Let’s Get Superstitious
It’s October, so in the spirit of Halloween, let’s take a little time to talk about superstition. Weddings bring out all kinds of nerves, hopes, and predictions for the future. It’s only natural that they have a long history of superstition attached to them. A wedding is the start of a couple’s lives together. You invest a whole lot of time, money, and care into that day and the life you plan to build beyond it. It makes perfect sense to look for signs of prosperity or participate in traditions that are supposed to create good luck, whether they change anything or not.
So, just for fun, here are a few traditions and potential omens to look out for on your big day:
One of the most well-known superstitions is the belief that it’s bad luck for the couple to see each other before the wedding ceremony. This tradition goes back to the days of arranged marriages when the couples’ families were worried they would get cold feet if they knew what they were in for. This tradition may be well on its way out the door as it becomes more and more popular for couples to do private first looks and take all of their photos before the ceremony.
Photo Credit - Bri Cowan Photography
Photo Credit - Dan Thorson
Another traditional source of bad luck is receiving a knife as a wedding present as it can symbolize a broken relationship. Don’t sweat it if you have a nice knife set on your registry! If the couple gives a penny to the person who gave them the knives, it turns into a purchase instead of a gift, and all the bad luck is canceled out.
Photo Credit - Jamie Van Kley LLC
An incredibly Halloweenish sign of good luck is finding a spider on your wedding dress. While I can’t say it would be my favorite experience, spiders in English folklore can symbolize riches (particularly clothes!) or persistence in the face of setbacks.
Photo Credit - BRASE Images
Photo Credit - Britany Moser
The American South has a very specific ritual to bring good weather on the wedding day that involves a little planning ahead. According to tradition, you are supposed to bury a bottle of bourbon at the site where you’ll be married one month before the wedding. For the best weather, bury the bottle upside down. Then, after you say your vows, dig the bottle up and share it with your friends and family to celebrate.
Photo Credit - Sydney Leigh Photography
In case you’re spooked, I want to leave you with a reminder that none of these superstitions translate to reality. Your marriage won’t be ruined if you see your intended before the altar. There’s no guarantee you’ll have good weather if you bury a bottle of bourbon a month before the ceremony. But that doesn’t make it any less fun to buy into the rituals and wish yourself and your partner all the best for your future together.
xoxo, Rebecca
