Wedding Season - Nuptials Through Time: A Celebration of Love, Culture, and Tradition

Throughout history, weddings have stood as defining moments in people’s lives - joyous celebrations of unity, family, and enduring commitment. The Historical and Genealogical Society’s exhibit “Wedding Season - Nuptials Through Time,” offers a fascinating look at the customs, fashion, and heartfelt rituals that have surrounded these ceremonies for generations.

A History of Marriage: From Contract to Celebration

The institution of marriage predates recorded history, with the earliest documented ceremonies appearing around 2350 BC in Mesopotamia. Far from being romantic, these early unions were often contractual, designed to cement alliances, manage property, and ensure legitimate heirs. Over time, as societies evolved, so did weddings. They began to reflect not just social necessity, but also personal connection, affection, and communal celebration.

The Romans, for example, honored the goddess Juno - protector of marriage - by celebrating weddings in June, a tradition that helped establish the month as the perennial favorite for nuptials, a preference that continues for many couples today.

Worldwide Traditions and Ancient Symbols

The evolution of weddings spans continents, faiths, and cultures, each adding a unique flavor to the ceremony. Many of these ancient symbols and rituals still echo in modern weddings, reminding us of the enduring power of these moments:

Throwing Rice: Stems from Roman times, symbolizing fertility and abundance. While often replaced by confetti or bubbles today, the wish for a fruitful union remains.

Wedding Rings: Dating back to ancient Egypt, their unbroken circle represents eternal love and commitment, a meaning that has held true for millennia.

“Something Old, Something New…”: This English tradition offers good fortune to the bride through meaningful tokens. Each item carries a wish for continuity, optimism, and protection.

The Veil: Once a protective charm against evil spirits in Ancient Rome and Greece, it has evolved into a symbol of modesty, mystery, and purity for many brides.

Jumping the Broom: Practiced in African-American and Romani traditions, this ritual marks a symbolic leap into a new life together, often signifying sweeping away the old and embracing a fresh start.

The Evolution of Bridal Fashion: From Ancient Hues to Modern White

A bride’s attire has always told a story - of wealth, culture, modesty, and prevailing fashion. From ancient times to today, the care put into the dress reflected the significance of the moment.

Ancient & Medieval Eras: In ancient Egypt and Greece, vibrant fabrics like red, gold, and white symbolized prosperity and purity. Medieval and Renaissance brides favored rich red and brocade gowns, often adorned with elaborate pearls and embroidery to showcase family wealth.

17th Century: Brides often wore blue, a widely recognized symbol of purity and faithfulness, or simply their finest dress, regardless of its color.

The Victorian Era Transformation (1840s): This period changed everything for Western bridal fashion. In 1840, Queen Victoria wore a white gown to marry Prince Albert. Her choice, which was unconventional at the time, popularized the enduring tradition of white wedding dresses, symbolizing purity and innocence.

20th Century & Beyond: Bridal fashion continued to transform, reflecting societal trends and global events. From the delicate lace and high necklines of the Edwardian era to the liberating flapper-styles of the 1920s, the sleek satin minimalism of the 1930s, and the more practical post-war styles of the 1940s, each decade left its mark, leading to the diverse designs we see today.

Ethnic Traditions: Nuptials from the Old World to the New

Immigrants to America brought with them a rich tapestry of wedding traditions that adapted to their new surroundings. Many of these customs continue to be practiced - sometimes modified, but always cherished - serving as powerful links to ancestral heritage and cultural identity.

Czechoslovakian Weddings: Cultural tests and symbolism abound. Before the ceremony, the groom chooses between an ax (symbolizing strength) or a bottle (symbolizing indulgence), while flower girls scatter petals and guests throw lentils for fertility. A rope decorated with bottles and ribbons is placed across the church doors; crossing it requires a ‘ransom’ from the groom and symbolizes his break from past sins.

Polish Weddings: The couple faces friendly resistance from family members at a departure ‘brama’ (gate), often a playful roadblock before the ceremony. This is followed by traditions like oczepiny (the unveiling of the bride), breaking a glass for luck, and serving bread with salt and wine to symbolize abundance and life’s dualities.

Hungarian Weddings: Color carries meaning here: red dresses or accents symbolize strength and good fortune, while pearls are traditionally avoided for fear of tears. Celebrations often include folk dancing, hearty goulash, and the symbolic return of the bride to her parents’ home after the honeymoon.

Italian Weddings: Superstitions play a large role: brides avoid gold on their wedding day, wear green for luck, and carry a satin bag for monetary gifts from guests. A unique tradition includes sawing a log together, symbolizing teamwork in married life. The “confetti bomboniera” (sugar almonds) are gifted to guests, with each almond representing a wish for the couple’s future.

Irish and Scottish Weddings: Cultural pride is on full display through ceilidh dancing, tartan patterns, and rituals like the Whiskey Unity Ceremony. Guests traditionally bless the couple’s rings and toss coins and candy for good fortune. The bride may even place a coin in her shoe for luck and sew the final stitch of her gown on the wedding day for added prosperity.

Slovakian Weddings: Historically, weddings could span three days. American adaptations often saw dowries replaced with cash gifts. Traditions included bread-breaking, dancing rituals, and sweeping broken dishes to symbolize cooperation and future fertility - with a superstition that any remaining shards could predict discord or infidelity.

The Cookie Table: A Sweet Local Tradition

A beloved tradition in industrial ethnic communities - particularly among Italian, Slovak, and Eastern European families - the cookie table is a testament to love baked into every bite. Its origins are unclear, but it became especially popular during the Great Depression when wedding cakes were to costly. Family and friends would instead contribute homemade cookies, turning the table into a symbol of community, generosity, and shared celebration.

Even today, in parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, or West Virginia (including right here in Indiana County), no traditional wedding feels complete without rows of pizzelles, kolaches, thumbprints, and nut rolls. For many, it’s not just desert, but the heartwarming highlight of the reception.

From Ancient Rites to Modern Revelry

Weddings continue to evolve while maintaining the threads of their historical roots. They remain one of humanity’s most universal celebrations - each unique but bound by themes of love, commitment, and community. Whether it’s dancing under a garlanded rope in a Slovak village or slipping a ring onto a finger in a sleek modern chapel, the power of the wedding ceremony remains constant. It’s a reminder that while the specific rituals may change, the fundamental human desire to celebrate love, family, and new beginnings endures.

At the heart of every wedding - past and present - is a couple stepping into a future together, supported by family, wrapped in tradition, and showered in joy.

If you missed the presentation by author's Hilary Hauck and Katherine Shoop, be sure to check out the video of their presentation on our website.

Visit “Wedding Season - Nuptials Through Time” at the Historical and Genealogical Society of Indiana County to see gowns, heirlooms, and traditions from generations past, and perhaps reflect on your own family’s stories of love and celebration. The Clark House will be open for viewing of the display on June 17 and 24, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and June 21 and 28, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.