5 Common Wedding Superstitions Explained

Weddings are steeped in tradition and culture no matter where you are in the world. There are wedding superstitions that are hundreds or even thousands of years old, and some have persisted into modern times. Nowadays, many of these wedding traditions and superstitions are still observed and practiced, but their original meanings have been long lost. So many of them are followed to the letter, but where do they come from? Why do we do them, and where did they start?

What Do Wedding Superstitions Mean? And Where Do They Come From?

1. Rain on Your Wedding Day

It’s not just a line from an Alanis Morrissette song- It’s a real superstition! For couples planning an outdoor wedding or reception, there is always the fear that rain will come along and ruin the festivities. While drenched flowers and place setting are a fair concern, many people also think that rain on your wedding day is some kind of bad luck. However,  lots of other people believe the exact opposite and claim that rain on the wedding day is good luck and symbolizes cleansing and fertility. At Nearlywed, we choose to look on the sunny side and go with the second option.

2. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

How many brides have heard this wedding superstition before?  Bridesmaids and parents since what feels like the dawn of time have scrambled to find something blue or something old for the bride to add to her wedding attire. Some common items include a blue handkerchief or bow in the hair or some borrowed jewelry.

But where did this wedding superstition come from, and what does it mean?

This wedding superstition originated in the Victorian era, and the idea behind this fun tradition is that something old represents the bride’s past, something new represents the bride’s future, and something borrowed should be from someone in the bride’s life who has a successful marriage, in the hopes that it will “rub off” on the newlywed couple. An add-on you might not know about is “a sixpence in her shoe,” which the father is supposed to add for good luck and prosperity. Sixpence are hard to find these days, so now we go with something blue.

3. Seeing Each Other Before The Wedding

This wedding superstition comes from  the cultural tradition of arranged marriages. It was believed that seeing each other before the wedding would allow the bride and groom to change their minds.

In more modern times, tradition has been held because it builds excitement (and helps you achieve a much more dramatic entrance when you do finally get to show off your meticulously curated wedding outfit). There is something magical about witnessing a couple seeing each other for the first time in their wedding attire. Plus, it makes for a great photo op. That being said, more and more couples today opt to have their “first look” before the ceremony so they can do portraits in a more relaxed fashion before all the tears and hugs. This can be a great move, practically speaking, because the post-ceremony couple and family photos can take excessive time and cut into the reception, making things after the ceremony feel rushed.

4. Getting Married on a Weekday

One might think getting married on a weekday is bad, but this wedding superstition says otherwise. Most modern weddings are held on Saturdays, and couples generally avoid the weekday. Of course, this makes sense because most people work during the week. But in times past, weddings were often held during the week. The following Celtic poem reads:

“Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday the best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, and Saturday no luck at all.”

So go ahead and have your wedding on a Monday or a Wednesday!

5. Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold 

Carrying the bride over the threshold is a custom many people are familiar with and still practice. But how many people know where this wedding superstition comes from?

It was once believed that a bride was particularly susceptible to evil spirits on her wedding day, and those evil spirits could enter her body via the soles of her feet. Therefore, carrying the bride across the threshold after the wedding was a precautionary measure. In current times, it’s just really cute, which we think is a good enough reason.

Avoid These Superstitions and Enjoy Your Big Day With Nearlywed

Whatever wedding traditions you choose to observe, let Nearlywed help you with your wedding planning.! From budget planning and wedding checklists to premium vendors and how-to’s, Nearlywed is your one-stop shop for all your wedding planning needs.