Unique Welsh wedding traditions start during courtship. In Wales, St Dwynwen’s Day (St. Dwynwen is the Patron Saint of Lovers) is January 25th, is a far more important date in the Welsh calendar than St Valentine’s Day. So, it is traditional in Wales to give your intended flowers on January 25 rather than February 14.
As discussed elsewhere in this book, a man in Wales carved a lovespoon to give to his intended. The elements on the lovespoon represented his hopes and desires for the relationship (a key on the lovespoon was to his heart, beads might have to do with how many children they might create, hearts intertwined, etc.). This tradition has faded but it seems to have revived to a certain extent (especially now that you can buy such spoons and not lose a finger carving one).
The Maids Trick is another Welsh wedding tradition to be carried out on Christmas Eve or on a Welsh Fairy Night. In particular the maid left a feast on her kitchen table and went to wash her undergarments, which were left to dry by the fire. Once that was done, she went to bed leaving the feast and garments in plain sight.
At this point her intended came along and ate the feast and saw her undergarments. These things were meant to get him to propose to her.
Welsh Wedding Traditions (for details on planning see other entries in this blog)
These days confetti is thrown as the couple exits the church. Back in the day, wheat was thrown which was thought to enhance fertility.
Any Welsh brides hope to awake to birdsong on their wedding day, it is thought to be a good omen for a successful marriage. Further, the first person to congratulate her should be a man (easily arranged if you are aware on its importance, so get it done)!
Welsh brides wear a bouquet with sprigs of myrtle, which is symbolic of love.
Another tradition has to do with the bride’s wedding gown. Oddly, if it got torn at any time during the day, it was thought to be predictive of a happy future for the couple (easily arranged but odd).
Further Welsh brides; don’t toss a wedding bouquet to a waiting throng. They toss a broach or pin which was affixed to their wedding gown. Naturally, whoever retrieved the pin would be the next to marry.
As noted elsewhere in this book, the leek or daffodil is the national symbol of Wales so including them in the wedding motif would go far in creating a Welsh Wedding.
