Just Brides - Wedding Customs Traditions and Superstitions

The Bridal Gown
It is thought unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
It is also unlucky for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before until she arrives at the ceremony.
The bride should not wear her entire outfit before the wedding day. Some brides leave a final stitch on the dress undone until it is time to leave for the ceremony when the outfit is completed.
Colour

We always seem to associate the colour white, or ivory, with the wedding dress, however this wasn't always the case!
In past times ladies would wear their "best" dress to marry, the colour being simply a matter of preference.
Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Blue, your love will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Brown, you will live in town,
Married in Red, you will 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 will wish yourself back.
A green dress is thought to be unlucky unless the bride is Irish. The old expression that a woman has a 'green gown' was used to imply promiscuity, the green staining being due to rolling in grassy fields.

The introduction of the "White" wedding dress started with the Victorian aristocracy, and was used as a status symbol, or show of wealth, following Queen Victoria, who married in white. This was a break from tradition, as the "Royals" would usually wear silver!
The more recent associations with white symbolising virginity dates back to ancient Rome, where white robes were used to symbolise youth, joy and purity.

The Wedding Veil
Dating back to Roman times, the bride would wear a veil from head to toe, by means of a disguise, thought to outwit evil spirits. Indeed even the bridesmaids would wear similar veils, to assist in the confusion!
Today we tend to associate the veil with modesty and chastity.
Tradition church weddings often see a veiled bride as a show of respect, by covering the shoulders and face.
In a custom dating back to arranged marriages, the groom's family very rarely let him see the bride prior to the ceremony.
The groom if displeased with the brides looks may have refused to marry her.
Only after completion of the wedding ceremony was the groom permitted to lift the veil and see his bride for the first time.
In some Eastern ceremonies the bride is veiled and the groom is not allowed to see the bride's face until after the wedding ceremony.
In some Jewish weddings there is a ritual where the groom ensures that the bride is his intended before placing the veil over her face.

The Wedding Shoes
The tradition of tying shoes to the back of the couple's car stems from Tudor times, when guests would throw shoes at the bride and groom. If they or their carriage were hit, it meant good luck was bestowed upon them.
In Anglo Saxon times, to establish his authority the groom symbolically struck the bride with a shoe. Brides would then throw a shoe at the bridesmaids to see who would marry next!
Makes you appreciate the bouquet toss, doesn't it?

The Wedding Garter
Garters were originally used to hold up stockings and are still regarded by many brides as an essential wedding accessory. Wearing something Blue often takes the form of a wedding garter incorporating a blue bow stitched onto it for luck. Alternatively a small blue bow can be stitched into the lining of the Wedding Gown. The significance of the colour blue is that is represents Constancy and Loyalty and from biblical times a symbol of Purity.
These associations have been absorbed into folk wisdom and passed on in the form of rhyme.
Something Old, Something New,
Something Borrowed, Something Blue,
and a Silver Sixpence in her Shoe.

The Wedding Purse Dorothy Bag
The dolly bag or dorothy bag was usually carried by the bridesmaids in order to carry their wedding confetti.
Throwing confetti is probably a relic of former fertility rites. Variations occur throughout the world; flowers, petals, grain, cakes, sugar almonds and rice are all used.
The modern use of the dolly bag, (known as a wedding purse in the USA), is a convenience wedding accessory, for carrying some of the bride's or bridesmaids personal effects.