Live Life Team
Belgium has age old traditions that blend quite well with modern wedding scenarios. This starts with the sending of the wedding invitations. Both the bride and groom’s families have the invitations printed separately, then they are sent together to formally announce the new union.
The mother of the bride and mother of the groom each receive a special acknowledgement during the wedding ceremony. As the bride makes her way to the altar she gives a single flower and a hug to her own mother. After the vows she then gives a single flower and a hug to her new mother-in-law. This symbolises acceptance of her new family.
During the actual wedding, the bride and groom sit in two oversized chairs that have been placed near the altar, giving them special status as king and queen for the day. The guests contribute coins, which are collected by the bridesmaid and tossed to the less fortunate outside the church. This is said to bring good luck and prosperity to the marriage.
The wedding handkerchief is a most cherished tradition. This special bit of cloth is embroidered with the brides name and given to her to carry down the aisle. After the wedding, the handkerchief is carefully framed and hung in a place of honour. When it is time for the bride’s daughter or granddaughter to be wed, the handkerchief is taken down and the new bride has her name added to the cloth. It is rather like a family tree on a handkerchief. Some of these heirlooms have been handed down for centuries.
