Traditional and Nontraditional Traditions

Traditional and Nontraditional Traditions

August 6th, 2010 @ 11:57 am by Mrs. Plaid
Share

Wow that’s a mouthful, huh?

When we first started planning our wedding, the only wedding tradition I really knew about was the whole “something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” thing. (I am totally doing this by the way… to some, it may be silly, but it is a must-do on my list.) Other than that, I had no clue about any other wedding traditions.

I really want to include some other traditions into our wedding so I went into research mode. I started by Googling “wedding traditions” and came up with a bunch of stuff from different countries and religions. Here are some of my favorites that I’m considering incorporating into our special day:

The groom carries the bride over the threshold to protect her from evil spirits. (This is my workout motivation!)
In Sweden, the Bride puts a silver coin from her Father and a gold coin from her Mother in her shoes to ensure that she will never be without either (I’m considering hot gluing one of each from each parent on the bottom of my shoes).
In Egypt, the bride’s parents do all the cooking for a week after the wedding so the happy couple can relax (how awesome would that be???).
If the younger sister gets married first (I’m the baby), the older sister has to dance barefoot at the wedding or risk never getting married. (Hmm… should I make sister Sarah dance barefoot all night long? *evil grin*)
During the ceremony, the bride’s and groom’s hands are literally tied together to symbolize commitment, hence the saying, “tying the knot.” (I may use some pretty ribbon or something for this.)

Here’s one I don’t like: Apparently the English believe that finding a spider on the bride’s dress is good luck on your wedding day. When I visited my venue for the first time with Co-MOH L, we saw a huge tarantula. If I find on of those crawling on my dress in October, I might just pass out. No thank you, Mr. Tarantula!

And here’s a funny one: In Denmark, traditionally brides and grooms cross-dress on their wedding days to confuse evil spirits! Does that mean the bride doesn’t even get to wear a gorgeous wedding dress? Boo…

What traditions are you incorporating into your ceremony and reception?

Tags: austin, traditions |

Share |

Latest Gallery Pics

Hot Pink and White with Zebra 36" Lighted Spandex Ostrich Feather Centerpiece

15 Responses to “Traditional and Nontraditional Traditions”

Member

TheFutureMcBride (message) 4,479 posts, Honey bee

What fun! I love looking at traditions, but haven’t had the time since we got engaged at the end of April. As for the traditions, please don’t take offense, but as an older sis, I would hate to have another thing pointing out my younger sis was getting married. Granted, I would do whatever she wanted, but I’ve gotten so much crap from our HEAVILY multi-divorced family about not being married at a younger age. Maybe yours is different. I just would’ve hated all the comments and doing something to highlight it. And no, she isn’t getting married before me, but I thought she was as did the rest of the family. They said so many things to me behind her back and I didn’t say anything to her. Sorry that’s so long and maybe your situation is totally different and maybe you’re just joking. I don’t know. Just had to say it.

8/6/10 @ 12:19 pm (reply)

Member

SandraMarie_1986 (message) 1,363 posts, Bumble bee

Those are awesome traditions!

8/6/10 @ 12:35 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Sand Dollar (message) 1,305 posts, Bumble bee

Hah! I laughed at a lot of those. Especially spiders. Being from San Marcos I know where you’re coming from, tarantulas and wolf spiders are nothing you want anywhere close to your dress!

8/6/10 @ 12:48 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. French Fries (message) 2,218 posts, Buzzing bee

True story: I made Mr. FF carry me over the threshold of our house when we returned after the wedding. No matter that I had stepped across it by myself 5,000 times before.

8/6/10 @ 12:58 pm (reply)

Member

TiffyNicole (message) 67 posts, Worker bee

I always wondered where tying the knot came from

8/6/10 @ 1:10 pm (reply)

Member

emma5w (message) 547 posts, Busy bee

Ha ha. When my sister got married 2 years ago, it was an outdoor wedding. She had a beautiful dress with a lace overlay that went down into a short train. Halfway through the ceremony, I noticed a catepillar making it’s way up the back of her dress - under the lace but on top of the dress part! I stood there for a second not know what to do - leave it alone and hope it doesn’t make it to the lacing part and ONTO her, or interrupt the ceremony to pick it off. I quickly opted for choice number 2, walked up, said, “Excuse me,” and proceeded to reach up her dress to remove the catepillar. The photographer caught the moment perfectly - my brother-in-law and the pastor laughing, with my sister turning around looking at me like, “What the heck are you doing up there?” It was hilarious. So…maybe not a spider, but close enough!

8/6/10 @ 2:06 pm (reply)

Member

jordynrose (message) 6,351 posts, Bee Keeper

FI has already said he is carrying me across the threshold…even though we’ve already lived in this house for almost a year.

8/6/10 @ 2:27 pm (reply)

Bee

Miss Earrings (message) 2,477 posts, Buzzing bee

Mr E told me the other day that he is determined to carry me across the threshold

8/6/10 @ 5:03 pm (reply)

Member

ERL501 (message) 51 posts, Worker bee

Oh my gosh! Towards the end of our outdoor reception, while taking some pictures with friends, there most definitely WAS a spider crawling across my dress that I quickly knocked off…thank goodness it meant good luck!

8/6/10 @ 6:57 pm (reply)

10.

Bee

Miss Plaid (message) 769 posts, Busy bee

@TheFutureMcBride: Yeah, my sister and I joke about it all the time. She’s not interested in marriage and is actually excited at the possibility of dancing around barefoot. I’m not going to tell anyone…it’s just one of those silly traditions.
@Mrs. French Fries: I’m totally with you on this one. If I can’t figure out a way not to hurt Mr. Plaid’s already bad back. Maybe just a quick hop over the threshold…does that count?

8/6/10 @ 7:18 pm (reply)

11.

Member

Knubbsy-Wubbsy (message) 2,395 posts, Buzzing bee

The traditional old, new, blue, etc
We will be serving a Norwegian wedding cake (Kransekake) to appease my VERY Norwegian family on my Dad’s side. It is tradition on his side, especially now that my cousin had one at her’s this year, complete with little paper Norwegian flags.
Also, a solje a Norwegian wedding pin, this one made for my Grandma by her cousin.
And I’m sure FH will want to carry me across the threshold of our new apartment.

8/6/10 @ 8:34 pm (reply)

12.

Bee

Miss Plaid (message) 769 posts, Busy bee

@Knubbsy-Wubbsy: That sounds awesome! I’m trying to find more ways to incorporate my Scottish heritage but I’m still working on it. Your wedding sounds like it’s going to be filled with tradition. I hope I can achieve the same thing!

8/6/10 @ 11:04 pm (reply)

13.

Bee

Miss Glasses (message) 2,741 posts, Sugar bee

We are doing the San San Kudo ceremony which is a Shinto tradition- it involves drinking sake and we were sold. It is also rife with meaning so I guess that’s good too..

8/6/10 @ 11:27 pm (reply)

14.

Bee

Miss Plaid (message) 769 posts, Busy bee

@Miss Glasses: That sounds awesome Miss Glasses!

8/7/10 @ 6:23 am (reply)

15.