Wedding Timeline: Tradition of Marriage Ceremony and Dowry

Wedding Timeline: Tradition of Marriage Ceremony and Dowry

Wedding and marriage timeline of traditions, customs, ceremony, honeymoon, dowry, bride price and gits infographic.

Read the history timeline of wedding ceremonies, honeymoon and tradition of bridal white gown etc. Wedding ceremonies and the exchange of lavish gifts has undergone many variations over the ages.

Wedding Trivia

Following are the most common wedding Trivia in the world:

Bride at left side

The bride always stands to groom's let because, in days past, the groom needed his right hand free to fight off other suitors

Bridal shower

Bridal shower originated in the Netherlands as a means to help a bride whose father refused to pay a dowry

honeymoon

Newlyweds used to drink honey wine for an entire moon cycle after the wedding, from which we get the term honeymoon.

Wedding favors

The giving of wedding favors originated in 16th century France. Wealthy couples gave gifts of gold and gems. Poorer couples passed out love knots constructed of lace and ribbons

Wedding Cost

How much a wedding costs:

Dowry

In 3000 BC, first written record of the exchange of a dowry

Code of Hammurabi

In 1700 BC, Babylonians ruled that the husband had to return his wife's dowry either upon divorce or if the wife died without having any children

Bride price

In 200 BC, customs changed in the Roman Empire, with the groom paying a bride price to her family.

Muslim Dowry in Quran

In 7th century AD, The Holy Quran mandates that a Muslim man provide a dowry

Marriage Traditions

First bands

In 2800 BC, First recorded use of wedding bands in Egypt

Engagement ring

In 860 AD, Pope Nicholas I decrees that an engagement ring was required for all who intended to marry

Dimond ring

In 1477 AD, Maximilian I popularizes the diamond engagement ring

White Wedding Gown

In 1499 AD, Anne of Brittany wears one fo the first white wedding gowns

Makeup during ceremony

In 1775 AD, law decrees any marriage void if the bride wears makeup during the ceremony

White Satin Wedding Gown

In 1840 AD, Queen Victoria wears a white satin wedding gown, starting the tradition of white wedding dresses

Bridal Chorus

In 1858, Princess Victoria plays Wagner's Bridal Chorus durign her processional

Bridal registry

In 1924 AD, Marshall Field's introduces the first bridal registry

Little White Wedding Chapel

In 1951 AD, Las Vegas' Little White Wedding Chapel opens

Say Yes to the Dress

In 2007 AD, TLC's Say Yes to the Dress premiers

Bride price

Rural China

1950 to 2000, 79% Chinese paid a bride price

Urban China

1933 to 1987, 9% Chinese paid a bride price

Rural Thailand

1950 to 1978, 93% paid a bride price

Urban Thailand

1950 to 1978, 79% paid a bride price

Turkey

1944 to 1993, 2(% paid a bride price

Iran

1971 to 1991

99% paid a bride price

Most Expensive Wedding Gifts

The star of the East

In 1908, Given to Evalyn Walsh McLean, daughter of a mining tycoon costing 95-carat diamond on a chain set with a 34-carat emerald and 32-grain pearl. Then valued $144,000 equivalent to about $3,630,000 now.

Stadium

In 1981, Erected by Sheikh Mhohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of Dubai for his son's marriage to princess Salama. Cost was $100,000.

Bombay and Tangiers Cities

Given to Charles II of England by Queen Luisa of Portugal. Both cities are world-class, generating billions of dolalrs each year, if a single person own them now a days, would be the richest in the world.

Summary

  • Wedding bands were first recorded to be used in 2,800 BCE.
  • Exchange of dowry dates back to 3,000 BCE.
  • Holy Quran mandates Muslim men to provide dowry in 7th century CE.
  • Queen Victoria started the tradition of wearing white gowns for weddings in 1840 CE.
  • In 1908, a chain set embedded with 95-carat diamond, 34-carat emerald, 32 grain pearl worth $144,000 was given as a gift by a mining tycoon to his daughter.
  • On an average 7,000 marriages daily in United States of America.
  • The bride stands to groom’s left because in olden days, the right hand had to be free so that the groom could fight other suitors.
  • The couple after their wedding used to consume honey wine for a complete moon cycle and this is how the term “honeymoon” was coined.
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