You can read it in any etiquette manual. In a Christian wedding, the left side is the bride’s side, while the right side is the groom’s side. But, where does this come from? Well, frankly, I cannot prove where this comes from. But, I have an interesting piece of evidence for you. Go into an Orthodox church sometime and look at the iconostasis up front. In the middle you will see an opening called the royal doors. On either side of the royal doors you will see two icons. On the left is an icon of the Virgin Mary. On the right is an icon of Our Lord Jesus Christ. There are additional icons, but just notice those two.
You see, the bride’s side is the side in front of the icon of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos. The groom’s side is the side in front of the icon of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, the iconostasis itself was a rather late developement. But a communion rail with icons (or holy pictures) existed centuries before the iconostasis. And, the icons of Our Lady and Our Lord were in the traditional placement, given above, many centuries before the development of the iconostasis.
So, as the wedding ceremony developed over the first six centuries of the Church’s existence, I will argue that it developed to reflect the placement of the icons (or holy images) up in front. And, so, to this day, even Protestant wedding ceremonies reflect the ancient understanding that the “doors to the heavenly sanctuary” are flanked by the Lord on one side–the right side as one faces the altar–, and the Theotokos, the Virgin Mary, on the other side.
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