Ancient marriages put a lot of pressure on women to bear children. In fact, Hammurabi’s Code declared that Babylonian husbands who did not not impregnate their wives were to return her dowry.

And, in Ancient Roman times, brides carried bouquets of herbs symbolizing their fertility. Modern bouquets stemmed from this ritual. The meaning, however, has been all but forgotten. Modern bouquets are simple, decorative, and beautiful.

And the reason for that is simple. Some traditions are best left behind.

American women today have the freedom to separate marriage from fertility (at least in most cases) and, instead, are able to focus on the finding the best wedding venues. And more brides are choosing to have weddings by the water.

Across the United States, nearly 7,000 marriages are taking place every day. Having weddings on the beach or waterfront weddings can help distinguish your wedding and make it unlike the other thousands of weddings that day.

Of all brides, 87 percent wear a white wedding dress and, if you are not a fan of breaking with tradition in that particular area, why not make the location of the wedding reception unique?

Waterfront weddings open up opportunities for scenic, memorable pictures. And some destination beaches, like Hawaii, are known for their casual and exciting wedding receptions.

Brides Magazine reports that couples spend an average of at least 27,000 dollars on their wedding. If brides and their spouses are spending that much, more are choosing to do it in a unique way by having weddings by the water.