Themed Wedding Ceremonies with a Roman Flair

Often, as you begin to plan your wedding ceremony and reception and before you start buying your flower girl accessories or candle favors it is beneficial to stop and take a look at how other people in other times built their wedding ceremonies. In doing so we can often find little twists on what has become merely rote in our society and in incorporating the twist we can make our ceremony fresh and therefore, memorable. As a result I thought today we would take a look at the Ancient Roman wedding ceremony.

Ancient Roman wedding ceremonies began with the bride renouncing her childhood so that she could properly prepare for her life as wife and mother. To do this, she began by surrendering her childhood toys. The bride's hairstyle was unique only to brides. Her hair was divided into six locks, and was fastened with fillets on the top of her head.

Like today, the Roman bride's wedding attire was worn only once; the most significant piece of clothing being the flame colored, yet transparent, veil which was worn on the crown of her head beneath wreaths of myrtle branches and orange blossoms. The dress consisted of a simple tunic tied with a woolen girdle over which she wore a yellow cloak and matching sandals.

The first part of the wedding ceremony would begin at the house of the bride's parents. When all was in order, her parents would then hand her over to her groom. This led to the pledge; a simple ceremony in which the young couple would grasp hands and recite their commitment to one another. From there they would go to a place of sacrifice where the bride and groom would sacrifice a pig. The matron of honor would then join the bride and groom's hands together.

In Roman wedding ceremonies the best man also acted as the...

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