As you start planning your wedding day, you might be looking for ways to bring good luck and happiness to your marriage. While there’s no surefire way to guarantee a happy marriage, many couples turn to wedding superstitions to give them an extra boost of positive energy. Here are 15 unique wedding superstitions to consider incorporating into your wedding:

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

This age-old superstition comes from an Old English rhyme and suggests that a bride should wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue on her wedding day for good luck. Something old represents the bride’s past, something new symbolizes her future, something borrowed is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member to bring good luck, and something blue represents fidelity and love.

Ringing bells

In some cultures, it’s customary for guests to ring bells during the wedding ceremony. The sound of the bells is believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck to the couple.

Walking down the aisle together

In some cultures, it’s traditional for both partners to walk down the aisle together. This is believed to symbolize their equal partnership in marriage.

Handfasting

Handfasting is a Celtic tradition where the couple’s hands are tied together with a ribbon or cord during the wedding ceremony. This symbolizes their commitment to each other and is said to bring good luck and happiness to the marriage.

Rice throwing

In some cultures, guests throw rice at the newlyweds as they exit the ceremony. This tradition is said to bring good luck, prosperity, and fertility to the couple.

Sleeping with wedding cake under the pillow

This superstition is a bit more unconventional, but some couples choose to sleep with a piece of their wedding cake under their pillow after the wedding. It’s said to bring good luck and sweet dreams to the couple.

Breaking a glass

In Jewish weddings, it’s customary for the groom to break a glass underfoot at the end of the ceremony. This symbolizes the fragility of life and the need to cherish every moment. It’s also believed to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

Passing the broom

In African American weddings, a broom is passed over the couple’s heads to symbolize the sweeping away of any negative energy and the beginning of a new life together.

Jumping the broom

In some African American and Celtic traditions, the couple jumps over a broom during the ceremony to symbolize their union and the start of a new life together.

Burying bourbon

This Southern tradition involves burying a bottle of bourbon at the wedding venue one month before the wedding. It’s believed that if the bourbon is buried upside down and then dug up and shared with the wedding party on the wedding day, it will bring good weather and prevent rain on the big day.

Planting a unity tree

Instead of lighting a unity candle, some couples choose to plant a tree together during their wedding ceremony. The tree symbolizes the growth and strength of their love and is said to bring good luck and longevity to the marriage.

Giving a gift to a homeless person

Some couples choose to give a gift or donation to a homeless person on their way to the wedding ceremony. It’s believed that this act of kindness will bring good luck and blessings to the couple.

Using a lucky umbrella

In some Asian cultures, a red umbrella is used during the wedding ceremony to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits. The umbrella is held over the couple’s heads as they exchange vows and walk down the aisle together.

Having a ribbon dance

In some African American wedding traditions, a ribbon dance is performed where guests form a circle around the newlyweds and hold ribbons. The couple dances through the ribbons while the guests twirl the ribbons around them. It’s said to bring good luck and blessings to the couple.

As a wedding photographer, I love capturing these unique traditions and superstitions in action. If you’re interested in incorporating any of these into your wedding or have other traditions in mind, let’s talk! I’d love to learn more about your wedding plans and how I can help you capture your special day. Contact me today to schedule a consultation.

To find out more information on wedding traditions, here are a few links to review:

Celtic wedding traditions

African American wedding traditions

Southern wedding traditions

Jewish wedding traditions

Old English wedding traditions