White Doves At Weddings: Symbolism And Meaning

what does white doves at a wedding mean

White doves at weddings are steeped in tradition and symbolism. The gesture of releasing doves is thought to symbolise joy, blessings, purity, innocence, honesty, integrity, peace, love, unity, devotion, and fidelity. Doves are also monogamous, mating for life, which represents the couple's lifelong commitment to each other.

Releasing doves at weddings is also a way to honour the memory of a loved one who has passed away.

Characteristics Values
Symbolism Love, peace, happiness, prosperity, purity, unity, devotion, fidelity, joy, blessings, honesty, integrity, innocence, newness, loyalty
Colour White symbolises purity
Ancient Ritual Symbolises elements of married life
Ancient Tradition Groom would gift a dove to the bride as a symbol of devotion
Superstition Couples who see a pair of doves on their wedding day will have a happy home, good fortune, everlasting love, and a blessed marriage
Monogamy Doves mate for life

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Doves symbolise love, peace, happiness and prosperity

The colour white is associated with purity and innocence, and the dove is a symbol of peace. In the Bible, Noah sends a dove out from the ark to ensure the land is safe to live on after the flood. Releasing doves at a wedding is a way to wish the couple peace in their new life together.

Doves are also monogamous and remain with their mate for life. This makes them a symbol of lifelong commitment, loyalty and devotion. Releasing doves at a wedding symbolises the couple's new journey as they leave their families to start a new life together.

Doves are also a symbol of joy and blessings. In some traditions, seeing a pair of doves on your wedding day is said to bring happiness and good fortune. The release of doves at a wedding is a way to express the joy of the new union and the happiness and blessings the couple wishes for their future together.

Releasing doves is an ancient ritual that symbolises many elements of married life. It is a romantic and symbolic gesture that adds a unique touch to a wedding celebration.

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White is the colour of purity, innocence and eternity

The colour white is associated with purity, innocence, cleanliness, blankness, coldness, emptiness, simplicity, and minimalism. In Western culture, white is the colour most associated with innocence or purity. In the Bible and in Temple Judaism, white animals such as lambs were sacrificed to atone for sins.

White doves are released at weddings because they symbolise purity, peace, faith, and love. Doves also symbolise the journey of a lifetime together, as they stay faithful to each other for life and form strong family bonds. The white dove also represents the Holy Spirit in Christianity, which is why it is released during or after the wedding ceremony.

Releasing doves at weddings is said to bring good fortune, assure a happy home, and symbolise everlasting love. The doves are usually released as the couple leaves the church or during an outdoor ceremony. The number of doves released ranges from two to twenty, and they circle the couple before flying away, denoting the newlyweds' departure from their families and towards their new life together.

The white dove is also a symbol of peace, anointing, new beginnings, prophecy, and healing. In the context of weddings, the white dove represents the beginning of a new chapter in the lives of the couple as they embark on their journey together.

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Doves are monogamous and remain with their mate for life

Doves are monogamous and often remain with their mate for their entire lives, making them a perfect symbol of marriage. In fact, the releasing of pure white doves is an ancient ritual that symbolizes many of the elements of married life.

Doves are also associated with love and weddings due to their cooing sounds, which are likely the origin of the expression "billing and cooing", showing the birds' connection with love and relationships. Male doves perform courtship rituals for their prospective mates, including special flight patterns, cooing, bowing, tail-fanning, and neck-puffing.

Doves are also linked to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who viewed doves as sacred and used them as her messengers. Over time, doves became symbols of Aphrodite.

In addition, doves are seen as symbols of purity, peace, unity, devotion, and fidelity. They are gentle and peaceful birds, highly intelligent, and nurturing towards their young. Doves also form strong family bonds, further emphasising their suitability as a symbol of lifelong commitment in marriage.

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Releasing doves symbolises the couple's journey into a new life together

The release of doves during a wedding ceremony is steeped in symbolism. Doves are associated with love, purity, peace, and hope, making them the perfect way to symbolise a couple's journey into a new life together.

Doves are known for their gentle nature and monogamous behaviour, making them a popular symbol of romantic love and faithfulness. They are also associated with the idea of new beginnings and fresh starts. In many cultures, they are considered messengers of peace and love, bringing people together and promoting harmony.

Releasing doves at a wedding is a way to symbolise the couple's love and commitment to each other, as well as their desire for a long and loving marriage. The image of two doves flying together has become a timeless representation of a couple's journey into their new life as a married couple.

The act of releasing doves can also be seen as a romantic gesture of lifelong commitment. Doves stay faithful to each other for life and form strong family bonds, just as the newly married couple is promising to do.

The colour of the doves is also significant. White doves, in particular, embody the meaning of purity, peace, love, and connection with the divine. They represent a fresh start and the innocence of beginning a new chapter in life.

The release of doves at a wedding is a beautiful and symbolic tradition that adds a unique touch to the celebration. It is a way to wish the couple good fortune, love, and a harmonious future together as they embark on their journey into married life.

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Doves are said to bring good fortune and everlasting love

Doves are monogamous in nature, meaning they mate for life. This makes them the perfect bird to include in a celebration that honours lifelong commitment. The white feathers of doves also represent purity and innocence, symbolising the honesty and integrity of love at a wedding.

Releasing doves at a wedding is a physical expression of the sentiment that the newlyweds are starting a new life together. The doves fly higher and higher, seeking their way home, just as the couple will always know where "home" is—wherever they are together.

The use of doves at weddings dates back to Biblical times, when Noah sent a dove out from the ark to ensure the land was safe for humans after the flood. The release of doves at weddings symbolises peace in the couple's home and throughout their lives together.

The number of doves released at a wedding can vary from two to 20, with each bird representing different members of the couple's family. The doves circle the newlyweds and then fly away, symbolising the couple's departure from their families and towards their new journey together.

Frequently asked questions

Releasing white doves at a wedding is a symbol of love, peace, happiness, prosperity, purity, unity, devotion, and fidelity.

The tradition of releasing doves at weddings dates back to Biblical times, when Noah sent a dove out from the ark to make sure that the land was safe for humans to live on again after the flood.

White doves are a symbol of joy and blessings in many religions. The white feathers represent purity and innocence.

The doves released at weddings are actually white homing pigeons, which are related to the dove species. Actual doves are too fragile to make the flight home and do not have a natural homing instinct.

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