Plan a Historical Wedding and We'll Guess What Strong Woman You Were in a Past Life

By: Jennifer Post

6 Min Quiz

Image: FrareDavis Photography / Stockbyte / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Emily Post wasn't the only one who wrote books on etiquette, and surprisingly, the wedding traditions were the ones that she could be most relaxed about. However, there were plenty of other staunch wedding traditionalists out there writing the rules on politeness. Clara de Chatelain wrote "Bridal Etiquette" in 1856 and outlined rules pertaining to weddings. One of them even says that telling people you have just been wed is a big faux pas. Once the couple leaves for their honeymoon, they are to stop talking about the wedding because it's over.

One thing you'll notice about historical wedding traditions is that a lot of them were based on keeping evil spirits away, confusing the evil spirits or bringing good luck and good weather to the day. Those traditions have been updated to fit the modern era, but some are just flat-out interesting. Did you know it was commonplace for brides to have complete control over the color of their wedding dress? It wasn't until religion became the forefront of weddings that the virginal white became a tradition. But a lot of strong women have followed those traditions, and a lot have not. Plan a wedding based on historical traditions and we'll tell you which strong woman you are!

Back in the day, bouquets were made out of pungent items to ward off evil spirits. Which of the below would you rather have?

Dill

Garlic
Lavender

Onion grass

Would you want your parents to be the first people to congratulate you after the ceremony, as outlined in "Ladies' Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness?

Sure!

I'm sure they will have already done so.
It is the proper thing to do.

I'll talk to whoever I want to.

In another book of etiquette, only men could give toasts at weddings. Is that cool with you?

I'd love to say a few words.

No way. I'm the life of the party.
I'm a way better public speaker than most men.

Whose idea was that?

People still do this today, but back in the day, the first look the groom got at your dress came as you walked down the aisle. That was the only option. How do you feel about that?

I'm fine with it.

That doesn't work for photos
I feel very strongly opposed to that.

I did that!

It's common knowledge in tradition that the bride's parents, specifically the father, would foot the bill for the wedding. Does that sit well with you?

If he can afford it

I'd like to pay for it.
We'd pay for it as a couple.

Both sides should pitch in.

People get really creative with rings these days, but would you be OK with diamonds being the only permissible gem for the rings, as it was in the 1930s?

Who wouldn't be okay with that?

I'd like other options.
Diamonds are a girl's best friend.

I prefer sapphires anyway.

Sending off the newlywed couple with rice was common practice back in the day. Would that be your preferred thing to throw?

I hear it's dangerous for the birds.

Sparklers are way better.
I like the idea of dried lavender.

Sure!

Veils have become a popular accessory for brides, but it used to be that only brides who were of appropriate age could wear them. If you got married today, would you be able to wear a veil?

Hopefully!

I think so.
Nope

I wouldn't want to.

Nowadays, the top tier of the wedding cake is saved for the first anniversary, but historical tradition calls for it to be saved for the birth of the first child. Which would you rather save it for?

I'd eat it all on the wedding night.

Definitely first anniversary
I could have used a treat after giving birth.

Whenever I darn well please

Exactly one month before your ceremony, you'll need to bury a Bourbon bottle to ensure fair weather. Cool?

I'd rather drink it.

I guess?
Sounds reasonable

That's a fun tradition!

Would you want to try and kiss your new spouse over a pile of spice buns that are stacked up in between you?

For what purpose?

Can I eat the buns?
Sounds silly

I would totally try.

Wedding shoes can be uncomfortable enough, but how willing would you be to put a silver sixpence in the shoe as extra good luck?

I'll do anything for good luck.

I doubt it.
Can't hurt

I'm not sure I'd want to wear heels.

One of the more fun traditions that couples still practice today is carrying the bride over the threshold. Would you do it?

It's very romantic.

If I didn't eat too much
I'm not into that.

Maybe I'll carry the groom!

Saturdays are arguably the most desired day for a wedding, but back in the day they could only take place on weekdays because Saturdays were considered unlucky. Would you have a weekday wedding?

If a weekend wedding wasn't in my budget

I don't think so.
Maybe fewer people would come then.

That could be fun actually.

Sunset ceremonies are beautiful, but would you consider a noon ceremony, like in the early 1900s?

I could be very into that.

We could leave for our honeymoon sooner.
I'd like the party to go into the night.

I don't know if I'd have enough time to get ready.

Would you ever wear someone else's underwear as your "something borrowed"?

What?!

Absolutely not
If they were clean.

That's what always used to happen.

Up until 1840, white wedding dresses weren't a thing. What other color would you wear?

Pale pink

Navy blue
Sparkly champagne

Hot pink

Too bad if you want a winter wedding! Nuptials could only happen in June as far as tradition goes. What would you not like about a June wedding?

Too hot

Everyone gets married in June.
Not the season of the flowers I like

Already too many summer holidays

If you wanted to walk down the aisle to anything other than the traditional bridal chorus (Here Comes the Bride), you're out of luck. Does that song work for you?

I honestly don't care.

I'd like to have the choice.
I like Canon

That's a tradition I'll stick to.

Another thing to keep the evil spirits away, church bells would ring. Seems like a harmless tradition, right?

I don't want a church wedding.

I don't care.
All this evil spirit talk is bringing me down.

Pretty harmless

An unusual tradition was that guests used to rip off pieces of the bride's dress for good luck. What would you do if someone did that?

Yell at them

I'd be so mad.
It's just a dress.

Maybe I'd get a cheap dress for that purpose.

Can we all agree to stop smashing the cake in the bride's face after the cake cutting?

Yes, thank you!

It's easy enough to wash off.
It should never be assumed the bride wants it.

That's the dumbest tradition.

The matching bridesmaid dress tradition started in Roman times, but it is still done quite often. Would you follow it?

Definitely!

I like the look of different dresses.
If it fit with the theme of the wedding

I don't see why I wouldn't.

Tossing the garter and the bouquet only highlights the single people at the wedding. Is that fair?

Probably not, but it's fine.

It's very unfair.
I think it should be done away with.

Some guests might actually like it.

The idea of wedding favors is dying out because weddings are already expensive enough. Would you still go out of your way to give each guest a favor?

You know what? No.

It's a nice gesture.
If I could afford it

Maybe something small

It used to be that if a man wanted to cut in on the father-daughter dance, he would throw a dollar on the floor. What even is that?

It's weird is what it is.

I have honestly never heard of that.
I could use the money, to be honest.

What if no one else wanted to dance?

Can you believe that engaged people used to have to pretend to be only friends when out in public?

I'd never go along with that.

No wonder no one does that anymore.
I could see that being a thing in the royal family.

I actually can believe that.

Brides weren't really supposed to eat much during the wedding. How would you deal with that?

I'd probably be too busy to eat anyway.

I need to eat everything I'm serving at my wedding.
Who comes up with this stuff?

No one tells me what I can and can't eat.

Pretty much everyone in the wedding party, including the bride and groom, were supposed to wear gloves. Is that comfortable?

Gloves aren't my style.

If people want to wear gloves, they can.
No, definitely not

Not if it's hot out

When it comes to your wedding party, would you want to keep it the traditional groomsmen and bridesmaids?

If that's how it works out

I'm open to mixing groups.
It makes the most sense.

I actually never thought about doing anything else, but I totally would.

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