August 20, 2020
Weddings, they're full of traditions. But have you ever stopped to think about where these traditions come from? Why do brides wear white? Why do they toss the bouquet? And why is there always a cake at the reception? These are just a few of the many quirky customs that make weddings so special. Interestingly, a royal mother-daughter duo gave us two of the most widely followed wedding traditions, the white dress and the wedding march. Both have stood the test of time, but one of them deserves a closer look.
The wedding of Queen Victoria gave us the white wedding dress. Today, white is usually seen as a symbol of virginity or purity. It is rare to be at a wedding where the bride is not wearing white. But that was not the case in the mid-19th century. White was the color of mourning or simplicity, and certainly was not the color to wear on a wedding day. Brides would wear a dress that fit the fashion of the day. On February 10, 1840, the British Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in St James' Palace chapel. She was ahead of her time in terms of fashion, choosing a white dress. The Queen was hotly criticized for this, not only for the color, but also because she had a simple look that did not display her stature. No jewels or crown─ just a white dress. It certainly caught on. The white dress made a statement about the Queen and spoke to generations of brides afterwards.
The white dress made a statement about the Queen and spoke to generations of brides afterwards.
The wedding of Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Victoria, also contributed to the beauty of weddings. In a traditional wedding, the bride's entrance is a breathtaking moment. As the groom and groomsmen enter, and the family is seated, the bridesmaids follow in a graceful procession. The flower girls, with their delicate steps, prepare the way by scattering flower petals in the aisle. All these elements culminate in a magnificent moment when the officiant proclaims, “Please stand!” And the bridal march begins, marking the arrival of the bride.
Today, brides have a wide array of', entrance songs to choose from, ranging from classical pieces like Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring' and Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy' to contemporary hits like the Beatles' 'All You Need is Love" by Etta James' 'At Last', Rascal Flatts' 'God Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts, or Christina Perri's 'A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.
While modern brides have a plethora of options for their entrance song, a few still choose the traditional entrance march. 'Here Comes the Bride', also known as the Bridal Chorus, is a timeless wedding march played as the bride walks down the aisle. This classic piece is part of an 1850 opera called Lohengrin, composed by Richard Wagner.
Wagner composed The Bridal Chorus in the mid-19th century, a time when romanticism was at its peak in Europe. This period was characterized by a fascination with nature, emotions, and the supernatural, all of which are reflected in the opera. It is usually played on an organ with no vocal accompaniment, but in Wagner's opera, some lyrics went along with it. At any wedding you attend, you will hear someone at some point sing their version, "Here comes the bride, all dressed in white," not even close to the actual lyrics. In the opera, The Bridal Chorus is a romantic song about the characters Elsa and Lohengrin. It takes place not at the wedding ceremony, instead it is sung as the bride and groom enter the bridal suite and the wedding party prepares them for their first night together. The song is not really about a wedding ceremony; It is about the honeymoon. Ironically, the whole story of two star-crossed lovers ends in tragedy rather than in a happily ever after. Elsa and Lohengrin do not end up together.
Despite the beauty of the Bridal Chorus, there is a stark contrast in its use and the views of its composer. Wagner, the composer of the Chorus, was notoriously anti-Semitic. His ideas about Jewish people's lack of artistic skill, passion, and sophisticated musical expression were celebrated by Nazi ideologists. This complex history is a stark contrast to the Chorus's use at weddings, especially Jewish ones.
Wagner’s piece is one of two wedding marches that are used frequently, the other being Felix Mendelssohn's Wedding March. Unlike Wagner, Mendelssohn was from Germany and was Jewish. His Wedding March, created in 1842, was not for a wedding, but to accompany Shakespeare’s famous A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This historical context adds a layer of enlightenment to the understanding of Mendelssohn's composition.
Queen Victoria, a trendsetter in her own right, not only popularized white wedding dresses but also left a lasting mark on the world of wedding music. Her daughter, Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, continued this legacy on January 25, 1858, when she married Frederick William IV of Prussia in the same chapel as her mother. Victoria's choice of Wagner's song for her entrance and the Mendelssohn piece for the recessional of the couple set a new standard that quickly became popular and traditional.
Some churches and denominations refuse to play Wagner's chorus due to its secular nature. Also, the song does not depict an actual wedding ceremony or processional to an altar in the opera. Its widespread use by many made it seem out of place in a worship service. And for those who know the views of the composer, they choose to leave it alone.
Delving into the origins of traditions can add depth, or it may reveal that they're not as solid as they seem. What resonates with many may not resonate with you. As you navigate your wedding day choices, I urge you to find and infuse personal meaning into every aspect. And don’t shy away from asking, "Why do we do this?" Your wedding is an opportunity to create a unique and meaningful experience.
Main Image: Photo by Marius Muresan on Unsplash
Thumbnail Image: Photo by Jamie Coupaud on Unsplash