Bride side/Groom side

Have you ever wondered where the tradition came from the bride standing on the left and the groom standing on the right? It is something I have always known, but never knew exactly why. I also knew that in a Jewish wedding the sides are flipped. Again why?


So we set out to find an answer and this is what we found...


The tradition actually stems from the old days of "marriage by capture", when the groom needed to leave his right hand (his fighting hand) -- which he used to hold his sword -- free in the event that he should need to defend his bride from other suitors who may try to whisk her off at the last minute. 

The groom traditionally stands on the right because in medieval times he might have to protect the bride mid-ceremony and would need his sword hand free 

Jewish: The position of the bride on the right side of the groom is based on an interpretation of a verse in Psalms (45:10) "The queen stands on your right hand in fine gold of Ophir." In Jewish tradition the bride is a queen, and the groom a king.  http://www.jewish-wedding-rabbi.com/jewish-wedding-vows.html

When I read stuff like this I laugh because I think it is funny how sometimes we do things just because that is how it has been done and we don't even know how it began. 

Next I am going to research the cake cutting. I have heard it comes from fertility, but I want to know more!!!