Families often have wedding traditions of their own, and they may originate from a distant time and place. Specific traditions are widespread, while others are now practiced in local pockets only. Most couples in the U.S. follow traditions that are set back into the deep mists of time past. Whether your wedding is conducted indoors or in Paradise Cove’s outdoor wedding venues in Dallas, you will probably practice a few of these. Here are 20 fun wedding traditions and superstitions to explain the roots of today’s modern traditions.

Paradise Cove’s beautiful outdoor wedding venues in Dallas has seen many traditions, and welcomes yours.

1. Honeymoons began with the ancient Teutonic people whose weddings were only held under the full moon. After the wedding, the bride and groom would drink wine made from honey for one full moon cycle (thirty days). Consequently, this period became known as the “honey moon.” Over time, the purpose of the honeymoon changed, though the name did not.

2. The tradition of wearing engagement and wedding rings on the fourth finger of the left hand began because it was once thought that a vein in the “ring finger” led directly to the heart.

3. In English tradition, Wednesday is the “best day” to marry, Monday symbolizes wealth, and Tuesday represents health. Saturday is the preferred day for modern couples to marry, although traditionally, it is the unluckiest day!

4. The groom carrying the bride across the threshold began to protect her from evil spirits hiding beneath the threshold.

6. Diamonds in gold or silver settings became engagement rings during the fifteenth century among wealthy Venetians.

7. Almost 70% of all modern brides wear the traditional diamond on the fourth finger of their left hand.

8. A sapphire in a wedding ring symbolizes marital happiness.

9. A pearl engagement ring is considered bad luck as its shape resembles that of a tear.

10. Aquamarine represents marital harmony and ensures a long, happy marriage.

11. In Victorian England intertwining snakes with ruby eyes were popular as wedding bands, the winding coils forming the ring were the symbol of eternity.

12. Seventeen tons of gold are made into wedding rings each year in the U.S.

13. The tradition of white wedding dresses began with Queen Victoria in 1940.

14. Ancient Greeks and Romans thought the veil protected the bride from evil spirits. Brides wear veils to this day.

15. We have all heard “Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” The “something old” represents the brides past, while “something new” symbolizes the couple’s happy future together, “something borrowed” comes from a person who is happily married, with the hopes that some of the good luck rubs off on the bride, “something blue” symbolizes fidelity, and love.

16. The wedding cake comes from ancient Rome, where guests broke a loaf of bread over a bride’s head to promote fertility.

17. The Catholic tradition of “posting the banns” to announce a marriage originated as a means to ensure the bride and groom were not related.

18. Tossing the garter is a tradition for single men; the man who catches the garter is believed to be the next male to get married.

19. Giving away the bride stems from the days when a woman was considered property for barter or trade in arranged marriages.

20. According to tradition, good omens for the wedding day include seeing a rainbow, having a sunny day, or meeting a black cat.

Paradise Cove’s outdoor wedding venues in Dallas offers luxury weddings on the shore of Lake Grapevine. We provide a wedding coordinator to assist you in creating a custom wedding in our meticulously landscaped outdoor wedding venues in Dallas.

We offer a number of beautiful sites beside the lake for taking your vows in our outdoor wedding venues in Dallas. Contact a Paradise Cove representative for questions, to schedule a personal tour, or to book your wedding in our outdoor wedding venues in Dallas. We hope you enjoyed reading wedding facts and superstition.