There are all sorts of wedding traditions and symbols and each family seems to have their own version too! Here are some of the more popular ones with explanations behind their reasoning and origination
Myths
The Bridal Gown
| Married in White | You have chosen right. |
| Married in Blue | Your lover is true. |
| Married in Pink | Your fortunes will sink. |
| Married in Green | You will not long be seen. |
| Married in Red | You'll wish you were dead. |
| Married in Yellow | Ashamed of the fellow. |
| Married in Brown | You'll live out of town. |
| Married in Grey | You'll live far away. |
| Married in Black | You'll wish you were back. |
The Wedding Day
Monday for health ,Tuesday for wealth,
Wednesday's the best of all.
Thursday brings crosses, and Friday losses,
But Saturday - no luck at all
Wedding Month
Married when the year in new, he’ll be loving, kind and true,
When February birds do sing, cherish you your wedding ring.
If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know,
Marry in April if you can, thus joy for Maiden and for Man.
Marry in May, and you will never rue the day.
Marry in June rose grow, over hills and far you’ll go.
Those who in July do wed, must labour hard for daily bread.
Whoever wed in August be, many a fortune is sure to see.
Marry in Septembers Shrine, your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you do marry, love will come but riches will tarry.
If you wed in bleak November, only joys will come remember.
When December snows fall fast, marry and true love will last.
Changing your Name
Chang the Name, and not the letter,
Or you change for worse, and not for better.
Traditions
This saying dates back to Victorian time and the full version is 'something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a silver sixpence in her shoe:
Something Old:
Represents the link with the bride's family and the past. A common solution many bride's choose is to wear a piece of family jewellery or their mother's or grandmother's wedding dress.
Something New:
Represents good fortune and success in the bride's new life. The wedding dress is often chosen as the new item.
Something Borrowed:
To remind the bride that friends and family will be there for her when help is needed. The borrowed object might be something such as a lace handkerchief or an item of jewellery.
Something Blue:
Symbolises faithfulness and loyalty and dates back to biblical times when blue represented purity. Frequently the bride's garter is the blue item.
A Silver Sixpence in her Shoe is to wish the bride wealth, both financial and happiness
Wedding Veil:
The wedding veil hides the bride's beauty and wards off evil spirits. Another explanation is that during the times of arranged marriages the bride's face would be covered until the groom had commited to the marriage.
Where to stand:
The bride stands on the left of the groom during the marriage ceremony to allow his sword arm to be free ready to fight off other men who may want her as their bride.
Confetti:
Confetti has replaced rice or grain in modern times, the rice was thrown at the bride and groom to encourage fertility.
Seeing the bride:
It is good luck for the groom not to see the dress before the wedding day. It will bring more luck if he does not glance at the dress as the bride walks down the aisle.
Favours:
The tradition of giving guests something to remember the day by in the form of favours has been around for hundreds of years. Today, the tradition has evolved to giving each guest five sugar coated almonds to symbolise health, wealth, fertility, happiness and long-life
The threshold:
Carrying the bride over the threshold protects her from any evil spirits that may be lurking in the new home.