Wedding Customs, Traditions, and Rituals

Weddings are filled with customs and traditions.... "Something old, something blue..." and all that stuff! Have you ever stopped to wonder what on earth it all really means and where it all originated? Most of these wedding customs have endured the test of time, having been begun centuries ago.

How very fascinating that is! How is it that they survive? They have been maintained over time because such traditions carry with them the promise that they will bring happiness and good fortune to the couple at this wedding customs transitional time in their life - and who could be brave enough to tamper with that?

In times past, if a young man encountered a blind person, a pregnant woman, or a monk on while on his way to propose to his intended bride, it was believed that the marriage would be doomed if he continued along because these images were thought to be bad omens. On the other hand, if he were to happen upon a pigeon, wolf, or goat, he would expect extremely good fortune in the marriage.

According to an old wedding customs legend, the month in which you marry may have some bearing on the fate of the marriage: "Married when the year is new, he'll be loving, kind and true; When February birds do mate, you wed nor dread your fate; If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you'll know; Marry in April when you can, joy for Maiden and for Man; Marry in the month of May, and you'll surely rue the day

Marry when June roses grow, over land and sea you will go; Those who in July do wed, must labour for their daily bred; Whoever wed in August be, many a change is sure to see; Marry in September's shrine, your living will be rich and fine; If in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry; If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come, remember; When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last".

The wedding customs tradition for the bride to wear white began in the 16th century and is still commonly follwed today. This is a symbol of the bride's purity and her worthiness of her groom. The tradition became solidified during the time of Queen Victoria who rebelled against the royal tradition for Royal brides to wear silver. Instead, the queen preferred the symbolism which is expressed by wearing white. The brides of the time quickly emulated the queen, and the tradition has continued in full force to this day.

There is an old wedding customs saying that "the bride wore a green gown". This implies the belief that she was promiscuous before marriage and refers to the image of her rolling around in grassy fields with a young man. Traditionally brides have been thought to be particularly vulnerable to evil spirits.

Many wedding customs and traditions were originated as an attempt to fight away such evil. The veil was worn with the belief that it would disguise the bride and fool the evil spirits. It was not until 1800 in Britain that the veil came to symbolize modesty and chastity.

Today, the veil remains the ultimate symbol of virginity. It is held that a final look in the mirror right before the bride leaves her home for the ceremony will bring good luck. However, if she looks in a mirror once again before the ceremony, her luck will tarnish to bad! It is believed to be bad luck for the bride to make her own wedding dress.

It is believed wedding customs to be bad luck for the bride to wear her complete outfit before the wedding day. As an extension to this, some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until the day of the wedding for good luck.