Strange Practices To Take The Edge Off Before Saying “I Do”
Author: socialclimber13 Jun
Will you marry me?”
Four words most women would love to hear once (or maybe more!) in their lives from the man they love. I’ve always dreamed of a wedding a la The Godfathers. You know, ladies in pearls and gloves while the men looking dapper in their coats and fedoras – with matching cigars to boot.
Everybody knows weddings can take its toll on the couple (financially and emotionally) which can lead to broken engagements – but before you return that ring, or run of to Timbuktu to escape the whole hullabaloo of your wedding, here are a couple of things you need to know and hopefully take the stress off your back.
Bridesmaid Prenup
As if the bride wasn’t bridezilla enough, a survey says that 1 out of 6 brides actually make a bridesmaid prenup and have their bridesmaid sign it - and any violation in the contract merits getting kicked out of the wedding! A few stipulations:
— Not gaining weight.
— Getting a tan — and no tan lines allowed.
— Alcoholic drinks can be consumed only after the bride takes her first sip.
— Dyeing hair a certain shade.
— Showing up on time for wedding photos.
— Maintaining a certain fingernail length and style.
Dowry Practice
I’m sure you know how the women of India get their husbands. The family of the woman pays a dowry to get the best husband there is – lucky men if you ask me – whether in the form of money, lands or even animals. Recently however, a small town in India has been doing “dowry in reverse” and instead of scouting for husbands – the men are now shopping for ladies. Men can choose from an “available lot”, pay a certain amount of money, based on the “appraisal” of the broker. Women are appraised based on social status, age, physical appearance and family background.
Ladies, prepare your engines.
During the wedding and within the first few weeks of being married, it was believed that whoever made the first purchase, or rode the wedding car first, as well as the first one to get out of the church would be the dominant one in the marriage. Some witty ladies ensure dominance by secretly buying small items after the ceremony from their trusted lady friends – for example, a safety pin! Now who would have thought of that?!
I always cry at weddings
In a town in China, it’s a common practice for the bride to cry a month before her wedding day (I know I don’t have to be in China to cry – just the stress of arranging a wedding can make a man or a woman cry a YEAR before the wedding itself!). Here’s how it goes:
Usually, the bride begins to cry a month before the wedding day. As the night falls, the bride walks inside the hall and weeps for about an hour. Ten days later, her mother joins her, crying together with her.; Another ten days later, the grandmother joins the daughter and mother, to cry together with them. The sisters and aunts of the bride, if she has any, also have to join the crying.
The bride may cry in different ways with diversified words, which was also called “Crying Marriage Song”; the somewhat exaggerated singing helps to enhance the wedding atmosphere. In a word, crying at wedding is a way by custom to set off the happiness of the wedding via falsely sorrowful words. However, in the arranged marriages of the old days of China, there were indeed quite a lot of brides who cried over their unsatisfactory marriage and even their miserable life.
Why am I not surprised?!
Pea be with you
Remember the habit of throwing rice or flower petals at the newlyweds? Well in Czechoslovakia, peas are thrown! Ouch.
Do you know why there’s a best man at a wedding?
In the days of old, a man “kidnaps” his bride and would need the services of a friend who’d assist him and help him against attacks from the bride’s family, etc. He would be needing a most faithful friend – hence the best man. Having a best man caught on during the 18th century and has been practiced ever since – except the kidnapping part.
In stinkiness and in health, till bathing time do we part
In a small community off Sabah, newlywed couples are prohibited from clearing their bowels or urinating for 3 whole days! It is believed to bring bad luck, a broken marriage, death of their children at a young age if they breach this custom. To ensure they don’t, both are given small amounts of food & drinks and watched over by close family and friends. A matrimonial that reeks of love.
Now if you’re still having second thoughts about your wedding because of that extra beadwork on your bride’s wedding dress, here’s something to think about: In 1981, the marriage of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s son to Princess Salama in Dubai cost a whopping $44 million.
Happy wedding!
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