Pearls have a long history of being treasured gifts, dating back to the ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt, where they were prized for their radiant natural beauty and lustrous iridescence. In fact, in many ancient civilizations, pearls were so prized that they were reserved for idols, religious statues, or kings and queens. Pearls have an almost equally ancient tradition of being worn by a bride on her wedding day, and today pearls are still closely associated with weddings, love, and marriage. Fortunately, in today’s times, wearing pearls on your wedding day is something that is not just limited to brides of the royal or ruling class, and pearls are not out of reach even for modern brides on a budget.
Historical importance and tradition of pearl jewelry for weddings
Pearls have long been associated with love, marriage, and beauty in many different cultures. An ancient Hindu legend attributes the discovery of the first pearl to Lord Krishna, who later offered it to his daughter Pandaia as a wedding gift.
In ancient China, pearls were offered to idols and religious statues, then restricted for use only by the mighty and powerful. Similarly, in the late Middle Ages, many European countries passed “pearl laws” that restricted the wearing of pearls only to those who held the highest position in society. Aristocratic ladies often wore their pearls day and night, believing that doing so would give them better dreams and ensure continued prosperity. Festive occasions such as coronation banquets, victory celebrations, and of course weddings were also a very popular time to wear pearls.
Perhaps most notably, at the famous 1475 Landshut wedding held in Bavaria, Germany, the spectacular display of pearls and pearl jewelry literally made history. The Landshut wedding saw Hedwig, princess of Poland and daughter of King Casimir III, marry “Rich George”, the son of the Duke of Landshut. Ten thousand people are said to have attended the grand event and, in addition to the bride and groom, the courts of the princess and the duke presented such a splendid display of pearls that it has been talked about for centuries. Today, this historic wedding is commemorated at a festival in Landshut, Germany, held every four years, with thousands of people wearing medieval costumes (and wearing pearls!) To recreate the event and life in the late Middle Ages.
Pearls have remained prominent in the most notable weddings of the last century (worn by both brides and their distinguished guests), from the nuptials of Queen Elizabeth II (1947), to the marriage of Jacqueline Lee Bouvier to the then senator. American John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1953), to the “Wedding of the Century” between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco (1956), to the media publicized exchange of votes between Lady Diana and Prince Charles (1981), and finally , what has already been considered the “Wedding of the XXI century” between Kate Middleton and Prince William (2011).
Cultural significance and symbolic meanings of pearl wedding jewelry
Certainly pearls are a beautiful gemstone – their luster and radiance in themselves make pearls a wonderful choice for a bride to wear on her wedding day. However, the popularity of pearls as the preferred gem of brides owes much more to their rich cultural and symbolic significance. Pearls have long incorporated attributes of love, purity, hope, good luck, and prosperity – aspirations that are closely associated with weddings. And so even as jewelry fad has come and gone, pearls have remained a timeless choice for brides, as cultural and religious meanings play a large role in their value.
Going back to ancient civilizations, another Indian legend tells the story of the daughter of the Great Mogul of Delhi, whose father decided for her to marry the old Rajah of Hyderabad. In love with a younger prince, she refused to marry the rajah and was banished to a distant palace. While in exile, her love, the Prince of Benares, died in battle. For years, the girl cried lonely tears in her isolated palace, until at her death the God of Love and Passion turned her tears into pearls and allowed her to regain her happiness. Even today, most Indian brides wear pearls to ensure love and happiness in their marriages.
In Chinese Buddhism, the pearl is considered one of the eight sacred elements of good luck, described as “the pearl that fulfills all wishes.” The ancient Chinese believed that pearls could protect them from disease and natural disasters, and they were among the first of many ancient Asian cultures to use pearls as medicine.
In ancient Greece, the pearl was dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, and as a result, it was associated with love, marriage, and incomparable beauty. Aphrodite, born of the sea, had emerged from the water of a shell and she herself was compared to a precious pearl. The ancient Greeks believed that wearing pearls on your wedding day would promote marital harmony and could even prevent newly married brides from crying (this was perhaps more important in ancient times, when the bride and groom’s parents used to arrange marriages and the brides wept. I’m not likely to shed tears of joy!).
Similarly, the Romans dedicated pearls to Venus, their goddess of love. The Romans also believed that the pearl’s white glow made it a favorite of Diana, the moon goddess, who was also known for her chastity.
The pearl has long been associated with purity, and ancient beliefs were eventually integrated into Christian symbolism. In the Middle Ages, painters and other artists often adorned Mary with pearls, to symbolize her purity and heavenly beauty, and church leaders began embroidering alter fabrics, priestly garments with pearls. Christ himself was seen as an exquisite pearl, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pearls, and white pearls in particular, became a traditional Christian wedding accessory and wedding gift for a bride. In the Christian faith, pearls are associated with innocence, chastity, and honesty, and were thought to herald a happy marriage.
Incorporating pearls into your wedding
Today there are many ways to incorporate pearls into a wedding. Very often, the bride wears the pearls as jewelry, be it in a pendant or string necklace, a bracelet or in a pair of earrings. White pearls are a timeless bridal accessory and are a stunning addition to a wedding dress. Elegant and sophisticated pearl jewelry can add sparkle to a bride’s overall look, without overshadowing the dress, ring, or the bride herself.
Pearls can also be incorporated into a bride’s actual wedding dress, often as beautiful buttons or decorative accents embroidered on the dress. As an extravagant example, Princess Diana’s lace gown featured more than 10,000 hand-embroidered mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls.
Pearls do not have to be reserved only for the bride (although, curiously, this was the case in some societies; for example, a Venetian law of 1299 determined not only the maximum number of guests allowed in a wedding ceremony, but also decreed that “no one but the bride should wear pearl ornaments”). Pearl jewelry is also an appropriate accessory for bridesmaids as it adds graceful elegance to a bride’s wedding party. Pearls are frequently given as a gift from the bride to her attendants, as jewelry to wear on the wedding day (and a gift that will also be cherished for years to come). Mothers of the bride and groom may also choose to wear pearls to note the meaning and joy of the occasion. And last but not least, pearls can even be worn by the groom, groomsmen, or other special men participating in a wedding ceremony. Pearl cufflinks are a wonderful way for men to incorporate these beautiful gems (and their associated meanings and meanings) into a wedding wardrobe.