β€œIn the ’70s and ’80s, an urban myth went around that throwing rice at weddings made birds blow up if they ate it, so folks threw birdseed instead. I never saw exploded pigeons lying around churchyards after weddings, but oh well.”

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"I remember after the wedding, too, women would go over to the bride's new home and help her 'set up house.' It was often just coffee, maybe looking through the wedding pictures if they were back, or helping her arrange a cupboard in the kitchen. Mostly, it was a signal to the bride that you were there to help if needed. It was understood that after the excitement of the wedding day, the day-to-day of married life could sometimes be an adjustment, though children often followed quickly. So, I guess what I'm saying is that the wedding itself was about the guests, and afterward it was about the bride. It seems as if weddings were less materialistic, more about sharing support."

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