Things that people used to do at weddings!

midnight_train

Just for fun, would anyone like to share some different things that people used to do at weddings, but you wouldn't see too often now?

Ones I can think of:

Bride wearing her mother's wedding dress (have actually seen this at one wedding about 15 years ago)

Cake cutting / Bouquet Throwing / Garter grab and toss (have seen all of these, but it's been a while)

Fruit cake as a wedding cake

Double weddings! My auntie and her sister got married on the same day, same church, ceremony, reception, etc. Don't think you'd see that too often now! I think they got married in the 60s.

Local honeymoons - my grandparents took a train trip around Ireland for a week for their honeymoon.

Anyone have anything else to add??

Smartguy

The b&g would lose their virginity

BabysCoffee

Never really experienced daughters wearing their mothers dresses

But I remember my friends sisters both wearing the same dress for their weddings

Tarzana

Bouquet throwing is still mostly done, isn't it?

lazygal

Going away outfits for brides.
Ford Cortina borrowed for the wedding car.
The Siege of Ennis or similar ceilidh dances.

lazeedaisy

Don't forget the grushie....

clint_silver

midnight_train wrote: »

Just for fun, would anyone like to share some different things that people used to do at weddings, but you wouldn't see too often now?

Ones I can think of:

Bride wearing her mother's wedding dress (have actually seen this at one wedding about 15 years ago)

Cake cutting / Bouquet Throwing / Garter grab and toss (have seen all of these, but it's been a while)

Fruit cake as a wedding cake

Double weddings! My auntie and her sister got married on the same day, same church, ceremony, reception, etc. Don't think you'd see that too often now! I think they got married in the 60s.

Local honeymoons - my grandparents took a train trip around Ireland for a week for their honeymoon.

Anyone have anything else to add??

The bouquet is thrown at most weddings.
Garter is done at about half.
Fruit cake is stil done at a good few. Maybe half.
Cake cutting is done at most.

Decorating the wedding car with aftershave!

DJ playing " congratulations" by Cliff Richard

Everyone out dancing to " The birdie song"

Confetti

amdublin

In my mam and dads wedding photos there is a photo of them at the meal and I was like to my mam "oh look at you drinking orange juice you goodie goodie"
My mam *embarrassed face* : " that was the starter"

:eek:

ABajaninCork

Confetti/rose petals/rice throwing is really a thing of the past, isn't it? Most churches and venues won't allow it because of the mess. Shame really - I love throwing confetti!

Addle

Personalised boxes of matches.
Bring them back!

bee06

clint_silver wrote: »

The bouquet is thrown at most weddings.
Garter is done at about half.
Fruit cake is stil done at a good few. Maybe half.
Cake cutting is done at most.

I've never been to a wedding where the bouquet was thrown or the garter was done including my own. I didn't even wear a garter.

Sir Arthur Daley

Go to the church for the sermony.

hoodwinked

midnight_train wrote: »

Bride wearing her mother's wedding dress (have actually seen this at one wedding about 15 years ago)

my mother's wedding dress became my christening gown, and my brothers, and my sisters and my daughters.

my mother-in-law did offer me her dress (she only has sons) but i had already bought mine at that stage

midnight_train wrote: »

Cake cutting / Bouquet Throwing / Garter grab and toss (have seen all of these, but it's been a while)

we did the cake cutting and Bouquet throwing i didn't wear a garter though,

midnight_train wrote: »

Local honeymoons - my grandparents took a train trip around Ireland for a week for their honeymoon.

we got married in kinsale county cork and honeymooned in kinsale county cork, most people all over the world come there for a honeymoon, as it was on our doorstep we utilised it!


things i don't see anymore are the good old fashioned sing songs they used have towards the end of the night, usually by the time the dj finishes up these days the old folk are in bed, and the younger ones too drunk to stand nevermind sit and sing, and even if they do sing something its a modern song as opposed to the old irish songs!

bee06

hoodwinked wrote: »

things i don't see anymore are the good old fashioned sing songs they used have towards the end of the night, usually by the time the dj finishes up these days the old folk are in bed, and the younger ones too drunk to stand nevermind sit and sing, and even if they do sing something its a modern song as opposed to the old irish songs!

We always have a sing song at my family's weddings.

Having your wedding dress made by a family member or making it yourself. My mom made her wedding dress and the two bridesmaids dresses as well ... Some woman.

Electric Sheep

bee06 wrote: »

We always have a sing song at my family's weddings.

Having your wedding dress made by a family member or making it yourself. My mom made her wedding dress and the two bridesmaids dresses as well ... Some woman.

Yes, in the rural area where I used to live, making your own wedding dress and wedding cake was a sort of status symbol - it showed that you would be a talented thrifty wife.

sunbeam

Bride wearing sister's/cousin's/friend's wedding dress-quite common up until the 1980s.

Bride getting married in 'Sunday Best' or a 'costume' (suit) common around here until the late 50s.

Carnations for all the guests.

'Having' to get married. Shotgun weddings seemed to have died out here by the second half of the 80s.

2-3 day at home receptions (basically major piss ups) would have been common around here 70-80 years ago, as were short wedding ceremonies minus the mass. At one where my mother was a bridesmaid in the early 50s the bridal party left the guests at home and went to have a meal by themselves in a posh hotel.

Groups of young men going from house to house looking for a wife in the style of Peig Sayers also happened up until the 50s. By then the couple were usually going out anyway and it was just a traditional formality. I'm told that in some cases weddings could happen as early as the next day.

pwurple

The going away outfits with the couple heading away from the reception to their honeymoon! Streamers and cans on the car.

I was going to say long veils, but they are back again after the royal wedding I think.

smallerthanyou

The straw boys! I don't know an awful lot about the tradition but I think its a group of young men would crash the wedding after party with straw masks covering their heads/identities. Then they'd dance so they were allowed stay. I remember it at weddings as a child 30yrs ago in the west but haven't seen it in years.

mrsdewinter

smallerthanyou wrote: »

The straw boys! I don't know an awful lot about the tradition but I think its a group of young men would crash the wedding after party with straw masks covering their heads/identities. Then they'd dance so they were allowed stay. I remember it at weddings as a child 30yrs ago in the west but haven't seen it in years.

I was at a wedding this year where the Straw Boys made an appearance! I think they were an organised thing, tho, where you booked them to do a turn. They were brilliant, tbf.

smallerthanyou

Is it a west of Ireland thing or country wide? Ya it was good fun alright!

Day Lewin

Has anyone heard of a rural custom called "Ban begging" where a group of local young lads (the groom's friends, of course) would "kidnap" the bride and only return her on payment of a ransom? (IE, boozing money)

I've heard of this being done in N Midlands up to 20 years ago, and maybe still, for all I know LOL

ABajaninCork

pwurple wrote: »

The going away outfits with the couple heading away from the reception to their honeymoon! Streamers and cans on the car.

I was going to say long veils, but they are back again after the royal wedding I think.

Long veils never really went away. All of the weddings I've been to here, the brides had long veils, but worn away from the face.

I had a cathedral length veil, and yes - I did wear mine over my face!

xzanti

sunbeam wrote: »

Groups of young men going from house to house looking for a wife in the style of Peig Sayers also happened up until the 50s. By then the couple were usually going out anyway and it was just a traditional formality. I'm told that in some cases weddings could happen as early as the next day.

What?

clint_silver

bee06 wrote: »

I've never been to a wedding where the bouquet was thrown or the garter was done including my own. I didn't even wear a garter.

As a trend theyre definitely starting to wain, Im coming from a background where I work at an average of 60-70 weddings a year so I see this nightly. Always ask bride what she wants to do. Most brides ask "whats the done thing" as if theyve never given it thought before its said to them, can do it if you want, no pressure.

the garter not so much, some request it. definitely not done as much any more though, another 3-4 years might be gone altogether.

IvyTheTerrible

bee06 wrote: »

We always have a sing song at my family's weddings.

Having your wedding dress made by a family member or making it yourself. My mom made her wedding dress and the two bridesmaids dresses as well ... Some woman.

My mum made her wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses and the wedding cake!
She is very good at dressmaking and baking.

sunbeam

xzanti wrote: »

What?

Yeah, this actually happened in rural Ireland in the early 2Oth century. Last instance I heard about was with a late aunt of mine in the 1950s but she was going out with the guy at the time so it was his way of proposing. She also married in a 'costume' in spite of my mother and other aunts in the UK offering to buy her a white gown in C&A and post it over to her.

amdublin

sunbeam wrote: »

Yeah, this actually happened in rural Ireland in the early 2Oth century. Last instance I heard about was with a late aunt of mine in the 1950s but she was going out with the guy at the time so it was his way of proposing. She also married in a 'costume' in spite of my mother and other aunts in the UK offering to buy her a white gown in C&A and post it over to her.

What kind of costume

ABajaninCork

amdublin wrote: »

What kind of costume

A suit...

Sam Kade

Not expect generous cash gifts from their wedding guests so that they could pay for their wedding.

CBFi

Alice Alice who the f*ck is Alice?! I used to think it was really risqué!

Actually a friend of mine is planning a joint wedding with her twin brother. The Priest said he hasn't done a joint wedding in 20 years!

Toots

Guests giving the bride/groom a luck token like a horseshoe.

My little cousin gave me a wooden spoon and I hadn't seen that done since I was a child!

sunbeam

Horseshoes used to be incorporated into bridal bouquets as well. Haven't seen that for a long time.

Electric Sheep

CBFi wrote: »

Alice Alice who the f*ck is Alice?! I used to think it was really risqué!

Actually a friend of mine is planning a joint wedding with her twin brother. The Priest said he hasn't done a joint wedding in 20 years!

Ah, when I was a kid my best friend and I always wanted a double wedding. Unfortunately I married 15 years after she did!

I still think double weddings are a lovely idea, but it probably wouldn't work with the type of bride who wants to be the sole focus of attention. For your twin friends I am sure the sibling bond would outweigh the egos. Wish I could be there!

lukesmom

I remember being a little girl in the 80's and at an older cousins wedding where all the groomsmen gave the bride the bumps. She was so embarrassed! Haven't seen it lately .

Electric Sheep

lukesmom wrote: »

I remember being a little girl in the 80's and at an older cousins wedding where all the groomsmen gave the bride the bumps. She was so embarrassed! Haven't seen it lately .

And just as well. I know of a groom who was paralyzed as a result of being given the bumps at his wedding reception.

amdublin

Electric Sheep wrote: »

And just as well. I know of a groom who was paralyzed as a result of being given the bumps at his wedding reception.

:eek:

Jesus christ that is awful Electric Sheep.

lukesmom

Electric Sheep wrote: »

And just as well. I know of a groom who was paralyzed as a result of being given the bumps at his wedding reception.

Awful

Faith

lukesmom wrote: »

I remember being a little girl in the 80's and at an older cousins wedding where all the groomsmen gave the bride the bumps. She was so embarrassed! Haven't seen it lately .

Electric Sheep wrote: »

And just as well. I know of a groom who was paralyzed as a result of being given the bumps at his wedding reception.

Electric Sheep

amdublin wrote: »

:eek:

Jesus christ that is awful Electric Sheep.

I know! It was 30 years ago, but it is the sort of thing you never forget. I think that is why the bumps is not done anymore, people know better now.

When I go to Jewish weddings I am always worried that the bride or groom will fall off and be hurt when they hoist them up on chairs during the Hora.

Toots

Electric Sheep wrote: »

And just as well. I know of a groom who was paralyzed as a result of being given the bumps at his wedding reception.

Jaysus, that's terrible! TBH I'm surprised there weren't more widespread serious injuries from the bumps. Sure even if you look at old You've Been Framed videos where the bumps go wrong and they end up dropping the 'bumpee' it looks pretty bloody painful.

L0ui5e

Remember when, at end of night, all the guests lined up in pairs to make a continuous arch for bride and groom to run under all the way to the door so they could make their exit to the car, covered in shaving foam and food cans tied on back to start their honeymoon..

sunbeam

I remember it being done to a bride and groom at a family wedding 30 years ago. The mother of the groom was freaking out as unbeknownst to many of the guests the bride was actually four months pregnant at the time. Luckily nothing went wrong.

amdublin

L0ui5e wrote: »

Remember when, at end of night, all the guests lined up in pairs to make a continuous arch for bride and groom to run under all the way to the door so they could make their exit to the car, covered in shaving foam and food cans tied on back to start their honeymoon..

And you'd kick them through the arch. So strange when you look back on it.

cactusgal

lukesmom wrote: »

I remember being a little girl in the 80's and at an older cousins wedding where all the groomsmen gave the bride the bumps. She was so embarrassed! Haven't seen it lately .

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what are "the bumps"???

Toots

cactusgal wrote: »

Sorry to sound ignorant, but what are "the bumps"???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbLYDKU_fcg

CBFi

Electric Sheep wrote: »

Ah, when I was a kid my best friend and I always wanted a double wedding. Unfortunately I married 15 years after she did!

I still think double weddings are a lovely idea, but it probably wouldn't work with the type of bride who wants to be the sole focus of attention. For your twin friends I am sure the sibling bond would outweigh the egos. Wish I could be there!

I know-I'm really looking forward to it! Very different!

pooch90

Toots wrote: »

Guests giving the bride/groom a luck token like a horseshoe.

My little cousin gave me a wooden spoon and I hadn't seen that done since I was a child!

I actually got given a horseshoe at our wedding last month. Apparently I had given this lady one as she was walking up the aisle when I was a tot. Never knew it happened.
Was a really lovely thing to receive.

Tarzana

Toots wrote: »

Jaysus, that's terrible! TBH I'm surprised there weren't more widespread serious injuries from the bumps. Sure even if you look at old You've Been Framed videos where the bumps go wrong and they end up dropping the 'bumpee' it looks pretty bloody painful.

I remember them starting to be phased out at kids' birthday parties in the 90s. I know we were certainly not allowed to do them in our house but I do remember them happening at birthdays I attended towards the early 90s.

lukesmom

I can remember getting the bumps as a kid and I hated it. All at the birthday party would join in and you'd get bumped according to your age so. 9 bumps for 9th birthday party etc.

Toots

lukesmom wrote: »

I can remember getting the bumps as a kid and I hated it. All at the birthday party would join in and you'd get bumped according to your age so. 9 bumps for 9th birthday party etc.

Can't see that ending well at Granny's 80th birthday celebrations! :P