A bride is a woman who is about to get married or who has just married. When a woman marries, her future husband is usually called a bridegroom or groom. In Western cultures, a bride may be accompanied by a maid, a bridesman, and one or more bridesmaids.

The word "bride" comes from the Old English word "bryd," which is also found in other Germanic languages. In Western countries, brides often wear white wedding dresses, a tradition started by Queen Victoria. In the past, white dresses were a symbol of luxury because it was difficult to clean delicate white clothing. Today, Western brides may wear white, cream, or ivory dresses, no matter how many times they have married.

In non-Western countries, brides often wear traditional clothing from their culture. In many Asian cultures, white wedding dresses are uncommon because white is associated with mourning and death. Instead, colors like red, which symbolizes energy and health, are often worn by brides in these regions. In some traditions, such as in Japan, India, and parts of the Arab world, brides may wear multiple outfits during their wedding ceremony.

Bridal jewelry has cultural importance. For example, wedding rings are common in Western cultures, while Punjabi Sikh brides wear chura (red and white bangles), and Hindu brides wear a mangalsutra. Brides often wear veils and carry bouquets, prayer books, or other meaningful items. Wedding traditions have changed over time, including customs like eating cake and drinking from a special cup, which had symbolic meanings.

In Christianity, the term "Bride of Christ" usually refers to the Church, which is considered spiritually united with Jesus Christ. Different Christian groups may interpret this term in various ways.

Etymology

The word has its origins in the Old English word "bryd," which is also found in other Germanic languages. The exact origin of the word is not known.

Attire

In Europe and North America, brides usually wear a formal dress and a veil. In the "white wedding" tradition, the bride's dress is purchased only for the wedding and is not worn again later. Before the middle of the 19th century, brides often wore their best dress, no matter the color. Wealthier brides might get a new dress in their favorite color and wear it again.

In Western countries, first-time brides usually wear white dresses, a tradition started by Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress when she married. In the early 20th century, Western etiquette said white dresses shouldn't be worn for later marriages because some people thought white symbolized virginity. However, wearing white is a newer tradition linked to showing wealth, as white dresses were expensive to clean back then. Today, many Western brides wear white, cream, or ivory dresses for any marriage, and the color doesn't reflect the bride's past.

In many Asian cultures, brides wear traditional clothing. White is rare because it's the color of mourning. Red is common for brides as it symbolizes health and happiness. Now, some brides may choose other colors or Western styles. Bridal clothes are often decorated with embroidery, beads, or gold. In some traditions, like in Japan, India, or parts of the Arab world, brides may wear multiple outfits.

Certain jewelry is part of bridal wear. For example, Western brides wear wedding rings, while Punjabi Sikh brides wear chura (red and white bangles). Hindu brides receive a mangalsutra during the ceremony, similar to a wedding ring. Wedding jewelry has shown the value of the bride's dowry.

Brides also wear a veil and carry a bouquet of flowers, a small heirloom like a lucky coin, a prayer book, or another token. In Western countries, brides often follow the tradition of wearing "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue." A bridal purse or money bag is also common.

History

The word "bride" is used with many other words, some of which are no longer used today. For example, "bridegroom" means a man who is newly married. Old terms like "bride-bell" and "bride-banquet" were earlier names for "wedding-bells" and "wedding-breakfast." The word "bridal," which comes from "bride-ale," originally described the wedding feast itself but now is used more generally to describe things related to weddings, such as the "bridal ceremony." The term "bride-cake" began with a Roman tradition called "confarreatio," a type of marriage practiced by wealthy people. In this ceremony, the bride and groom ate a cake made of salt, water, and spelt flour. The bride also held three wheat ears, a symbol of abundance.

Over time, the custom of eating the cake faded, but the wheat ears remained important. During the Middle Ages, brides wore or carried wheat ears. Later, young women would gather outside church doors and throw wheat grains over the bride. A competition followed to collect the grains. Eventually, the wheat grains were baked into thin, dry biscuits, which were broken over the bride’s head. This tradition is still practiced in Scotland today, using oatmeal cakes. During the time of Queen Elizabeth I, these biscuits became small rectangular cakes made with eggs, milk, sugar, currants, and spices. Every guest received one, and all were thrown at the bride as she entered the home. Those that landed on her head or shoulders were considered the most valuable. Later, these cakes were combined into one large cake decorated with almond paste and ornaments during the time of King Charles II. Even today, in some rural areas like northern Nottinghamshire, wheat is still thrown over the bride with the phrase "Bread for life and pudding for ever," meaning the couple will always have enough food. The custom of throwing rice, which came later than wheat, symbolizes the hope that the couple will have many children.

The "bride-cup" was a bowl or "loving cup" used during the wedding ceremony. The bridegroom and bride would drink from it to pledge their love for each other. After drinking, the cup was broken, a tradition shared by Greek Christians and Jewish people. The broken cup was thrown against a wall or stepped on. The term "bride-cup" was also used for a bowl of spiced wine prepared for the couple. "Bride-favours," once called "bride-lace," were originally pieces of gold, silk, or lace used to tie rosemary sprigs worn at weddings. These later became bundles of ribbons and eventually turned into rosettes.

The "bride-wain" was a wagon used to transport the bride to her new home. This term also described weddings for poor but deserving couples who traveled through the village in a "wain" to collect money or household items for their new home. These weddings, called "bidding-weddings" or "bid-ales," were similar to benefit feasts. In Wales, this tradition is still common, and invitations often include the phrase "bidding-wedding." In some areas, up to six hundred couples may walk in the wedding procession.

The "bride's wreath" is a Christian tradition that replaced the golden crown worn by Jewish brides. The crowning of the bride is still practiced by Russians and Calvinists in Holland and Switzerland. The tradition of wearing orange blossoms began with the Saracens, who saw them as symbols of fertility. This custom was brought to Europe by the Crusaders. The bride's veil is a modern version of the "flammeum," a large yellow veil that covered Greek and Roman brides during ceremonies. This type of veil is still used by Jews and Persians.

The "bride's crate" was a container used in Hungary to collect items needed for the wedding. Once a bride’s undergarments and clothing were complete, she was considered ready for marriage.

Religion

In Christianity, the term "Bride of Christ" refers to the Church, which is the group of people who follow Jesus. This idea is mentioned in parts of the Bible, including the Gospels, the Book of Revelation, letters from early Christian leaders, and writings from the Old Testament. Sometimes, the Church is called the "bride" by referring to Jesus as the "bridegroom." For more than 1,500 years, the Church has been seen as the bride promised to Christ. However, different churches may interpret this term in slightly different ways. Most believe it always refers to the Church. In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a bride must wear a white dress when married in the church temple, and only white clothing is allowed during the ceremony.

Examples of bridal garments

• A Chinese wedding dress inspired by the Qing dynasty style.
• An Uzbek bride from Tashkent.
• A bride and groom wearing traditional Podhale region costume from Poland.
• A Newar bride surrounded by two women from 1941.
• A Scandinavian bride from 1876.
• An Armenian wedding ceremony featuring a bride and groom.
• A bride wearing a detailed wedding dress in the United States from 1929.