6 Wedding Traditions and Superstitions Explained

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From the proposal to the honeymoon, weddings are jam-packed with rituals, traditions and superstitions. Many of these practices have become so commonly accepted and so heavily associated with weddings that people do not even look twice at them. That said, these traditions might get some curious glances in other places.

Everything from asking the bride’s parents for permission to marry their daughter to where the groom stands in front of the altar has a history and a specific meaning. There are few places that are more packed with symbolism and meaning than weddings, but many of those traditions and superstitions have ancient origins that have been forgotten. Instead, people simply accept the little rituals or take them for granted. They do not change anything in their own weddings, but they never question why things are done a specific way. When people know the history behind certain symbolic actions, those actions can become more meaningful or people may decide to abandon that ritual in the same way that many people have removed the line about a bride obeying her husband from traditional wedding vows. Here are six common wedding traditions and superstitions explained.

Bridesmaids

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Almost every bride has at least one or two bridesmaids at her wedding. Even small, intimate ceremonies usually involve one or two women standing beside or behind the bride. They are usually the bride’s best friends or family members of similar age to the bride. Their job is to help the bride stay calm and organized in the time leading up to the wedding. Many bridesmaids help out further and give the bride a standing offer for help with planning or logistics. To be selected as a bridesmaid is considered to be an honor, though it is recognized as a significant sacrifice of time and money.

Centuries ago, bridesmaids risked more than an empty wallet and some long weekends. Bridesmaids were actually in weddings to distract demons and evil spirits who would try and harm the bride. The evil beings would confuse the bridesmaids with the bride and attack the bridesmaids instead. The same theory was applied to curses and negativity directed at the bride. Bridesmaids absorbed it. This was why it was considered foolish to be a bridesmaid multiple times. If a woman absorbed too many of those curses, she herself would be cursed and unable to find a spouse.

Something Old, Something New…

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“Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe.” This old rhyme describes what a bride should wear on her wedding day. Few brides still follow the ancient folk advice. If they do, brides play along because it is a harmless and entertaining tradition.

Brides once followed this rhyme closely, however, because of what each item symbolized. Something old was a sign of the bride’s past and her determination to retain connections with her family after she married and joined her husband’s family. Something new represented hopes for a good and happy future with her husband. Something borrowed was meant to come from a woman who was already happily married. The good fortune would supposedly rub off on the bride and ensure that she had a happy marriage herself. Blue was the color of fidelity, love and fertility, and the sixpence was said to bring a bride good fortune and wealth in her marriage.

Groom on the Left

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At most weddings, the bride and groom exchange their vows at the front of the gathering where all of their guests can see them formally become husband and wife. In many cases, this involves the soon to be married couple standing in front of an altar or at least some sort of religious figure who officially marries the two. When this is taking place, the groom is almost always on the left side. This is traditional, but most people are completely unaware as to why that is the case. The habit of keeping the groom on the left was originally intended as a way for the groom to keep himself and his bride safe. If he stood on the left side of the altar, this meant his right hand was facing the crowd. As such, he could fight off other suitors, disgruntled guests or any other threat with his right hand. This tradition is not such a bad idea to continue when crazy exes or unhappy family members could manage to crash the party.

Married in the Rain

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Outdoor weddings have become more and more popular in recent years, especially as fewer people view marriage through a religious lens. Since a religious building such as a church is no longer seen as the required venue for a marriage, and photography has both improved and become more central to people’s lives, many couples want to say their vows in front of incredible mountain views, picturesque beaches or meticulously maintained grounds. Although they are undoubtedly beautiful and allow couples to have more decorating leeway, outdoor marriages have one distinct disadvantage when compared to church weddings. Outdoor ceremonies are at the mercy of the weather. This is why there are more weddings in June than January, and the reason most outdoor venues also have a veranda or covered patio where guests can take shelter in the event that it rains.

Rain on a wedding day seems like it would be a terrible thing. In many ways, it is literally raining on your parade. Superstition, however, has it that a rainy wedding day is a wonderful omen. The rain is seen as purifying the couple of any past issues, and water is often associated with fertility. Whether the rain itself is enough or if the couple has to get soaking wet is not specified, though the guests are likely hoping for the former to be true.

Avoiding the Groom

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Perhaps the best known wedding superstition is the idea that it is bad luck for a groom to see the bride in her dress before the actual ceremony. Many wedding superstitions have died out, but this one remains even today. The reason that a woman is supposed to avoid her fiancé, however, has been lost, and that is arguably for the best.

The custom of not letting the groom see the bride before the ceremony began centuries ago and extended to the betrothed couple having absolutely no contact at all before the wedding. The exchange of their vows was literally the first time many spouses saw each other. This was because, at that time, weddings were not matters of love but business and political arrangements. Brides were kept away from their grooms and then veiled until the exchange of vows to ensure that the groom did not decide that his bride was not beautiful enough for him and back out of the arrangement. Careful avoidance and veils ensured that the groom could not decide he disliked his finance’s appearance until it was too late.

Carried Over the Threshold

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Perhaps the other most determinedly lingering tradition is that the newlywed husband carries his new wife over the threshold of their home or, more often, the oceanfront hotel room where they are staying for the honeymoon. The tradition is well established even today, but the background that created the habit has been largely forgotten.

There were a variety of reasons that a man would carry his wife over the threshold. One of them was that a woman was not supposed to look eager to have sex with her husband, so being carried off to the marriage bed was seen as preserving propriety. Another reason was that the threshold was believed to be haunted by evil spirits who could harm the bride by entering her body through the bottom of her feet. With her spouse carrying her, she was safe. The tradition also removed the potential hazard of a newlywed wife tripping as she entered her new home. This was said to bring terrible luck on both spouses, so having the man carry her avoided any potential catastrophes. Presumably, the gods, spirits or whatever entity was seen as causing the bad luck would be too busy laughing to harm the couple if the man tripped and sent both he and his wife sprawling.