Planning a wedding can be stressful. Throw some superstitions into the equation and the pressure builds up to have the most perfect day possible. But could your wedding really be ruined because you didn’t adhere to a few traditions? Thankfully, we’re here to put your mind at ease by busting those wedding day myths.
Something old, something new
Probably the most well known wedding day myth, many brides feel the pressure to seek out perfect ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’ items. These individual elements are said to bring the couple luck in their married life together. Something old represents the bride’s past, the new item symbolises their future, something borrowed is a loan from another happily married couple, while something blue is a representation of fidelity in their future. The truth is this… don’t worry too much about finding the perfect items to complement your wedding dress. As one of the most fun wedding traditions, enjoy it and don’t get too hung up if one goes amiss.
Keeping the bride and groom separate
Again, one of the most commonly held traditions, it’s believed to be bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other ahead of the ceremony. However, the wedding morning can be a stressful time for couples and if you feel that it would settle your nerves if you saw your other half before you walk down the aisle, go for it. Plus, more and more couples are opting to have their own ‘first look’ before the ceremony. And it can make for a pretty cool photo.
Siting on the right side
Typically for the ceremony, the bride’s family sits on the left, while the groom’s is on the right. Again, it’s your day, so choose to do it your way. If you’d prefer not to segregate the families, allow guests to sit where they like. This is a great way to encourage guests to get to know each other better and allows for the coming together of two families.
Rain on your wedding day
While many brides don’t want rain on their wedding day for the simple fact that they don’t like it, some believe that rain is an omen for future unhappiness. In reality, living in a country which has on average 133 days of rain a year, there’s a chance that it’ll rain on your wedding day. So think of how many happily married couples whose weddings you’ve attended and it’s rained. Plus, in many cultures, rain is actually considered lucky on your wedding day, signifying fertility. So if you waken up to grey skies, laugh it off, grab some brollies and get yourself and your bridesmaids some brightly coloured wellies, perfect for wedding photos with a difference.
A coloured wedding dress
As the rhyme goes: ‘Married in red, you shall wish yourself dead. Married in yellow, ashamed of your fellow. Married in green, ashamed to be seen. Married in pink, your spirit will sink. Married in grey, you will go far away. Married in black, you shall wish yourself back.’ It’s no surprise that brides typically choose white for their wedding dress, with superstitions like this to contend with. However, many celebrities including Gwen Stefani and Reese Witherspoon chose to wear a coloured dress to say their “I dos”. So if you have your heart set on a dress that isn’t white, go for it.
Even numbers
When it comes to the wedding party, many believe that having an even number of bridesmaids and groomsmen is essential. While this can help create balance in wedding photos, it definitely isn’t a must. If your husband-to-be only wants one best man and a groomsmen and you’d like to have all your best friends by your side, do what makes you happy. I’m sure many groomsmen wouldn’t mind having two ladies on their arms.
Remember, it’s your day so do things in the way that you want. While there are certain traditions that you may want to keep for personal reasons, or simply because you like them, ditching one or two, or even all of them definitely won’t impact on your future happiness together.