Wondering where the term “honeymoon” came from? You’ve probably seen some interesting facts about weddings and marriages throughout history– but we wager there’ll be a number of these you’ve never heard! Did you know the longest marriage in history was longer than the average life span of a human? Crazy but true! Scroll down to see how long it was, along with several other fascinating facts about tying the knot. With that, here are 25 fun wedding trivia facts you can share at parties (as either a wedding game or just looking like one smart cookie!)
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Get the free digital copy of Adventure Wed Magazine! Filled with real adventure weddings and elopements, expert tips, and bold ideas to plan your day your way.
Answer: The couple drank something called ‘mead‘ (a fermented honey drink) the whole first month of their marriage (as an aphrodisiac). Whether or not it worked is hard to say, but its origins have created a mainstay in the wedding world.
Photo by Maye.Be Take A Photo an #AdventureExpert
Answer: Bride’s Knights (as a note, their role was usually to help protect her dowry and/or virginity– and yes, sometimes just turned into a straight-up kidnapping. Yikes!)
Answer: 70%, meaning diamonds remain the most popular rock for lovers. Want to know what comes in second for non-traditional couples? Sapphires. Â
Something interesting is when couples look for sapphires, especially if they’re wanting a lower price, they often look into gems like iolite. It’s a less expensive stone and still has that sapphire appearance.
Photo by Elope Out West an #AdventureExpert
Answer: Las Vegas with over 114k weddings a year (Hawaii ranks second). Unsurprisingly, Nevada also holds the record for the highest divorces.
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Answer: January (about 4.7% of weddings a year). Want to know the the most popular month to get married? That title would go to June at over 10%.
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Answer: Queen Victoria (during her wedding in 1840 to Prince Albert). Not only was she a popular queen on both sides of the pond, but a major trendsetter, even popularizing the use of “Here Comes the Bride” during the ceremony. More on that on #17 below.
Photo by Allie Dearie Photography an #AdventureExpert
Answer: Egyptians as a sign of devotion. Researchers have found the rings were often made of hemp and reed, which were then braided tightly so as to stay in a ring shape on one’s finger. Like today, it was placed on the “ring” finger on the left hand, as it was believed to connect straight to the heart.
Answer: Happiness/Sincerity. As we mentioned above, it’s the second-best seller in stones for engagement/wedding rings.
Answer:Â World War II– It was a way men could remember their wives during the war.
See also:
• Creating An Authentic Wedding Experience
• Planning Your National Park Honeymoon Adventure
Answer: A sixpence in your shoe. Seems like an inconvenience; maybe that’s why we don’t hear about this one as much.
Answer:Â The Goddess Juno rules marriage and childbirth… in reality, it’s probably because the weather is infinitely better (and, of course, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and its catchy bridal song didn’t hurt).
Photo by Hearts and Horizons an #AdventureExpert
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Answer:Â Romans used to ‘break bread’ over the bride to symbolize fertility.
Answer:Â So the groom could fend off other suitors with his right hand (apparently, this was a big problem).
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See also:
• Unique Ways To Personalize Your Adventure Wedding
• Elope With Adventure: Inspiration From The Award-Winning Book, Elope
Answer: Good luck? Most brides most likely would not agree, but it’s true! A spider in the dress was a good omen according to tradition (we argue it may have begun with a kind mother just trying to calm a bride’s nerves).
Answer: People used to tear off part of the bride’s dress for good luck. This helped solve the problem.
Answer: From the German opera “Lohengrin” in 1850, traditionally it was played AFTER the ceremony. Queen Victoria’s oldest daughter, Princess Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, popularized the use of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” during her wedding procession.
Photo by Jamie Tobin Photography an #AdventureExpert
Answer: De Beers, popularized the use of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” during her wedding procession.
Answer:  Herbs (including garlic to ward off evil spirits), popularized the use of Wagner’s “Bridal Chorus” during her wedding procession.
Answer: Zelmyra and Herbert Fisher broke the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage. They were married on May 13, 1924. In 2008, they earned the longest marriage at 84 years. Both passed away in 2011 and 2013 at 105 years old.
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Photo by Jessie and Dallin Photography an #AdventureExpert
Answer:Â Zsa Zsa Gabor and Felipe de Alba, which lasted less than 24 hours.
Answer: $12.2 million dollars! The dress was designed by Martin Katz and Renee Strauss and had 150 carats of diamonds.
Photo by Kailah Page Adventure and Photo an #AdventureExpert
Answer:Â White pearls look like tears, meaning suffering.
Answer:Â Valentine’s Day.
Answer: $44 million! The marriage of Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s son to Princess Salama in Dubai in May 1981 marks the most expensive wedding on record.
Photo by Unleashed Elopements an #AdventureExpert
The average score on this quiz is 57%. Can you do better?
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