The Wedding Zone - From Engagement to Honeymoon
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Wedding Customs and Superstitions

There are many wedding customs and superstitions circulating. We are collecting them here - so if you know of any wedding customs or superstitions not listed here contact us.

Something Old - Something New

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in your shoe.

Something old represents friends.

Something new represents a rosy future.

Something borrowed is lent by the brides family for good luck - but must be returned after the ceremony.

Something blue is believed to have originated in the holy land where a bride wore a blue ribbon in her hair - a colour that represents fidelity.

 

The Wedding Dress - Wedding Customs and Superstitions

It is deemed unlucky for the groom to see his bride in her wedding dress before she arrives at the ceremony.

The final stitch of the wedding dress should be left until the last minute.

The bride should not make her own wedding dress.

 

Bad Luck Omens -
Wedding Customs and Superstitions

It is thought bad luck for a woman to marry a man with a surname that starts with the same letter as hers.

To change the name and not the letter -
Is to change for the worse and not the better.

 

The Colour of The Wedding Dress

Married in Black - you will wish yourself back.

Married in Blue - your love will be true.

Married in Brown - you will live in town.

Married in Green - ashamed to be seen.

Married in Grey - you will go far away.

Married in Pearl - you will live in a whirl.

Married in Pink - your spirit will sink.

Married in Red - you will wish yourself dead.

Married in Yellow - ashamed of your fellow.

Married in White - you have chosen right.

 

The Veil - Wedding Customs and Superstitions

The veil was originally worn by Roman brides to protect her from being seen by evil spirits.

 

Wedding Flowers - Wedding Customs and Superstitions

The Bouquet: The bride throws her bouquet over her shoulder and the one to catch it will be the next one to marry.

Flower - Meanings vary across the country but generally:

A combination of red and white should be avoided as they symbolize blood and bandages!

Roses symbolize love.

Snowdrops - Hope.

Azaleas represent temperance.

 

Good Luck Omens- Wedding Customs and Superstitions

Chimney Sweep's - It is considered very good luck to see a chimney sweep on the way to the wedding.

Black cats, Lambs, Toads and Spiders are other Good Luck omens.

 

Confetti - Wedding Customs and Superstitions

Confetti ( Italian for sweets - confectionary) is thrown over the newly wed couple as they leave the church to gain prosperity and fertility. Flowers, Rice and Petals have also been used latterly.

 

Days of the week -
Wedding Customs and Superstitions

Monday for wealth.

Tuesday for health.

Wednesday is best.

Thursday for losses.

Friday for crosses.

Saturday for no luck at all!

 

Seasons - Wedding Customs and Superstitions

Spring -

Summer - As a whole is considered a good time to wed - This seems to be due to the relationship between the sun and fertility.

Autumn -

Winter -

 

The Wedding Cake -
Wedding Customs and Superstitions

The three tier wedding cake is believed to have been inspired by the spire of St Brides church in the City of London.

In the past small cakes were thrown over the bride - to promote fertility.

It was customary in England to place a ring in the wedding cake - The guest that recovered it would be sure of happiness for the coming year.

The fitting of the wedding ring

Fit of the wedding ring played an important role in the realm of superstition surrounding the wedding ring. The fit of the wedding ring had to be perfect. A loose a fit would lead to a sloppy marriage or carelessness, and even cause the couple to grow apart. A tight would doom the couple to a suffocating and painful marriage!

 

The third finger for the wedding ring

The significance of the third finger was the belief that a vein in the third finger, the "Aena Amoris," led directly to the heart.

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