashion.

In some cultures, men expressed their desire to care and provide for a potential love match in other ways as well. For example, in some areas of 17th century Wales, it was traditional for young men to offer hand carved love spoons as a sign of their affection and devotion to a lady.

These spoons featured a decorative carved handle with a symbol that represented love or God’s favour, such as a heart, a cross, or Celtic knotwork. Because the men were often sailors who took up carving as a means to pass spare hours at sea, anchors were another popular symbol. This signified a wish to settle down and commit to one person.

The spoons were not only a gift to woo their sweetheart, but were also a demonstration of a man’s skill as a craftsperson. It was said that if the girl’s father considered the carving to be of a high enough standard, he was satisfied that the man was up to the job of providing for his daughter and potential grandchildren, and granted his permission for the marriage.

Lovespoons fell out of favour by the 19th century, but in recent years the craft has enjoyed a revival. They are now often bought as a wedding gift, or for any other special occasion such as a birth, anniversary or graduation gift.

Tiered wedding cakes

Traditional wedding cakes have three tiers, but why is this the case? There are a few theories, but the most convincing explanation is that at one time, guests brought small cakes with them as presents, and these were stacked on top of each other. An alternative theory is that the cake was in layers so that it could easily be separated for different purposes.

The largest bottom layer was divided up to eat at the wedding feast, the middle layer was cut into portions for the guests to take home, and the top layer was saved for the couple to eat on their first anniversary!