Wedding Superstitions & Traditions Explained

Some traditions and beliefs surrounding weddings have been practised for so long that they are now taken for granted. But do you know why bouquets are thrown? One piece of cake shouldn't last in the freezer for a year, so why would a couple do that? Why do brides go to such lengths to conceal the wedding dress from their future husbands?

At one point in the West, marriages were essentially business transactions between two sets of kin. These days, it's unusual to meet a couple that didn't decide to tie the knot because they were head over heels in love with each other. Since we know our partner won't back out on the big day, it's up to the couple to decide whether or not to see one other before the wedding.

For many contemporary couples, who may already be living together and who may argue regularly over who should pick up soiled socks from the bedroom floor, the option of not seeing each other before the wedding may increase the romanticism of the big day.

The pressure to look perfect on your wedding day is already strong, and you also won't want to embarrass yourself by losing your cool or losing the rings. Who would have thought, though, that superstitious beliefs would arise around the idea of made-up problems in a fictional marriage? Do you also believe that this is not productive? If you're superstitious, you might want to keep an eye out for these signs of good and bad luck. Saying “I do” at Boutique events group is an elegant and luxurious affair.

Tradition

If you get an ounce of wisdom, it could be your downfall. This practise hails from a time when parents had more control over who their children might marry. Families typically orchestrated weddings and the bride and groom didn't get to meet each other until the ceremony was over. However, after meeting the lady they were destined to spend the rest of their lives with, some men would have a sudden change of heart.

So, what strategy should we employ to solve this issue? One option is to simply ask the advised pair if they agree that they are a good fit. That's obviously not the case, as it's far too reasonable. The wedding day is the first time the bride and groom see each other. If you need to leave your own wedding quickly, you may find it difficult to do so after everyone has arrived.

In spite of the decline in frequency of arranged marriages, the old wives' story that the groom is forbidden to visit the bride before the wedding still circulates.

What Happens If The Groom Sees The Wedding Dress?

Some couples believe that having a first look before the wedding helps them relax, gives them quality time together, and gives them beautiful photographs of themselves as husband and wife. We have listed some of the justifications for and against the groom viewing the wedding dress so that you can make an educated decision.

Avoid Disclosure

• It would be even more awkward if he saw you in your wedding dress before the big day than if he had seen you before the wedding.
• You want him and all of your guests to be caught off guard so that you can revel in the awe of this momentous occasion in peace.
• The day he lays eyes on you, his stunning bride, will be all the more unforgettable if he is feeling emotional as you walk down the aisle.
• He loves you unconditionally, so whatever you wear will be fine with him.

Open His Eyes

• Even if you reveal him months or years before the wedding, he may still be surprised on the big day. However, if you and your partner have a pre-ceremony meeting in the morning, you may put your nerves at ease and enjoy the entire ceremony without worrying about anything.
• More and more photographers are now offering "first look" possibilities (add them to this list of your essential photos, so your photographer knows what to get). Therefore, they will ensure that the moment your future husband first lays eyes on you has been captured.
• In case you're like uniformity, your bridesmaids can dress alike. Bridesmaids have traditionally worn white to complement the bride. This was carried out for the express goal of driving away malevolent spirits.
• The same way you got a say in picking out his suit, he should have a say in what you wear.

Intimate Pre-Wedding Meetings

You've probably heard it said that it's bad luck to see your future spouse before the wedding. For historical reasons, when a marriage was arranged, the bride and groom did not see each other until they were at the altar. Parents of the bride were worried that the groom wouldn't find the bride appealing if they met beforehand, and it would lead to the wedding being called off. The bride donned a veil so that the groom wouldn't see her face until the ceremony was through and he couldn't back out.

This myth originated in the days of arranged marriages, when it was considered that the bride and groom may alter their minds if they saw one other before the ceremony. There seems to be no negative feedback about the practise of "first looks" between the bride and groom before the wedding. It is our opinion that this urban legend can finally be laid to rest.

Today, fewer and fewer people believe this myth because more and more engaged couples are opting to get a "first glance" before the ceremony. However, this is not the case with everyone. Even today, many engaged couples want to keep their first glimpse of each other a surprise until the big day. Superstition has been disproven any way.

Disguising Factor, Or The Veil

The custom of the bride wearing a veil stretches back to at least ancient Rome and Greece, despite its contemporary appearance. The bride wore a veil at her wedding as protection against the evil eye of the jealous spirits. One is always present within a group, thus it's smart to dress the part. Struggling to find your perfect gown? Check out our extensive list of Wedding Dress Shops in Melbourne.

There Was Also A Silver Sixpence In Her Shoe.

Though the traditional ending of "and a silver sixpence in her shoe" has now been replaced by "something old, blue, new, borrowed," few people realise that the original rhyme really ended with "and a silver sixpence in her shoe." The first 4 elements of the rhymes are metaphors for various aspects of marriage and expressing one's love, such as joy, fresh starts, and a lifetime of devotion. In contrast, the final line makes reference to the urban legend that the bride should keep a penny in each of her footwear for the remainder of her life. It may sound inconvenient to have to remember to keep something in your shoe all day, but if you're wishing for good luck it could be worth the hassle.

That's Not Us Being Emotional; It's You.

Don't attempt to be all strong and Kim Kardashian-like if you find yourself getting emotional as the big day approaches. The old wives' tale says that if the bride cries on her wedding day, she won't cry again for the rest of her life together. If you are serious about this approach, you must use waterproof mascara.

What "Rain On Your Wedding Day" Feels Like

While the prospect of rain on her wedding day is likely to be viewed negatively by the vast majority of brides, others may consider it as a good omen. At first glance, it may appear like they're just trying to cheer the bride up, but in certain traditions, rain on the bride's wedding day represents fertility, a fresh start, and the gathering together with family and friends. On the other side, there are many who think the amount of rain falling on the wedding day is a reflection of the number of times the bride will cry.

If you have a backup plan in case it rains, you don't have anything to worry about. It is believed by some to bring purity and fertility if it rains on your wedding day. The truth is that we have no idea. We counter that your wedding is an extremely happy and momentous occasion in your lives. Much like your relationship, it's best to just go with the flow and enjoy the rain. Check out our post on Tips for Newly Engaged Couples.

Saturdays

According to traditional English belief, Saturday is the unluckiest day for a wedding. This makes perfect sense given that wedding venues are usually more expensive on Saturdays.

The Chimes That Are Ringing

At an Irish wedding, bells are rung to protect the couple from harm and to wish them a lifetime of happiness as husband and wife. Some brides opt to carry a bell in their bouquet as an additional reminder of their vows. Good luck bells are a common wedding present for the happy couple.

Those Whom You Should Avoid Contact

There's no need to be frightened of a black cat, but you should definitely stay away from any religious orders of nuns or monks. Women are said to be cursed with sterility and poverty if they encounter a monk or nun on their wedding day.

The Groom Trips Over The Bride

It is traditional for the groom to take his bride to their room together after the wedding. All that bravery and romance, it seems, served a more practical purpose: protecting against disaster. If the bride trips over the doorstep of her new home, the marriage is doomed, so the urban tale goes. Therefore, the husband is responsible for getting the bride to safety by carrying her (while trying not to fall).

A Tiny Little Spider Made Its Way Up The Bride's Dress!

The legend goes that spotting a bug on your wedding gown is good luck. Whatever the case may be, we think most brides would be happy to forego this traditional English folk custom, even if it is said to bring good luck.

In Death We Part

If any of the wedding rings disappears before or during the ceremony, the couple's commitment to each other is doomed to fail. And you better not release go of those suckers, because whomever does will be the one to fall down in the fight! Since it is undeniably something to think about on your wedding day, it is important to emphasise its importance.

Do The Lucky Garter Pass

The ritual of the garter toss, where the lucky recipient is thought to be showered with good fortune, has its roots in France. The garter toss is a fun and funny ceremony in which the newlywed groom goes under the bride's dress to retrieve the garter, which he then throws to the unmarried males in attendance. If you're the shy kind, the groomsmen can turn their backs on you while they remove your garter to give you some peace and quiet. If you don't like the garter, you can take it off in this way.

Tossing Bouquets To See Who Will Be The Next Bride In Line

One of the oldest and most commonly observed superstitions involves the bride tossing her bouquet to the single women in attendance. Whoever catches it next will be the one to get married, so the story goes. This practise likely originated in the Middle Ages, when it was thought that a piece of the bride's bridal attire would bring the receiver good fortune. Visitors would then pursue the bride in an effort to tear off her clothing. In an effort to escape unnoticed, the brides started throwing the bouquet.

Request His Assistance In Crossing The Threshold.

Even if you and your new spouse probably already share a house, it is a sweet gesture to have your spouse show you around his or her place after the wedding. The act of running joyfully through the front door of a new house was regarded exceedingly scandalous many years ago because it was associated with the loss of one's virginity.

According to another urban legend, it is particularly unlucky for the bride to trip on the threshold of her new home because that is where evil spirits are said to live. Don't worry; he'll get you safely inside if you let him.

Our modern marriages are more like scientific experiments. As soon as the shiny rock settles on the ring finger, we dig out the wedding manuals, update our dormant Pinterest boards, and start making lists and spreadsheets that resemble Russian nesting dolls.

Some of the elements on the list are necessary and practical (such knowing whether or not food will be available and what it will be), while others are not. However, other parts of the wedding preparation are not based on scientific science but are deeply rooted in old customs that are often superstitious, based on mythology, and can be offensive to modern sensibilities.

The belief that it is bad luck to visit the bride on her wedding day is an example of a tradition that we continue to maintain without questioning its origins or rationale. We've reached this moment, therefore let's ask: why is it so unlucky to see the bride? Let's say you're a father in Elizabethan England and you've saved up enough money and livestock to give your adolescent daughter a substantial dowry.

You're about to get married to the guy who lives in the house down the street. You've spent the previous few months negotiating with his family, and it looks like you're coming near to your goal. The last thing you want is for the groom-to-be to see your daughter on the wedding day and realise that, bless her heart, she is a homely thing. You definitely don't want that to occur.

Seeing her before she came at the altar could cause him to flee, which would be incredibly unfortunate. Instead of taking any chances, you should make sure your daughter also wears a veil. This means he won't be able to sneak out of the ceremony as she walks down the aisle. You can't go wrong no matter what you decide. To put it simply, once your soon-to-be spouse sees you on your wedding day, they won't be able to take their eyes off of you and will have only one destination in mind: the altar.

Conclusion

There are some wedding customs and beliefs that have been followed for so long that we no longer give them a second thought. Numerous modern-day couples choose to not see each other before the wedding in an effort to heighten the romantic atmosphere of the occasion. Superstitious people would do well to keep an eye out for these omens of fortune or misfortune. There is an old wives' tale that says the future husband must not see the bride before the wedding. Some newlyweds find that seeing each other in their wedding gowns for the first time is a wonderful way to start their lives together as husband and wife, and it makes for some stunning images.

The myth goes that the bride wore a veil so that her future husband wouldn't be able to view her face before the wedding. Now that more and more engaged couples are choosing to have a "first peek" before the ceremony, we can put an end to that urban legend once and for all. There's a myth that if a bride sheds tears on her wedding day, she won't be able to shed them again for the rest of her life. There are cultural beliefs that say rain on the bride's wedding day is a sign of fertility and family unity. In the eyes of some, it could be a sign of good fortune.

The couple's vows are null and void if one of the wedding rings goes missing before, during, or after the ceremony. The newlywed garter toss is a lighthearted and humorous ritual in which the groom tries to catch the bride's garter before she tosses it. Leaving one's virginity behind and dashing gleefully through the front door of a new house was considered quite scandalous many years ago. The bride should be very careful not to fall on the threshold of her new home, as this is said to bring bad luck. As an example of a tradition that we uphold without questioning, consider the belief that it is bad luck to visit the bride on her wedding day. Since we've arrived at this stage, let's enquire as to why it's so ill-fortuned to catch sight of the bride.

Content Summary

1. There are some wedding customs and beliefs that have been followed for so long that we no longer give them a second thought.
2. It's unusual to find a married couple these days who didn't make the decision to do so because they were madly in love.
3. Since none of us is going to back out on the wedding day, it's up to the happy couple to determine if they want to meet each other before the ceremony.
4. Since many modern couples live together before getting married and may have regular arguments about who should pick up soiled socks from the bedroom floor, the option of not seeing each other before the wedding may boost the romanticism of the big day.
5. You'll be under a lot of scrutiny to look your best on your wedding day, so the last thing you need is to make a fool of yourself by losing your composure or misplacing the rings.
6. Superstitious people would do well to keep an eye out for these omens of fortune or misfortune.
7. Boutique events business provides a magnificent setting for a sophisticated and lavish wedding.
8. Traditional weddings were planned by the bride's and groom's families, and the happy couple often didn't meet until the reception was done.
9. One possibility is to directly enquire with the suggested couple if they feel the same way about the recommendation.
10. After everyone has come, it will likely be impossible for you to immediately exit your own wedding.
11. Although arranged weddings are becoming less common, the old wives' tale that the husband is not allowed to see the bride before the wedding persists.
12. Some future spouses find that capturing their emotional reaction to seeing each other for the first time before the ceremony allows them to feel more at ease on the big day.
13. Keep Secrets You already know how awful it would be if he saw you before the wedding, but seeing you in your wedding dress before the wedding would be even worse.
14. You'd prefer for him and all of your guests to be taken aback by this incredible turn of events so that you can take in the moment in privacy and wonder.
15. Start by letting him see. He may still be caught off guard on the wedding day even if you tell him months or years in advance.
16. You might be able to calm your nerves and enjoy the ceremony more fully if you and your partner have a pre-ceremony meeting in the morning.
17. There has been an uptick in the number of photographers that offer "first look" options (add them to this list of your essential photos, so your photographer knows what to get).
18. They will make sure the first time your prospective husband sees you has been recorded.
19. Your bridesmaids can wear matching outfits if you prefer a unified look.
20. While it comes to clothing, he should have as much input as you did when choosing his suit.
21. Conferences Before the Big Day You may have heard that it's unlucky to meet your potential spouse before the big day.
22. So that the groom wouldn't be able to back out of the marriage before it was officially finalised, the bride wore a veil during the ceremony.
23. The belief that the bride and groom would change their minds if they saw each other before the ceremony has its origins in the time of arranged marriages.
24. There doesn't appear to be any backlash against the trend of "first looks" before the wedding, in which the bride and groom share their first private moments together.
25. We believe this urban legend can be put to rest at this point.
26. These days, fewer and fewer people buy into this notion, likely because more and more engaged couples are choosing to have a "first peek" before the ceremony.
27. Many modern engaged couples still choose to save their first meeting for the big day.
28. Whatever your beliefs, science has shown that they are baseless and superstition is thus invalid.
29. Masking Agent, or the Mask Although today's brides are more likely to wear a veil, the practise has historical roots, dating back to at least ancient Rome and Greece.
30. To ward off the jealous spirits, the bride donned a veil at her wedding.
31. People may sing "something old, blue, new, and borrowed," but they don't realise the original rhyme ended with "and a silver sixpence in her shoe."
32. By contrast, the final line alludes to the old wives' tale that the bride should put a penny in each of her shoes from now on.
33. If you find yourself becoming upset as the big day approaches, don't pretend to be all strong like Kim Kardashian.
34. According to urban legend, if the bride sheds tears on her wedding day, she won't be able to shed them ever again.
35. What It's Like to Have It Rain On Your Big Day Many brides would be upset if it rained on their wedding day, but some may see it as a sign of good luck.
36. Although it may seem like they're just trying to make the bride happy, in some cultures and religions, rain on the bride's wedding day is a symbol of fertility, a new beginning, and the coming together of friends and family.
37. However, there are many who believe that if it rains on the bride's wedding day, she would cry multiple times throughout the ceremony.
38. It's not necessary to worry about the weather if you have a plan B in the event that it rains.
39. Some people think that getting married on a rainy day will offer the couple luck in the form of purity and fertility.
40. We rebut it by saying that your wedding is a joyous and significant event in your lives.
41. Your relationship, like the rain, is best experienced without trying to control it.
42. Saturdays Saturday is the unluckiest day for a wedding in traditional English thought.
43. Marriage bells are a traditional token of good luck given to the newlyweds.
44. Therefore, the groom must rescue his bride and bring her to safety (while trying not to fall).
45. The Bride had a Spider Crawl Up Her Dress!
46. The old wives' tale states that spotting an insect on your wedding dress will bring you happiness and prosperity.
47. Once More Until Death If one of the wedding bands goes missing before, during, or after the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
48. Do One Should Let the Lucky Garter Go The garter toss is a French tradition that bestows good fortune on the celebrant who catches it.
49. The newlywed garter toss is a lighthearted and humorous tradition in which the groom removes the bride's garter and tosses it to the single men in attendance.
50. Bouquets are tossed to determine the next bride-to-be. The bride traditionally tosses her bouquet to the single ladies in attendance, fulfilling one of the oldest and most widely practised wedding superstitions.
51. It's a nice touch to have your new spouse show you around his or her home after the wedding, even if you already live together.
52. Leaving one's virginity behind and dashing gleefully through the front door of a new house was considered quite scandalous many years ago.
53. Another urban legend states that it is extremely unlucky for the bride to fall on the threshold of her new home since it is where all the evil spirits reside.
54. If you let him, he'll get you inside where it's safe.
55. We treat marriage in the current era more like a laboratory experiment.
56. Other aspects of wedding preparation, however, are not grounded in rigors science but are instead firmly established in antiquated rituals that are frequently superstitious, founded in mythology, and can be unpleasant to modern sensibilities.
57. As an example of a tradition that we uphold without questioning, consider the belief that it is bad luck to visit the bride on her wedding day.
58. So, you've decided to tie the knot with the guy who lives in the house down the street.
59. On her wedding day, the last thing you want is for her future husband to look at your daughter and think, "Bless her heart, she is a homely creature."
60. That's a scenario you're hoping never comes to pass.
61. It would be a terrible shame if he saw her before she arrived at the altar and decided to go away.
62. Your daughter should also wear a veil so that there are no surprises.
63. This implies he will be unable to leave the ceremony as she walks down the aisle.
64. Your soon-to-be husband won't be able to take their eyes off of you on your wedding day, and they'll only be thinking about one place: the altar.