Wedding ceremonys are full of traditions that have been practiced for centuries. But few people understand why and where the traditions came from. Many of our customs are ancient in origin.

The Best Man originated in ancient times when it was common for young women to be kidnapped and forced to marry. The groom would take along the best man he could find to help him capture his bride.

The groomsmen were also there to lend assistance in the capture of the bride and to remain on guard throughout the ceremony to prevent the bride's family from taking her back by force.

Traditionally the bride stands to the left side of the groom. This allowed the groom to have his right hand free for his sword to defend against attack.

The honeymoon is also thought to have originated due to the practice of kidnapping the bride. The groom would take his new bride into hiding to prevent her family from taking her back. Presumably, by the time her family tracked her down she would already be pregnant with the groom's child.

Upon arrival at their new home, the bride would traditionally enter in front of her husband. It was said that if she tripped or stumbled they would be cursed with bad luck for all of their days. To avoid this omen, it became tradition for the groom to carry his bride across the threshold.

Ancient Greeks believed that the "vein of love" led directly from the third finger to heart. Therefore, the wedding bands were placed on this finger as a symbol of love.

It is traditional for the bride to wear "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe" on her wedding day.

• Something old symbolizes the connection the bride has with her family and with her past. Usually the bride wears a piece of jewelry that belonged to her mother or grandmother.

• Something new symbolizes the wish for good luck and prosperity in the couples future together.

• The something borrowed should be an item worn by a happy bride at her wedding. The hope is that some of the luck and happiness will rub off on the new bride.

• Something blue comes from biblical times when the color blue was a symbol of loyalty and faithfulness.

Placing a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe was a sign of wealth. It is also a symbol of the hope that the young couple will experience financial wealth. Today many brides simply subsitute a penny in place of the sixpence.