How "you may kiss the bride" became a wedding custom

But how did this custom begin?

It is a practice you’ll see at so many weddings, alright, but where did it begin from, and why was it necessary to begin it in the first instance.

You may kiss the bride: A brief history

It is claimed by several accounts that back in the day during the reign of the Roman empire, [753 BC to 27 BC and then from 64 AD to 1453 AD.], it is believed that the bride and the groom would not have kissed each other until the time of their wedding.

The kiss after the exchange of vows is seen traditionally as their first kiss ever.

Another reason why kissing after the vows became a thing was because marriages were seen as contracts and in Roman times kissing was a legal bond that sealed all contracts.

So, the couple would kiss as a seal to the marriage contract they concluded.

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A kiss of peace

Another account traces it back to the holy kiss given by ancient priests who conduct wedding ceremonies.

Back then, it was customary for the priest to give a holy ‘kiss of peace’ to the groom, who in return kisses the bride.

Eventually, "you may now kiss the bride," became a common phrase heard at weddings as a result of this.

Religious influence

Some Christians, according to Wikipedia, believe that that first post-wedding kiss symbolizes the exchange of souls between the bride and the groom, fulfilling the part of the bible that says “…the two shall become one flesh.” [Genesis 2:24]

However, though many wedding ceremonies would include this action in the wedding program, the kiss is not traditionally a part of the religious ceremony and your wedding remains valid whether or not you and your boo kiss at the altar.