Everybody is familiar with the tradition that a white wedding gown stands for virginity and the bride's veil represents chastity.

Ever wonder why there are wedding attendants to a bride and groom? Or why the ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand? Or the purpose of a highly decorated wedding cake?

Society shares the same visual imagery of feminity when phrases such as "pearled and sequined appliques," "Moire fabric with organza bows," "French alencon lace," and "brocade tied with classic ivory cords and tassels" are used. But some traditions, mostly those whose origins hark to the ancient Romans, have survived the sexual revolution of the 1960s, and still set standards for the ritual society acknowledges as a permanent spousal relationship.

The reason for the original wedding attendants?

Early Roman weddings must have frequently been a tense affair because the purpose of attendants sprang from the need to fight off warring parties that might try to interrupt the ceremony.

Ring finger? It was believed that a vein ran directly from the third finger, left hand directly to the heart, thus the ring would signal the heart when the head got out of control. And the reception receiving line was established as a gesture between the groom and his male friends (draw your own inferences, and if you can't, the simple explanation is "it was a male thing!" The cake?

Ah, yes. Extravagant cake was THE sign of a bountiful kitchen.