There were always ways around the rules. Some couples chose to dash across the border to Scotland. Although Gretna Green was not the only place for runaway couples, it was the most famous.

Off to Gretna Green, “to be wed over the anvil,” although there was not anvil or a blacksmith to perform the wedding, despite the folklore. The ceremony was usually performed by a parson. Why did so many young couples choose to dash off to Scotland? There were any number of reasons: A young man out to make his fortune, and the quickest way, marry an heiress. Pressure from parents to marry their daughter to one she detests, so she makes the choice herself and runs away. Two lovers trying to cover a pregnancy…

Many young women were persuaded to make the run to Gretna Green and face the family and society rejection that would follow on their return, all because of love. Sometimes, runaways were pursued, and even caught; before damage could be done and they would become society’s outcasts.

Robert Elliott the most famous Gretna Green parson, claims to have married over 3,000 couples. Gretna was a small village with a few clay houses, the parish kirt, the ministers house, and a large inn. There was a bedroom adjoining the marriage room. Occasionally, a runaway couple who was being pursued would race in there, prior to the ceremony, and consummate the marriage.

The tradition of flowers at weddings stems from the tradition of a Medieval knight wearing his Lady's colors. The Groom's button-hole flower is supposed to be a flower that appears in the Bride's bouquet. Each flower has its own meaning so expresses a special message.

A special license was obtained from the Archbishop of Canterbury or his office in Doctor’s Commons in London. The fee for this license was about £5. A special license lifted the time and place restrictions, but all other requirements were the same. The names of the applicants had to be included and risk of nullification existed if these names were altered in any way. As with the banns and regular license, the special license was good for three months.

Brides seldom bought a new gown for their wedding, they opted for their best dress instead.

It was Queen Victoria who made the white wedding dress popular. Not only did white symbolize purity and virginity, but they believed it to also ward off evil spirits. Another tradition to confuse malicious, no good spirits, was the custom of bridesmaids. Brides began surrounding themselves with other finely dressed women in order to keep the evil spirits at bay.

Can you imagine being pelted with eggs on your wedding day? Psst...don't knock the bride out before she makes her escape from the church! In some European countries, eggs are thrown instead of the traditional "confetti" of grain or nuts. They were chosen because they are "life-giving" seeds. Eggs? I'm not sure why...

Originally, the wedding cake, made up of a lot little wheat cakes, was broken over the Bride's head in order to bestow fertility and a lifetime of luck. It is said, if a single woman sleeps with a piece of the cake under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.

Marriage with a license is similar to banns, although there was a fee. The stamp of duty was 10s. Any bishop or archbishop could issue the license without first publishing the banns. The parties had to declare they had parental (or guardian) consent if underage, that there was no impediment to the marriage, and that they be wed in a parish church or chapel where one of them dwells or resided for the duration of at least four weeks. Again, the marriage took place between 8 a.m. and 12 noon.

Get me to the Church. When it comes to weddings, every one is superstitious. But where do all these old traditions and superstitions come from?

Well, some can be traced back to Roman & Anglo Saxon times, some to Victorian rhymes and still others to folklore that has been passed down through countless generations. All of them have to do with bestowing good luck and fertility on the happy couple.

So according to superstition the best way to get to the Church is to walk. And you had better keep your peepers peeled for a lucky omen or two on the way--such as: meeting a black cat, having the sun shine on the bride, a rainbow, or meeting a chimney sweep.

But when you walked you also took a chance of running across a bad omen. You wanted to steer clear of Nuns or Monks. Seeing either of these foretold of a life dependent upon charity or perhaps of barrenness. Spotting an open grave, or having a lizard, pig or hare cross your path was also extremely unlucky.

Prior to actually getting to the ceremony the happy couple had to establish their intent if there was no special license involved. That is where publishing of the banns came into effect. There was no fee involved, but this had the longest waiting period. At least one of the couple had to have established residency of four weeks before the reading of the banns. This had to be presented to the cleric seven days prior to the first banns reading, along with their true identity, abode, and established residency. Over the next three Sundays during the church service, the names of the couple were announced and an inquiry made as to whether there was reason they should not be wed.

After the banns were published, the cleric then issued a certificate. The couple had three months in which to use the license. They could marry any given day between 8 a.m. and 12 noon in the parish chapel were the banns had been published. If one of the party came from a different parish the banns had to be read there also and a certificate sent to the performing cleric stating the marriage could proceed.

Coming home after the ceremony could be equally hazardous as getting there. To avoid bad luck, tradition dictates the new wife must enter her home by the main door and must never trip or fall - hence the custom that a bride should be carried over the threshold.