Medieval Wedding Ceremony Customs
Weddings during the medieval times provided us with several modern traditions and customs. There was more to the Middle Ages than just chivalry, castles, and vibrant colors. This was a time of development for many social and marriage customs that are still followed today. Grooms were generally much older than their brides. Some noble women didn’t marry until the age of twenty four, but this was rare. More than three quarters of women were married before they saw their nineteenth birthday.
One medieval wedding custom was that every part of a woman’s face should be painted with some type of cosmetic. Many women during the Middle Ages would sun bleach their hair as well. Medieval fashion also prompted many young women to pluck their hairline to give them a higher forehead. A wedding might be the one time when a woman would wear her hair loose, and others would weave flowers into their hair to make a crown.
Medieval society actually liked to bathe, and hot baths were popular. Most towns had public bath houses. By the mid 1300’s though, the cost of heating the water had forced most bath houses to close. Perfumes made from floral oils and spices were very popular in these times as a quick and easy fix for those who could not bathe.
Precious stones also held deep meanings for people during this time. Wearing one or more of these stones let people know of personal characteristics, hopes, and beliefes. Some of these meanings include:
Chrysoprase: Virtue
Red Jasper: Love
Beryl: Purification
Green Jasper: Faith
White Jasper: Gentleness
Amethyst: Christ’s Martyrdom
Chalcedony: Closeness to God
Emerald: Christian hope
Sardonyx: Chastity or humility
Chrysolite: Heavenly life
Sapphire: Heaven bound
Hyacinth: God’s grace
A traditional Medieval wedding dress was usually not white. Blue was the traditional symbol of purity. Often a band of blue ribbon would be worn by the bride and groom, which is where the part of the traditional rhyme comes from, saying the bride should wear “something blue.” Wedding dresses could have been any color. Garters became one of the most important parts of a bride’s wardrobe. Wedding guests would follow the couple back to their roo and try and grab the garter for good luck. Medieval tradition held that a man who gave his love the garter of a bride would be guaranteed faithfulness.
One medieval wedding custom was that every part of a woman’s face should be painted with some type of cosmetic. Many women during the Middle Ages would sun bleach their hair as well. Medieval fashion also prompted many young women to pluck their hairline to give them a higher forehead. A wedding might be the one time when a woman would wear her hair loose, and others would weave flowers into their hair to make a crown.
Medieval society actually liked to bathe, and hot baths were popular. Most towns had public bath houses. By the mid 1300’s though, the cost of heating the water had forced most bath houses to close. Perfumes made from floral oils and spices were very popular in these times as a quick and easy fix for those who could not bathe.
Precious stones also held deep meanings for people during this time. Wearing one or more of these stones let people know of personal characteristics, hopes, and beliefes. Some of these meanings include:
Chrysoprase: Virtue
Red Jasper: Love
Beryl: Purification
Green Jasper: Faith
White Jasper: Gentleness
Amethyst: Christ’s Martyrdom
Chalcedony: Closeness to God
Emerald: Christian hope
Sardonyx: Chastity or humility
Chrysolite: Heavenly life
Sapphire: Heaven bound
Hyacinth: God’s grace
A traditional Medieval wedding dress was usually not white. Blue was the traditional symbol of purity. Often a band of blue ribbon would be worn by the bride and groom, which is where the part of the traditional rhyme comes from, saying the bride should wear “something blue.” Wedding dresses could have been any color. Garters became one of the most important parts of a bride’s wardrobe. Wedding guests would follow the couple back to their roo and try and grab the garter for good luck. Medieval tradition held that a man who gave his love the garter of a bride would be guaranteed faithfulness.
