Rules for a Happy Marriage

One occasion that has superstitions and traditions completely entwined in it is a wedding. My best friend of ten years got married about a week ago and I was the maid of honor. Part of my responsibility (per the bride) was to ensure she and her new husband followed every superstition and tradition in the book. The first occurred at her bridal shower. The bride is supposed to save all the ribbons and bows from her gifts and combine them all to create a bouquet. This is the bouquet she uses during the rehearsal and will supposedly make the wedding day go smoothly. Of course, on the wedding day, the bride and groom must not see each other before she walks up the aisle. I’m not sure what the repercussions of this superstition are, but my friend was not willing to find out! One little tradition that may be the most commonly followed is that the bride must have/wear something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue (the rest of the saying is “and a sixpence in her shoe” but not many people know that part). The something old signifies that the couple’s friends will stay with them; something new looks to a future of health, happiness, and success; something borrowed is meant for the bride’s family to lend her something as a token of their love. My best friend had all of the above on her wedding day, so the marriage should last, right? Other than throwing the bouquet and the garter, the two also took the top tier of their wedding cake and put it in their freezer. The tradition is for the bride and groom to share this portion of the cake on their 1 year anniversary. Follow all these superstitions and you’re bound to have a long and healthy marriage full of good fortune!