HomeFeaturesFeatures › These Are the Most Important Wedding Traditions Worth Maintaining
 
 
 

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue: these are the wedding traditions that have been around for ages. Their roots are buried so that hardly anyone knows how they came to be. Even so, there is a good chance that someone at your wedding will be familiar with the tradition and carry it forward in some way. The first two seem inescapable. Everything about a wedding is both old and new. And it seems inconceivable that there wouldn’t be something significant in the affair, gifts, or accouterments that isn’t blue. 

The borrowed thing could have elements of all three. It could be a family heirloom newly passed down to you, perhaps something with sapphire. A pendant that would go well with one of those cushion cut engagement rings that are all the rage. A lot of marriage traditions feature some type of jewelry. Rings are important symbols. They don’t have to be expensive to be meaningful.

The same is true for many wedding traditions. Spending lots of money on the wedding affair does not guarantee a long and happy union. That doesn’t mean that spending lots of money on a wedding is not a worthwhile thing to do. Consider the following traditions worth keeping, even if they are a bit over the top:

An Elaborate Honeymoon

Every marriage deserves a honeymoon period where the two are deeply in love and can see no wrong in their new partner. It is an exhilarating, triumphant phase where love conquers all. Make the most out of your honeymoon phase by going on an actual honeymoon vacation. 

You might like to help open one of the brand new California hotels. There is something magical about a truly grand hotel. Resort hotels are like land-bound cruise ships. They have every luxury you can imagine, plus a whole menu of luxuries you never imagined. Go ahead and order the most expensive pillow on the pillow menu. (If you have never seen a pillow menu, you just haven’t spent enough for a room!)Forget getting a mere room. Make it a suite with a real hot tub, not just one of those tubs with spray ports. Go someplace you have never been and are likely never to return. Make it a once in a lifetime adventure you will never forget. Many couples never get a vacation together. That is all the more reason to make your honeymoon one for the ages.

Best Man and Maid of Honor

The best man and most honorable of maidens at the wedding are arguably the ones getting married. Naming aside, this is a very important tradition that can be the difference in how smoothly your transition from single to married life goes. 

The duties of a best man include:

  • Organizing an appropriate and safe bachelor party that brings in money and gifts for the groom
  • Keep groomsmen organized and informed at all times
  • Present a toast and set the mood for the reception
  • Make sure everyone is where they should be at all times
  • Keeper of the ring

The maid of honor plays much the same role for the bride, including assistance with dressing. The real duty of both is to keep the bride and groom in one piece and free from worry about the details. They are like the chief of staff for the bride and groom. Weddings are elaborate productions prone to challenges. The best man and maid of honor keep those challenges away from the bride and groom. The contribution of a good maid of honor and best man are priceless. 

Exchange of Vows

You don’t have to go with the traditional vows. A newish spin on an old tradition is for the bride and groom to write and offer their own vows. These vows are just as much aspirational as inspirational. They are reminders of the kind of partner you want to be. Your vows give you a written and verbal manifesto of what you have to live up to. Make your vows grand. Then spend the rest of your life striving to be that person for your new spouse. 

There are plenty of wedding traditions that should go right out the window. But there are some worth keeping such as a ridiculous honeymoon, maid of honor and best man, and aspirational vows that remind everyone of the person you are trying your best to be.