Before wedding… Marriage is usually initiated by a proposal of marriage, simply called "a proposal". the man traditionally proposes to the woman and the actual proposal often has a ritual quality, involving the presentation of a ring (an engagement ring) and the formalized asking of a question such as "Will you marry me?" The man may even go down on one knee before proposing. If the proposal is accepted, the couple become engaged. In the United Kingdom, the engagement ring is worn, by the woman, on the third finger of the left hand (the ring finger).

The first one that I know of that appears to have English origins is the groom wearing a flower from the brides bouquet in his button hole. This goes back to the time of the English Knights. The knights would wear a flower or carry a handkerchief in honour of their lady when they went into a tournament or battle. I find this a very romantic gesture and am not surprised that it has turned into a well known English wedding tradition that is still popular today.

After the ceremony, the guests accompany the new couple to a "wedding breakfast" that includes two different kinds of cake. In place of a traditional wedding cake, an English reception features an elaborate fruitcake made from cherries, ground nuts, and other sweet ingredients. The top layer of the fruitcake is sometimes called the "christening cake" and is set aside to celebrate the christening of the couple's first child. The groom’s cake is usually chocolate and traces its origins to the splendor of the Tudor period.reception After the ceremony, the guests accompany the new couple to a "wedding breakfast" that includes two different kinds of cake. In place of a traditional wedding cake, an English reception features an elaborate fruitcake made from cherries, ground nuts, and other sweet ingredients. The top layer of the fruitcake is sometimes called the "christening cake" and is set aside to celebrate the christening of the couple's first child. The groom’s cake is usually chocolate and traces its origins to the splendor of the Tudor period.reception

Another English wedding tradition that is believed to come from Victorian times include the wearing of a white wedding dress and veil. Some people believe that the wearing of a white dress is a symbol of purity that appears to stem from the Queen Victoria's wedding. Queen Victoria wore a white dress and veil during her wedding to Albert in This started the trend of white weddings that later developed into a tradition that is still very popular in English marriages today

The final English wedding tradition that I am going to discuss also comes from Victorian England and has a familiar saying attached to it today: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Many brides still follow this tradition although they do quite often try to get as many of these into one as possible. For example a new, blue garter made from old lace that is borrowed from a family member and given back to them after the ceremony

This tradition seems to be taken fairly seriously by many brides of today and is thought to bring luck for their wedding day and marriage. I'm sure that there are many other wedding traditions that are used around the world that have originated in England