9 Weird and Wonderful Wedding Superstitions

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Have you ever wondered where those wedding traditions we've all come to know and love come from? Many of them actually date back thousands of years and were originally established to ward off evil spirits or to enhance good luck, fertility, and prosperity. From your bridesmaids to your veil, and even your choice of flowers, these customs are all steeped in some sort of myth or old wives' tale. 

Here are some of the weirdest (and most endearing) wedding-related superstitions out there. You might want to take a look, you know, just in case...

  1. Wearing a veil protects the bride against evil spirits. Or so believed the ancient Greeks and Romans -- and to this day, brides follow the tradition.

2. Never give a pearl engagement ring. The shape is thought to be bad luck because it resembles a tear.

 3. An older, unmarried sister must dance barefoot at her younger sister's wedding. Or risk never finding a husband. 

4. Never marry on a Saturday. It's the unluckiest day of the week to wed, according to English folklore.

5. The marrying couple should never see each other before the ceremony. It might give them an opportunity to change their minds!

6. Never give a knife as a wedding gift. They symbolize bad luck and broken relationships. If you receive a knife from a guest, give the giver a penny -- that way you've "purchased" the knives and they're no longer a gift.

7. Steer clear of nuns and monks on the big day. A bride who passes one of these religious figures is said to be cursed with a life of infertility and poverty.

8. Skip the peonies. They symbolize shame. (Yes, we're shedding a tear over this one!)

9. Rain on your wedding day is good luck. We're pretty sure that's just something people say to make couples who are flipping out about the weather feel better...but we've seen enough charming rainy-day weddings to know it's definitely not a bad thing!