something old

Explore Origins of Common Wedding Traditions. Some wedding superstitions and traditions are so ingrained in American culture that people don’t question them anymore. For instance, do you know why a bride tosses her bouquet over her head? Or why do brides keep their grooms from seeing their brides before they walk down the aisle?

Below, let’s explore the origins of the most popular wedding superstitions and how to incorporate tradition into your special day with some fun, modern twists.

You’ve heard this rhyme countless times, but what does it mean? The romantic rhyme from England is a time-honored tradition that supposedly brings good luck to the bride. According to Insider.com, the oldest written reference to it is in an 1871 issue of St. James Magazine.

Wearing “something old” symbolizes the bride’s past, expressing the couple’s desire to retain familial connections. “Something new” represents the couple’s happy future filled with good
health and success. Wearing “something borrowed” is an opportunity for the bride’s family or friends to lend her something special as a token of their love. Finally, wearing “something blue” conveys the bride’s fidelity and constancy.

Today, many modern brides find fun and innovative ways to keep up with this tradition and incorporate all four items into their wedding day ensemble. For instance, some brides embroider their new initials on their bridal gown or wrap around an old swatch of gorgeous fabric around their bouquet.

This tradition dates back to the time when arranged marriages were still the norm and people believed that the groom would call off the wedding if he saw that the bride was unattractive. The original purpose of the veil was also to keep the groom from finding out what the bride looked like until the last possible minute.

Although arranged marriages are no longer common and this is no longer followed, most brides across the United States, be it in New York or Orem, hide their wedding dresses from their grooms. Many believe it makes their wedding day even more exciting and memorable.

In the Middle Ages, people believed it was lucky to get a piece of the bride’s gown. Throngs of guests would follow the bride and groom into their chamber so they could rip off a piece of the bride’s garments right off her body. Since the dresses often got torn apart in the chaos, brides would toss their bouquets to distract the guests. When the newlywed couple reached their chamber, the groom would crack the door open and throw the bride’s garter to the people outside. It was his way of saying that they were about to engage in lovemaking.

The origin of the tradition may be downright dirty, but today, it’s a fun ritual enjoyed by the unmarried friends and family members of the couple. The bride tosses the bouquet while the groom throws the garter to their unmarried guests. It’s said that the ones who catch the bouquet and garter are next in line to get married.

However, if you’re doubtful about including this tradition at your wedding, you can opt for an anniversary dance instead. All married couples will join the newlyweds on the dance floor as a slow song plays. Throughout the song, the host will ask the married couples to sit down as their anniversaries are announced. The longest-married couple is presented with the bouquet and they slow dance to the rest of the song.

A wedding is a celebratory ceremony filled with meaning, tradition, rules, and even superstitions. While you don’t need to follow them to complete your special day, it doesn’t hurt to revel in a bit of nostalgia of well-known traditions.