in lieu in view photography MUCQZE74NME unsplash

As anyone who’s ever planned a wedding knows, there are some wedding traditions that don’t seem to make a lot of sense. These do’s and don’ts, should do and must haves have been elevated to mythical status for seemingly no reason at all. To help you decide whether or not to include these traditions in your wedding planning, we’re debunking five of the most-common wedding myths.

The bride should always wear white

Traditional white wedding dresses date back to the 18th century, when wearing white was seen as a symbol of wealth. In fact, Queen Victoria was noted as the first bride to wear white. Since then, it’s been a long-standing tradition in most western cultures, but that doesn’t mean you have to follow suit. Brides these days choose their own colour palette, and many are ditching the dress for elegant trouser or jump suits instead.

It’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding

It’s long been considered bad luck for the groom to get a glimpse of the bride before she walks down the aisle. That’s because weddings used to be business transactions between two families, and people believed that if the couple saw each other before the ceremony, it would give them a chance to change their mind about the wedding. These days, many couples choose to get their wedding photos out of the way pre-ceremony, as it’s often the quietest time of the wedding day without the pressure of having to entertain guests and family.

A longer engagement is better

Is a long or a short engagement best? Should you get married right away? Or spend a year or more planning your wedding day? How long your engagement is, is really up to you. Decide when the big day should be and then go for it! But it’s a good idea to plan the basic elements before they get booked up – so at the very least, book in your venue and celebrant up front.

Rings worn on the left hand and fourth finger

Gold, silver, platinum or diamond encrusted: Wedding rings have long been considered a symbol of eternal love and devotion. Ever wondered why they’re worn on the left hand, fourth finger? That’s because the vein in this finger is believed to be directly linked to the heart. And with the heart at the centre of your emotions, the wedding ring showed others that your heart had been claimed by another. These days couples choose whether or not to wear a ring, and in New Zealand, some couples choose to exchange a pounamu taonga or something else that is culturally significant rather than wear rings. 

Not wearing pearls on your wedding day

In some cultures, it’s frowned upon to wear pearls on your wedding day as they are said to represent the tears that you’ll shed during your marriage. In Chinese culture however, pearls are seen as a symbol of wisdom, and in western culture they’re viewed as protection, keeping the wearer safe from evil. Regardless of their link to bad luck, brides have been wearing pearls for centuries and many view pearls as the quintessential gemstone for weddings.

These are just a few of the wedding myths you’ll likely uncover when planning a wedding. Most have been around for so long that they’ve just been widely accepted as fact. Regardless of where and why they started, this is a joyful time of your life and, no matter what anyone else says, you should enjoy every moment.

To get started planning your wedding, contact CANZ to find a celebrant who is experienced and knowledgeable about the legal requirements of a ceremony and trends in the industry, and can help you plan a dream wedding ceremony.