For couples, a wedding represents a moment in their relationship when they are ready to commit and solidify their love for one another. As such, any couple will want to make sure the day itself goes without a hitch, as well as making sure their relationship is a long and prosperous one.

For this to be the case, the couple participate in many different traditions in the hope this will bring them good luck and a lifetime of happiness together. Some of these traditions are specific to different countries and cultures, and some traditions may be specific to regions, smaller locations or even passed down families from generation to generation.

In the UK, there are some traditions that are still carried through today, before, during and after the wedding.

Before the Wedding

Whilst choosing a specific day isn't a tradition that is usually adhered to nowadays, there is a famous old rhyme used to establish the day chosen. €Monday for wealth, Tuesday for health, Wednesday best day of all, Thursday for losses, Friday for crosses, Saturday for no luck at all.€

The wedding dress has many traditions attached to it, some still used today. Of those still used is the tradition that the groom should not see the bride in her wedding dress until the day of the ceremony. The bride herself shouldn't wear the wedding dress before the wedding day, and the colour is traditionally white to represent maidenhood.

The veil is another important garment for many traditional brides. Originally it was used to disguise the bride to outwit evil spirits, but nowadays it is associated with chastity and in some countries it is meant to hide the bride from being seen by the groom.

On the Wedding Day

A particularly famous rhyme on a wedding day is, €Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in your shoe.€ Originated from the Victorian period, this rhyme in fact contains traditions that are much older. It represents things given to the bride to ensure a lifetime of luck and happiness.

€Something old' is traditionally a garter that is given to the bride by a married woman close to the bride, which represents the passing of her happiness to the bride to be. €Something new' represents having a new and prosperous future. €Something borrowed' is an item that is leant to the bride by her family to symbolise family values. €Something blue' actually symbolises fidelity, whilst €a silver sixpence in your shoe' represents having wealth.

If the bride sees a black cat, a spider, a dove, or even a lamb on the way to the wedding ceremony venue, this is considered to be good luck. Also if she sees a policeman, a doctor, a member of the clergy or even a blind person, again this is supposed to be a good luck omen.

If, however, she sees an open grave, a funeral or even a pig or a lizard, this is considered to be bad luck. Also before the bride to be leaves the house for the ceremony, if she takes a last look in the mirror before she leaves then this will bring good luck. However, if she returns to the mirror after already setting off, it is thought this will bring bad lack.

After The Wedding

When returning home, the bride must enter through the main door. The groom plays his part too, and is supposed to carry the bride €over the threshold'. There are multiple reasons why this is a tradition. For example, if the bride was to step into her home left foot first, she will be met with bad luck; also if she falls when entering this will count as bad luck too.