Photo by Escape & Adventure Photography
Wondering where the term "honeymoon" came from? You've probably seen some interesting facts about weddings and marriages throughout history-- but we wager there'll be a number of these you've never heard! Did you know the longest marriage in history was longer than the average life span of a human? Crazy but true! Scroll down to see how long it was, along with several other fascinating facts about tying the knot. With that, here are 25 fun wedding trivia facts you can share at parties (as either a wedding game or just looking like one smart cookie!)
Interesting Wedding Trivia
1. Why is it called a Honeymoon?
Answer: The couple drank something called 'mead' (a fermented honey drink) the whole first month of their marriage (as an aphrodisiac). Whether or not it worked is hard to say, but its origins have created a mainstay in the wedding world.
Photo by Nicole Aston Photo
2. Historically, groomsmen helped carry the bride to the wedding. What was their traditional name?
Answer: Bride's Knights (as a note, their role was usually to help protect her dowry and/or virginity-- and yes, sometimes just turned into a straight-up kidnapping. Yikes!)
3. According to The Knot, what % of brides still wear the traditional diamond in their wedding ring?
Answer: 70%, meaning diamonds remain the most popular rock for lovers. Want to know what comes in second for non-traditional couples? Sapphires.
Something interesting is when couples look for sapphires, especially if they're wanting a lower price, they often look into gems like iolite. It's a less expensive stone and still has that sapphire appearance.
Photo by Niki Baldwin Photography
4. What is the largest wedding destination in the United States?
Answer: Las Vegas with over 114k weddings a year (Hawaii ranks second). Unsurprisingly, Nevada also holds the record for the highest divorces.
5. Which month is the least popular to get married in?
Answer: January (about 4.7% of weddings a year). Want to know the the most popular month to get married? That title would go to June at over 10%.
6. Who started the white wedding dress trend in the Western world?
Answer: Queen Victoria (during her wedding in 1840 to Prince Albert). Not only was she a popular queen on both sides of the pond, but a major trendsetter, even popularizing the use of "Here Comes the Bride" during the ceremony. More on that on #17 below.
Photo by Forevermore Films
7. What culture began to exchanging of rings?
Answer: Egyptians as a sign of devotion. Researchers have found the rings were often made of hemp and reed, which were then braided tightly so as to stay in a ring shape on one's finger. Like today, it was placed on the "ring" finger on the left hand, as it was believed to connect straight to the heart.
8. In Jewelry, a sapphire ring means what?
Answer: Happiness/Sincerity. As we mentioned above, it's the second-best seller in stones for engagement/wedding rings.
9. Women have worn wedding rings for thousands of years. When did men begin wearing them?
Answer: World War II-- It was a way men could remember their wives during the war.
10. It's believed the Greeks/Romans started the bride veil because...
Answer: It would shield the bride against evil spirits. Now they're just fashionable and a beautiful addition to our dresses.
9. Women have worn wedding rings for thousands of years. When did men begin wearing them?
Answer: World War II-- It was a way men could remember their wives during the war.
11. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue" are traditional good luck items for the bride on her wedding day. Which was a bonus?
Answer: A sixpence in your shoe. Seems like an inconvenience; maybe that's why we don't hear about this one as much.
12. Why is June such a popular month to get married?
Answer: The Goddess Juno rules marriage and childbirth... in reality, it's probably because the weather is infinitely better (and, of course, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and its catchy bridal song didn't hurt).
Photo by ShutterFreek
13. Why do we have cake at weddings?
Answer: Romans used to 'break bread' over the bride to symbolize fertility.
14. Why does the bride traditionally stand on the left of the groom?
Answer: So the groom could fend off other suitors with his right hand (apparently this was a big problem)
15. English folklore maintains that if you found a spider in your dress, it was...
Answer: ... good luck? I don't think most brides would likely agree, but it's true! A spider in the dress was a good omen according to tradition (we argue it may have begun with a kind mother just trying to calm a bride's nerves).
16. Why do weddings in many cultures include a bouquet & garter toss?
Answer: People used to tear off part of the bride's dress for good luck. This helped solve the problem.
17. Where does "Here Comes the Bride" come from?
Answer: From the German opera "Lohengrin" in 1850, traditionally it was played AFTER the ceremony. Queen Victoria popularized the use of Wagner's "Bridal Chorus" during her wedding procession.
Photo by Mountain Made Photography
18. Which diamond mining company is the largest in the world?
Answer: De Beers
19. In the middle ages, bouquets were generally made of what?
Answer: Herbs (including garlic to ward off evil spirits)
20. How many years is the LONGEST marriage on record?
Answer: Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher broke the Guinness world record for the longest marriage. They were married on May 13, 1924. In 2008 they earned the longest marriage at 84 years. Both passed away in 2011 and 2013 at 105 years old.
Photo by Desert Paintbrush
21. On the flip side, how long was the SHORTEST marriage on record?
Answer: Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe de Alba, which lasted less than 24 hours
22. What was the cost of the most expensive wedding dress?
Answer: $12.2 million dollars! The dress was designed by Martin Katz and Renee Strauss and had 150 carats of diamonds.
Photo by *Casandrah Jensen Photography
23. Why were pearls for engagement rings considered bad luck?
Answer: White pearls look like tears, meaning suffering
24. Besides New Years Eve, what's the busiest wedding day in Vegas?
Answer: Valentine's Day
25. And last but not least, how much was the most expensive wedding on record?
Answer: $44 million! The marriage of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum's son to Princess Salama in Dubai in May 1981 marks the most expensive wedding on record.
The average score on this quiz is 57%. Can you do better?
