Ever wondered why a bride wears a veil or how receiving knives as a wedding gift connotes bad luck for the newly weds? These wedding superstitions have been unconsciously guiding the minds of brides and grooms for many years, but are they really worth the fuss?
Below are the common and surprising wedding superstitions and the reasons behind them: Read more after the cut...
The bride must wear a veil
This custom originated in Rome, when a bride would wear a veil down the aisle to disguise herself from evil spirits who were jealous of her happiness.
You both must not see each other before the wedding
This superstition dates back to the time of arranged marriages, when 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 dos.”
When it rains on your wedding day
In some cultures, rain on your wedding day symbolizes fertility and cleansing.
If you receive knives as wedding gifts
According to folklore, a knife signifies a broken relationship and is bad luck to give as a wedding gift. If knives are on your registry, just give the gift giver a penny. That way it’s a purchase, not a gift.
Your bride must be carried over the threshold
This superstition began in Medieval Europe where many believed that a bride was extra vulnerable to evil spirits through the soles of her feet. To avoid bringing in any evil spirits, the groom carried the bride into their new home.
When a spider rests on your wedding dress
Finding an eight-legged creature on your gorgeous gown might seem like a wedding-day nightmare, but English lore claims that finding a spider in your wedding dress is a good omen.
You should not use your married name before the wedding
Some think it is tempting fate for the bride to write out her married name or monogram before she’s actually married, and that the wedding will not take place if she does so.
Don’t cross the path of a nun or monk
A bride who sees a nun or a monk on the way to her wedding is said to be cursed with a barren life dependent on charity.
Throwing the bouquet
It is believed that anyone that catches the bouquet when the newly married woman throws it is next in line for getting married. It doesn’t matter if the person is ready or not.
Crying on your wedding day
It is supposed to be good luck for the bride to cry on her wedding day because it symbolizes that she has shed all her tears and will not have any to shed during her marriage. So go ahead and get teary-eyed. Just be sure to wear some waterproof mascara.
