Weddings come with a lot of decisions, such as venue, dress, and guest list. But tucked into every celebration are quiet rituals people follow without really asking why. Some are sweet, others odd, and a few are just plain strange. But they all trace back to the same thing: wedding superstitions.
Whether you’re choosing your wedding dress, tossing a bouquet, or trying not to see each other before the ceremony, there’s usually a story behind it. Here’s where those beliefs come from, which ones are still going strong, and what they mean for modern couples.
Many wedding superstitions go back hundreds, even thousands of years. Most were passed down through folklore, family tradition or religion. A lot of them are about protecting the bride from bad luck or evil spirits, or helping the bride and groom start their marriage with good fortune.
Some started with the ancient Greeks and Romans, who believed in spirits interfering with the living. Others were created by old wives’ tales, where one odd story became a “must do” for generations. The result? A mix of age-old wedding traditions and superstitions that still shape how we get married now, even if we don’t always know why we’re doing them.
If you’re planning your wedding and looking for more ways to blend tradition with a modern feel, take a look at our handpicked wedding venues in Essex. They’re steeped in history, but made for how people marry now.
These are the most well-known wedding superstitions still followed in many parts of the world today. Some have faded, others are still going strong, especially in more traditional weddings.
You probably know the rhyme:
“something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
and a silver sixpence in your shoe.”
Each item is meant to bring the bride good luck:
Planning to include these? Our wedding planning inspiration page has ideas on how to weave them in without making it feel forced.
Wearing white didn’t become popular until Queen Victoria wore it in 1840. It was meant to show wealth and status, not just purity. Now, white is still the default for many, though wearing colour is on the rise again.
The white wedding dress has come to symbolise purity and a fresh start, but it’s not universal. In many Asian cultures, red is the luckiest colour for wedding outfits.
If you’re choosing a dress and wondering how tradition fits in, our guide to modern wedding fashion covers it all.
The idea that the bride and groom shouldn’t see each other before the wedding ceremony comes from arranged marriages. Families were worried the groom would back out if he didn’t like what he saw.
Now it’s more about preserving the “wow” moment at the aisle. Still, plenty of couples ditch this superstition and opt for a first look, a private moment before the ceremony that helps with nerves (and timing). Want to see how this works in a real setting? Our Clearwell Castle couples love a first look in the gardens.
Back in the day, guests believed touching the bride’s dress would bring them luck, so they’d grab at her outfit as she walked past. To escape, she’d throw her bouquet as a distraction.
Now, the tradition’s flipped. The guest who catches the bouquet is said to be next to marry, though most people do it for fun, not predictions.
Looking for modern ways to update the bouquet toss? Our tips for planning non-traditional weddings are a good place to start.
Some cultures say rain on the wedding day is a sign of good luck, tied to fertility and cleansing. Others still see it as a bad omen.
Either way, it’s out of your control. So if it rains, embrace it. The photos look great, and no one remembers the weather if the food and music were good.
Read the full article: Why Rain On Your Wedding Day Is Considered Good Luck.
This started as a way to protect the bride from spirits waiting on the ground at her new home. By carrying her, the groom kept her safe.
Today, it’s mostly symbolic and a cute photo op if the groom’s back can handle it.
Giving a couple knives is believed to cut the relationship literally. If someone gives you knives, the superstition says you should give them a coin in return, to “pay” for the set and turn it into a purchase, not a gift.
The veil has two meanings: shielding the bride from evil spirits, and hiding her from the groom in an arranged marriage.
Today, wearing a veil is more about tradition and personal style; some brides skip it entirely, or opt for something minimal to match their wedding fashion.
Ancient Romans believed the fourth finger of the left hand had a vein running straight to the heart. That’s why the wedding ring is placed there, a tradition that stuck.
A spider crawling on the wedding dress is said to be a sign of good luck. Sounds horrible, but in old English folklore, it meant prosperity.
Still, most brides would rather skip that one.
In Sweden, it’s good luck for a bride to carry a coin from her father in her left shoe, and one from her mother in her right. In India, rain is always considered a blessing. In China, loud firecrackers at weddings are used to scare away spirits. And in many parts of the world, the bride walking barefoot is thought to bring strong luck.
That depends on who you ask. Some couples believe in them. Some follow them out of habit. And others leave them behind entirely. Our take? If a superstition feels meaningful or fun, include it. If it feels like pressure, leave it out.
Whatever you decide, make it your own. That’s the only tradition that really counts.
