Wedding Traditions Are Dying Out

Wedding traditions such as asking the bride's father for his daughter's hand in marriage are dying out, a study revealed today.

Researchers found the courteous gesture of asking the future father-in-law for his permission is now considered 'too cheesy'.

Another tried and tested wedding day custom which has died out is having Just Married stickers or tin cans on the car, which is now thought of as 'too noisy'.

As for the bride wearing something old, new, borrowed and blue, this tradition too has fallen by the wayside due to it being 'impractical', the study showed.

Dads picking up the bill for their daughters' nuptials is also a thing of the past at many weddings, as is the groom carrying the bride across the threshold because most couples now co-habit before their nuptials.

But it's not all bad news for brides.

Among traditions which are still alive are the groom going down on one knee to ask for his bride's hand in marriage, and big bouquets of flowers for both mums.

The trend emerged in a study of 5,000 married adults by The Wedding Inbox, an online wedding directory which helps couples prepare for the big day.

Yesterday spokesman Mitesh Lad said: 'It's a sign of the times that some wedding traditions are dying out, especially the bride's father picking up the bill.
'Weddings are more flamboyant and lavish than ever before so subsequently they cost a lot more. Therefore many couples and even in-laws all have to chip in to help pay for the big day.

THE CHANGING FACE OF WEDDING TRADITIONS

	1960s (%)	2000's (%)
Bride's father was asked for his permission	47	15
Something old, new, borrowed, blue	64	39
Glass of sherry before heading to the altar	10	4
The bride's mother sat next to groom's father	33	18
Father walks the bride down the aisle	54	59
Father of the bride paid for wedding	44	17
Threw confetti	74	54
Bride changed into 'going away suit'	51	7
Had 'Just Married' on car	20	11
Cans tied to back of car	22	6
Went on immediate honeymoon	47	16
Bouquet of flowers was thrown	23	24
Best man speeches	57	78
Bridal chorus	8	5
Emotional first dance	23	47
Cut the cake	71	73
Donned a white wedding dress	52	50
Guest book signed	11	43
A favour to guests	8	48
Bouquet of flowers for mother and mother in law	15	40
Gathered for photos	69	72
Partner went down on one knee to propose	10	38
Carried partner over the threshold	68	13

'It's a shame that some old wedding rituals aren't popular anymore - tying tin cans to a car and covering it in shaving foam is synonymous with a newlywed couple heading off to their honeymoon destination and embarking on married life together.
'With many British families now spread across the country and even the globe, some grooms may not know their prospective father-in-laws that well before they get married, so it's understandable that many wouldn't be comfortable asking for their daughter's hand in marriage.'

The research probed the changing face of the wedding from the proposal to the honeymoon.

It emerged that just one in six grooms now asks his father-in-law to be for permission to marry his daughter, compared to one in two in the 1960s.

Just over one in three brides now wears something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. 

In the 1960s more than six out of ten stuck to the old good luck custom.

The study also found less than one in five fathers now picks up the bill for the big day, due to the fact they can't afford it or because their daughter is able to stand on her own feet financially. 

Forty or so years ago four out of ten dads footed the entire cost. Now more than four out of ten couples share the cost between both families.

The increase in the number of couples embarking on 'mini-moons' - short breaks taken weeks after the ceremony - has killed off the days of newlyweds clambering into a car bedecked in tin cans and heading to the airport.

Along with that has gone the bride's 'going away suit'. Even confetti, which now has to be bio-degradable, is a thing of the past.

Arranging the table plan is now more of a headache than ever before due to feuds between broken or extended families.

Numbers of guests have also soared. In the 1960s the average wedding was witnessed by 54 people. Now couples can expect to have to find room for 82 or more.

Mitesh Lad added: 'Some deemed wedding day activities as old-fashioned, while some respondents were concerned about throwing confetti because it has to be environmentally friendly.

'Asking a bride's father for permission was 'cheesy' and writing 'Just Married' on a rear window of a car was 'messy'.

'It's stressful enough planning the big day without having to worry about wearing something borrowed or blue, it simply may not be a priority for wives to be.

'But some things will take a while to die out - like throwing a bouquet and getting down on one knee.'