15 Wedding Traditions and Superstitions, Explained

We've all heard this rhyme used when someone gets married, but what does it mean? Wearing "something old" represents the bride's past, while the "something new" symbolizes the couple's happy future. The bride is supposed to get her "something borrowed" from someone who is happily married in the hope that some of that person's good fortune rubs off on her. "Something blue" denotes fidelity and love.

While some traditions take place on the wedding day, others are done in advance of the nuptials, such as burying a bottle of bourbon. Southern folklore says that to prevent rain on your big day, you should bury the beverage upside down at the wedding site one month before and dig it up after the ceremony to enjoy.

This custom traces its roots back to Rome. Fearing evil spirits were jealous of her happiness, the bride would wear a veil down the aisle to disguise herself from them and avoid any ill will they wished to bring upon her.

In some cultures, rain on your wedding day symbolizes fertility and cleansing. While it might seem like it would put quite literally put a damper on the festivities, we say take it all in stride: At the end of the day, you're still marrying the love of your life, and that's what really matters.

According to folklore, a knife signifies a broken relationship and is bad luck to give as a wedding present. If knives are on your registry, just give the gift giver a penny. That way, it's considered a purchase.

This superstition began in medieval Europe, when many believed that a bride was extra vulnerable to evil spirits through the soles of her feet. To avoid bringing in any evil spirits, the groom carried the bride into their new home.

Finding an eight-legged creature on your gorgeous gown might seem like a big-day nightmare, but English lore claims that it's a good omen.

Some think it is tempting fate for the bride to write out her married name or monogram before she's actually married, and that the wedding will not take place if she does so. If you're superstitious, save the monogramming for your reception décor and registry items.

According to Greek culture, placing a sugar cube on the bride will sweeten the marriage. For her wedding merging Greek and Canadian traditions, this bride had her florist, Coriander Girl, add them to the stems of her bouquet. 

Bells are traditionally chimed at Irish weddings to keep evil spirits away and to ensure a harmonious family life. Some Irish brides even carry small bells in their bouquets as a reminder of their sacred wedding vows, and they are a common gift for newlyweds.

In Italy, many newlyweds smash a vase or glass at their wedding, and they put a lot of muscle into it, too! Why? According to tradition, however many pieces the glassware breaks into will symbolize how many years the couple will be happily married.

It is supposed to be good luck for the bride to cry on her wedding day because it symbolizes that she has shed all her tears and will not have any to shed during her marriage. So, go ahead and get teary-eyed. Just be sure to wear some waterproof mascara!

This superstition dates back to the time of arranged marriages, when people believed that if the couple saw each other before the ceremony, it would give them a chance to change their minds about the wedding. Today, however, many couples choose to meet up and even have portrait sessions before saying their I dos. Some, however, choose to have a "first touch," during which they can hold hands and chat—but still save that first glimpse for the aisle.

Back in the Dark Ages, the garter was considered a hot item. It's said that family and friends would wait outside the nuptial bedchamber until they were shown evidence—sheets, stockings, a garter—that the marriage had been consummated (seriously!). In time, the garter came to symbolize good luck, and rowdy guests began making a game of trying to strip the bride of that little fabric band. To distract the mob, brides began tossing it into the crowd. Today, the practice usually involves the groom throwing the garter to a group of single men; whoever catches it is believed to be the next to marry.

When Queen Victoria opted to crown her wedding cake with mini sculptures of herself and Prince Albert in 1840, the wedding cake topper was born. By the 1920s, the trend had crossed the pond to the United States, gaining popularity in the 1950s when couple figurines came to symbolize marital stability. Today, toppers aren't always cookie-cutter—many personalized sculptures highlight a pair's identities, pets, or hobbies.