I just don't get it. What's their purpose. I know you can wed with out them. But where did this tradition start?
2007-12-01 19:56:28 · 4 answers · asked by Imdatchick 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
The earliest weddings involved a kidnap of the bride by the "groom's men," friends of the groom who gathered the bride and brought her to the wedding party. Once the woman was captured, she was made part of the groom's "tribe" and property.
In the Anglo-Saxan tradition, friends of the groom were used as guardians of the bride. They were there to make sure she was not kidnapped before, during, or after the wedding and before the bride makes it to the groom's home. Sometimes if the bride's family opposed the wedding, the groomsmen were protecting the bride (and the wedding) from her family.
Bridesmaids had certain duties, and would stand by the bride to make sure she looked as beautiful as possible. They also had tasks such as decorating or preparing her dress.
2007-12-01 20:05:48 · answer #1 · answered by grinsalot77 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They are correct about the groomsmen for the most part. However the best man was due to arranged marriages. If something happened to the groom, the best man would step in and marry the bride instead. Usually this would be the second son. As the bride was engaged to the Heir, if something happened to the groom, the 2nd son who was now the Heir would still be required to fulfill the contract. After all these were not love matches but arranged for property.
They left out the purpose of Bridesmaids. Originally when a bride was traveling to her wedding, she would have many friends dressed identical to the bride. This way when those nasty gentlemen rode across the border to kidnap her, they couldn't tell which was the real bride. As it is much harder to kidnap 5 women than one, it was hoped that (not being able to figure out which one was the correct bride) he would kidnap the wrong one, or give up and allow the bride to marry.
2007-12-02 05:40:33 · answer #2 · answered by phantom_of_valkyrie 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Long time ago.
The Groom is a gentleman of some sort and the "grooms men" were stableworkers. The "Best Man" would assist the Groom in acquiring the woman who he wanted to marry, often taking her away without the father's consent. The groomsmen would be responsible for the muscle and as extra hands. The maids, being the property and close associates of the bride would be taken as well.
2007-12-01 20:01:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They've told you where it began. I'm telling you that you can do without them in your wedding. There's no law against not having the brides maids and grooms men.
2007-12-01 20:07:58 · answer #4 · answered by Equinox 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋