THE ORIGIN OF THE 'HONEYMOON'

After kidnapping his bride, the groom would take her and go into hiding. By the time the bride's family tracked them down them, the bride would probably already be pregnant! A bride price would then be negotiated.

An earlier source is the early Jewish custom of the bride and groom spending a week together alone immediately after the marriage feast. The earliest reference to this practice is Jacob's marriages to Leah and Rachel.

THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM 'WEDDING'

Although some brides were kidnapped, marriage by purchase was the preferred method of obtaining a wife. The bride price could be land, social status, political alliances, or cash. The Anglo-Saxon word 'wedd' meant that the groom would vow to marry the woman, but it also referred to the bride price (money or barter) to be paid by the groom to the bride's father. The root of the word 'wedding' literally means to gamble!

THE ORIGIN OF DOWRIES

As civilisations developed, political, military, and economic ties became very important to prominent families and clans. Arranged marriages were a means of cementing ties between families, middle class family businesses, and countries. A man's daughters, who were considered to be his property in those days, provided a means of securing needed alliances with other families.

THE ORIGIN OF THE TERM 'TO TIE THE KNOT'

The term 'tie the knot' also goes back Roman times. The bride would wear a girdle that was tied in knots which the groom had the 'duty' of untying.

THE ORIGIN OF BRIDAL SHOWERS

Bridal showers were meant to strengthen the ties between the bride and her friends, provide her moral support, and help her prepare for her marriage.

THE ORIGIN OF STAG PARTIES

In Sparta, during the height of Greek civilisation, soldiers were the first to hold stag parties. The groom would have a party for his friends the night before he was to marry.

He would bid farewell to his bachelorhood

THE ORIGIN OF THE BRIDAL PARTY

This term has many origins from different cultures. In Anglo-Saxon times, the groom had the help of bridesmen or brideknights to help him capture and/or escort his bride. Later they would make sure that the bride got to the church and to the groom's home afterwards.