Updated: March 16, 2016
Originally Published: March 16, 2016
The customs surrounding weddings often leave many perplexed. What’s the purpose of a matron of honor? Why do children get the honor of delivering wedding rings? And what’s the deal with throwing rice? While seasoned wedding attendees might have straightforward answers, those of us who have not participated in a conventional ceremony might find ourselves pondering the rationale behind such traditions.
It is widely accepted that being a bridesmaid can be a less-than-glamorous experience. Perhaps as a child, you romanticized the idea, only to later face the reality of spending a small fortune on a dress you will likely never don again, along with matching shoes and accessories. This reality often shifts one’s perception of the role to, “This is quite expensive and not as fun as it seems.”
Historically, the concept of bridesmaids wearing identical dresses has a rather unsettling origin. According to The Dressy Group, this tradition traces back to Roman law, which mandated the presence of ten witnesses at a wedding to ward off malevolent spirits believed to disrupt nuptial ceremonies. To outsmart these spirits, bridesmaids and ushers were dressed in outfits resembling those of the bride and groom, essentially serving as decoys to distract evil forces long enough for the couple to exchange vows.
This means that the bridal party has long been tasked with a rather dubious honor—protecting the couple from supernatural threats.
In recent times, there has been a shift toward more wearable bridesmaid dresses, but this was not the case in my own experiences. While some may argue that these styles are designed to be reused, I can assure you that few want to relive the taffeta nightmare.
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In summary, while the role of a bridesmaid may seem like a glamorous opportunity, the historical context reveals it to be fraught with challenges and expenses. The traditions that have persisted over centuries often obscure the burdens that come with such responsibilities.
Keyphrase: Bridesmaid Tradition
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