6 Wedding Traditions - Explained!
From rain on your wedding day bringing good luck to the bride wearing something blue, these tales have been ingrained in our heads since we were little kids.
We’re all familiar with the age-old wedding traditions. From rain on your wedding day bringing good luck to the bride wearing something blue, these tales have been ingrained in our heads since we were little kids. Have you ever stopped to wonder why and how these traditions came to be? We’ve got the answers for you right here!
If it’s raining on your wedding, it’s a good sign
We know, we know. You’re probably cringing at the thought of rain pouring down and ruining your ceremony site, perfect hairstyle, and making it nearly impossible to do anything without getting soaked. However, the old folk’s tale says that rain will bring you a long and happy marriage! It symbolizes fertility and the start of something new. If Mother Nature brings you showers on your big day, try to look at the positive—your love is going to last forever!
Being carried across the threshold
There’s something super romantic about being carried across the entryway to your new home by your new spouse. However, ancient Romans actually believed that evil spirits lurked at the entrance of the newlyweds home in an attempt to curse their future. If you’re carried through the threshold, you can’t be cursed!
Wearing a veil
Aside from it being a bridal fashion statement, the ancient Romans believed it was another means of protecting the bride from evil spirits. By covering her face when she walks down the aisle, all negative energy is blocked from entering her.
Wearing something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue
This tradition comes from an Old English rhyme (Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in Your Shoe). Something old is meant to keep the newlyweds connected to their past, something new represents the journey the newlyweds are about to embark on, something borrowed stands for the support and good luck from friends and family, and something blue is a symbol of love and fidelity. The last phrase is one people often forget about, and it represents economic prosperity for the couple.
Seeing each other before the ceremony
This stems from the concept of arranged marriages, when seeing your fiancé(e) before tying the knot may have made them want to back out at the last minute. Many couples choose to disregard this tradition today in favor of having a first look before the ceremony. It makes for an emotional moment, and a great photo op!
Having bridesmaids
The origin of bridesmaids was actually an attempt to fool evil spirits! The chosen women would dress very similarly to the bride so that the it would be hard for the spirits to pick out the actual bride from the crowd, and she would avoid being cursed.
Photo by Duy Ho
