Summer time has pretty much arrived and tis the season for weddings.  Perhaps there are even some here at Walden that will soon tie the knot!  Certainly there are at least a few who will be attending weddings or will be members of wedding parties.  Have you ever wondered where many of the common wedding traditions come from?  I was interested so I did a little research.  

Did you know that the tradition of having a best man is from the early Gothic period?  Back then, it was customary for men to marry a woman from their own community.  But when women fell into short supply, a man would have to “capture” a bride from a neighboring community.  To do so, he often needed help.  That’s where the best man came in.  After the capture the best man served as security to help the groom protect the future bride from being “repatured” by her family.

The kidnaping of the bride eventually turned into a fun ritual, as the bride surrounded herself with “maids” who dressed like her in a symbolic attempt to throw off the groom and his accomplices.

So there you have it folks – a short history of the purpose of the best man!  Proof in the pudding that wedding preparations are always complicated   I actually think that Savannah, with its great natural scenery, beautiful gazebos and terrific selection of wedding planners and artful photographers is a great place for a wedding.  Anyone looking for a really nice, elegant location in the area should definitely consider the Mansion of Forsyth Park.  Another super nice wedding spot that I like is Garibaldi’s Cafe.  Does anyone else have any great wedding stories or tips?  Please share!