Although there are practical reasons for carrying a hanky (to dab away the tears of happiness) on your wedding day, there are also traditional reasons. A common wedding tradition goes like this something old, something new etc – the something old is often the wedding handkerchief that has been handed down through the generations. In Belgium, the bride is given a family hanky with her name embroidered on it for her wedding day. After the wedding the bride places the handkerchief in a frame and displays it until the next female family member gets married; thus passing it on to the new bride. In many Irish weddings a special wedding hanky is carried. After the ceremony the bride adds a few stitches to the handkerchief turning it into a Christening bonnet – when the child weds it can be convert back into a hanky.
I agree with Elegant Linens..Wedding handkerchiefs play a very important role in a wedding.