Very Superstitious..

Well, It’s Friday the 13th people - if like us, you’re a little on the superstitious side, you’ll dodge walking under any ladders and avoid black cats like the plague today! In all seriousness though, it got us thinking about some of the old wedding superstitions and wondering what they really mean…?

If you’re getting married today, it's unlikely you'll be reading our blog but fingers crossed you’ve got a few of these ticked off the list already!

The bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue (and if she REALLY wants feel lucky… a silver sixpence in her shoe!)

"Something old” represents the newlywed’s wish to maintain connections with their family once they enter into married life.

“Something new” signifies the couple’s new union.

“Something borrowed” an opportunity for the bride’s nearest & dearest to lend her something special as a token of their love.

“Something blue” a symbol of fidelity and devotion.

“…a silver sixpence in her shoe.” As the Victorian rhyme goes, placing a penny in the bride’s shoe will bring her a life filled with good luck and fortune.

The groom should not see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony.
 
This superstitions originates from the time when arranged marriages were custom and signified a business deal between two families.  The bride’s family feared that if the groom met the bride before the ceremony and didn’t like the look of her, he’d call the whole thing off! Therefore, it soon became tradition that the bride and groom were only allowed to meet at the altar so the groom couldn’t change his mind….  Romantic stuff, huh!?

Whoever catches the brides bouquet will be the next to get married.
 
In medieval times, women used to try to rip pieces of the bride's dress and flowers in order to obtain some of her good luck (…I mean, can you imagine!?). To escape from the crowd the bride would toss her bouquet and run for the hills!

The groom should carry his bride across the threshold of their new home to avoid bad luck.

In ancient times, the threshold of the home was considered to be a place where evil spirits lurked. There was also the belief that a new bride was particularly vulnerable to said evil spirits and they would try to possess her through the soles of her feet.  The groom ensured that his wife would not bring any bad spirits into the house by carrying her inside.

The bride and groom should save the top layer of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary.
 
Many years ago, couples saved the top tier of their wedding cake to use during the christening celebration for their first child - which everyone believed would come within the year following the wedding.

Rather than fork out for yet another cake the couple would store the top tier of their wedding cake until needed in the following months.

Last but not least, rain on your wedding day is actually considered GOOD luck!
 
Some say rain represents the last tears the bride will shed for the rest of her life… other’s say it represents a new start, unity and renewal.  We say, it’s not the end of the world but sunshine would be more convenient!