A new item for weddings in the past year or so is, unsurprisingly for the fashion world, not quite so new. The parasol is being touted as the must-have wedding accessory for photos of the bridal party this season or for guest at beach and park weddings , but this trend is dipping back into history by thousands of years.
In ancient Egypt, the parasol was used both to provide protection from the sun and as a ceremonial accessory. In ancient Greece, parasols were not only fashionable, but were also used by priestesses in religious ceremonies. However, it was ancient China that invented the collapsable parasol, Wang Mang, an official in the Han dynasty, designed a parasol in the year 21 CE for a ceremonial carriage that could fold down when not needed - Today China is still a main manufacturer of the modern wedding parasols
