Today a random question popped into my head, as they often do. How did bridesmaids and groomsmen come to be? Has there always been a slew of bridal attendants? Why? Is there a magic number? I needed details, so I hit up the ol' Google.
Did you know that an ancient Roman Law required 10 witnesses to be present at a wedding?
Bridal attendants were required to dress exactly like the bride and groom to confuse vengeful spirits that might want to harm or interfere with the newlyweds. This is insane! And here we were, thinking bridesmaids and groomsmen were there to offer you moral support, sneak you booze, and throw kick ass bachelor/bachelorette parties.
Did you know that an Anglo-Saxon tradition made groomsmen the brides "bodyguards"?
Yep...Whitney Houston - Kevin Costner style. Groomsmen were originally intended to ensure the safety of the bride. It was their duty to make sure the bride arrived safely to the wedding and safely to the grooms home afterwards.
Did you know that the matron of honor was to tend to the bride for several days?
We think that a few hours of bridal prep can be rough...but can you imagine bridal prep for days?! The "senior maid" was required to make the bride the most beautiful she'd ever been over the course of several days. That's a lot of face masks and Bachelor binging in my opinion.
Did you know the best man used to stand on the brides side?
Past tradition kept the best man on the brides side to continue his Kevin Costner-esque rolls. Watching over the bride and protecting her throughout the ceremony for his best friend was a pretty stand-up gig until some took it too seriously, resulting in a jealousy stint from the grooms. From then on, the best man was "banished" from the brides side.
There's no denying that we're happy "times" have progressed and that bridal attendant rules have gone by the wayside. We're SO lucky that we're spending every weekend with AWESOME bridal attendants that are hilarious, helpful, and full of life.
Bridesmaids...groomsmen...here's to you!
