The Origins of Groomsmen
It’s wonderful for your groom to be surrounded and supported by those he’s closest to, especially on your wedding day. But did you ever wonder where the practice of having groomsmen originated?
Why They Dress Like the Groom
Let’s go back to the Ancient Roman days when it was required by law to have ten witnesses at a wedding. Not only were these witnesses supposed to show up, but they also had to dress similarly to the bride and groom. No, no one was trying to make a fashion statement or look good in photos. The point of everyone dressing alike was to fool the evil spirits that were intending on causing mischief, harm, and ill will to the couple. If you have that many people who look the same, those evil spirits would get confused since they couldn’t tell who was the bride and groom, and who wasn’t.
Their Original Responsibilities
Now the groomsmen had other duties besides helping avoid the evil spirits’ mischief and harm. They were the Bride’s Knights – friends of the groom who had the responsibility of being body guards to the bride. Their main duty was to make sure the bride arrived safely to the wedding, then later on make sure she arrived safely at the home of the groom.
Another Theory Behind the Tradition
Another theory about the origins of groomsmen dates back centuries ago when a man would go with his friends to another village to kidnap a woman to be his bride. The groomsmen would fight off any angry relatives who were trying to prevent the kidnapping, and later be present at the wedding to ensure no one tried to steal her back.
How the Role Has Changed Today
Thankfully we live in a more civilized age, where marriages are based on love and romance instead of superstition, and the groomsmen are there to offer their moral support of the bride and groom.
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Photo Credit: Jakob Owens via Unsplash
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
