A Little Wedding History
At Allegro Entertainment, we know your wedding is already filled with love, laughter, and unforgettable music. Across the globe, couples have added a little extra magic to their big day through age-old traditions meant to bring blessings, joy, and good fortune.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite good luck customs—plus a little history and fun facts for each.
💙 Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue
This rhyme dates back to Victorian England, where brides would tuck these four symbolic items into their attire.
- Old connects you to your past and family history.
- New celebrates optimism for the life ahead.
- Borrowed comes from a happily married friend, passing on their marital luck.
- Blue represents fidelity and purity—ancient Romans actually believed blue warded off evil spirits!
💡 Famous example: Kate Middleton wore a piece of blue ribbon sewn inside her Alexander McQueen wedding dress in 2011.
🌧️ Rain on Your Wedding Day
While pop culture might joke about it (looking at you, Alanis Morissette 🎶), many cultures see rain as one of the luckiest wedding omens.
- In Hindu tradition, rain signifies fertility and cleansing.
- In Italy, “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata” means “A wet bride is a lucky bride.”
💡 Famous example: It poured during John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s 1996 wedding, and their photos are still considered some of the most romantic of the decade.
🧿 Coins in the Bride’s Shoes
In Greek and Filipino weddings, a silver coin placed in the bride’s shoe symbolizes prosperity. The groom may also carry coins in his pocket to “share” wealth and blessings with the bride.
- The practice is thought to have originated in Spain, where the groom would give the bride arras—13 coins representing their shared commitment to provide for each other.
🐦 Love Birds
Spotting doves or robins on your wedding day is a sign of a happy, harmonious marriage.
- In Celtic tradition, birds—especially doves—were messengers of love from the gods.
- The Victorians also embraced the dove as a symbol of loyalty because doves mate for life.
💡 Famous example: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle released doves at a private celebration following their 2018 wedding ceremony.
🕷️ The Lucky Spider
This might sound like the stuff of wedding nightmares, but in old English folklore, finding a spider in your wedding dress was a sign of wealth and good luck.
- The superstition comes from the belief that spiders were industrious creatures, and their presence meant a “web” of prosperity would follow you.
🐴 Horseshoes & Thresholds
The horseshoe—especially hung with the open end facing upward—has been a symbol of good fortune for over 1,000 years.
- In medieval Europe, brides often carried a real horseshoe down the aisle. Today, it’s more common as a charm or decoration.
Carrying the bride over the threshold began in ancient Rome, where it was believed evil spirits lurked at the entrance of a new home. Lifting the bride ensured those spirits couldn’t hitch a ride in.
💡 Famous example: Grace Kelly was photographed holding a silver horseshoe charm during her 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
✨ Your Luck, Your Way
Whether you embrace these customs or create your own, the real good fortune is having a wedding day filled with love, joy, and music that feels like you. At Allegro Entertainment, we’ll help you set the perfect soundtrack for the start of your happily ever after.