8 Unique Wedding Traditions From Around The World - Sweet Gibraltar Weddings

We have all heard the saying “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”, and many of us are superstitious about anyone seeing the bride in her dress before the big day. However, these are far from the only remarkable wedding traditions from across the globe.

Here at Sweet Gibraltar Weddings, we naturally specialise in Gibraltar weddings, but that doesn’t mean you can’t incorporate some other fascinating traditions from elsewhere in the world into your big day. Here, then, are just a few of those you might consider. 

• Good fortune (Spain) 

For Spanish Catholic weddings, the highest symbol of good fortune and good luck for the marriage is for the bride and groom to share 13 coins. These coins, otherwise called ‘unity coins’ or ‘arras’, represent Jesus and the 12 apostles, blessing the union. 

• Cutting up the groom’s tie (Spain)

Another traditional Spanish wedding custom is for the groom’s friends to cut up his tie, or the bride’s garter belt. The pieces of the tie and garter are then sold to guests at the wedding, and the money donated to the happy couple as a congratulatory gift. 

• A spider in your wedding dress (England)

In a more bizarre turn of events, it is an old English wives’ tale that it is good luck to find a spider hiding in your wedding dress. Unless you have a phobia, of course!

• The day of the week you should get married (England)

Another strange British wedding tradition concerns the day that you get married. Referencing an old rhyme – “Monday for health, Tuesday for wealth, Wednesday best of all” – it’s clear that there’s plenty of great reason to hold Gibraltar weddings on weekdays! 

• Keeping the evil spirits away (Scotland)

Moving from English traditions now to the Scottish, this one is definitely unique. In one Scottish wedding tradition, the bride and the groom are covered in alcohol, before being covered in treacle, feathers, ash, and flour on the day before the wedding. This supposedly wards off any evil spirits lurking around the nuptials. 

• Making sure the bridesmaids find love (Wales) 

 In another British tradition, this time from Wales, you could include myrtle in your bridal bouquet, and give a cutting to your bridesmaids. They will then plant the herb, and see which one it blooms for first, as she will be the next to get married.

 

• Always keeping one foot on the floor while dancing (Ireland)

According to Irish folklore, the bride must always keep one foot on the floor while she is dancing at her wedding. If she doesn’t, the bride risks being stolen away by evil fairies. 

• Hidden ‘good luck’ tokens (Greece)

For Greek couples, the bride should apparently place a gold coin in her shoe and a sugar cube in her glove. The groom, on the other hand, should keep a piece of iron in his pocket. 

We’ll leave you to decide whether any of these traditions are ones you fancy embracing for your own special day! In the meantime, we’ll simply say that when you require advice and assistance in relation to all aspects of Gibraltar weddings, we’re always available here at Sweet Gibraltar Weddings, contactable by phone or email.