As your wedding day gets closer, it may be a good idea to get familiar with popular wedding traditions and their meanings. Some traditions may seem silly or weird but whether you are superstitious or just curious, it is always fun to look into these things that can be incorporated into your wedding day! Read on for five popular wedding traditions and their meanings.
One of the most popular wedding traditions that the majority of brides incorporate into their wedding day is the “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. We have all heard this rhyme at least once before, but what does it mean? Wearing “something old” represents the bride’s past, while “something new” symbolizes the couple’s happy future. The bride is supposed to get her “something borrowed” from someone who is already happily married in the hope that some of their good fortune rubs off on her. “Something blue” signifies fidelity and love. So “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” is more than a cute rhyme.
Another wedding tradition that many may not realize has underlying meaning is the bride wearing a veil. This custom traces its roots back to Rome. Fearing evil spirits would be jealous of her happiness, the bride would wear a veil down the aisle to disguise herself from them and avoid any ill will they would try to bring upon her. This wedding tradition is also said to date back to the origin of arranged marriages. Traditionally, the groom’s family would not allow him to see his bride until the wedding ceremony. This is because if he did not find her attractive, there was a chance that he might not agree to marry her. Therefore, the veil was used to conceal the bride and her appearance up until the very moment they were to be married. Now, veils are used as an accessory to add to the brides beauty!
The next tradition we are going to discuss is the bride and groom seeing each other before the wedding. This superstition dates back to the time of arranged marriages. Back then, people believed that if the couple saw each other before the ceremony, it would give them a chance to change their minds about the wedding. Today, however, many couples choose to meet up and even have portrait sessions before saying their I do’s. There are differing opinions on the subject, some people believe that it is bad luck to see the bride before the wedding. It just all depends on your personal thoughts.
If you happen to come across a spider on your wedding dress, do not panic! This eight-legged creature on your wedding dress means good luck. At least in English lore, finding a spider on your beautiful wedding gown is a good omen. If you find a spider on your wedding dress, do not smash it. You do not want to stain your dress or give yourself bad luck. Simply scoop it up with a paper and release it outside. If you are deathly afraid of spiders, ask someone else to help you remove them.
The last wedding tradition we are going to go over is the tossing of the garter. Back in the Dark Ages, the garter was considered a hot item to get your hands on. It is said that family and friends would wait outside the nuptial bedchamber until they were shown evidence that the marriage had been consummated. Thankfully, this tradition ended. In time, the garter started to symbolize good luck, and rowdy guests began making a game of trying to strip the bride of that little fabric band. To distract the crowd, brides began tossing it. Today, the practice usually involves the groom throwing the garter to a group of single men; whoever catches it is believed to be the next to marry. It is crazy how some of these traditions originated.
From wearing a veil to wearing something blue, all wedding traditions have underlying meanings and originations. It is up to you what wedding traditions you want to incorporate into your wedding ceremony and reception. If you are planning your wedding, have it at The Louisiana Cajun Mansion Event Venue! Call 337-223-4722 or visit https://cajunmansion.com for more information.
