The tradition of not seeing your spouse before the wedding is exactly what it sounds like: avoiding your partner before the ceremony starts. This dates back to when marriages were arranged, and the bride and groom weren't allowed to see or meet each other until they were at the altar.
Tradition says
The tradition of grooms not seeing brides in their wedding dresses started because of arranged marriages. The parents of the bride were afraid that if the groom saw her before the wedding, he would break the arrangement.
No Peeking. You've probably heard that it's bad luck to see your fiancé on the wedding day before your ceremony. The reason being that, back when marriages were arranged, the bride and groom weren't allowed to see or meet each other at all until they were at the altar.
According to tradition, the groom is not allowed to see the bride before the wedding, something we put down to bad luck, with most couples today still sticking to the traditional rules.
Superstition #1: It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony. Origin: During the time when arranged marriages were custom, the betrothed couple wasn't allowed to see each other before the wedding at all.
There aren't any rules about who can see your wedding gown before the wedding. This notion is more a superstition in some cultures that it may bring bad luck for the groom to see the gown before the wedding. Some brides come shopping with the groom. Some brides come with all their friends.
The big decision lots of couples are asking themselves is whether to spend it together or stick to tradition and sleep apart. It really is entirely up to you. There isn't a rule that says you have to but here's what's most important: that you relax. You'll want to rest up so you're totally prepared for your wedding.
A first look is a modern tradition and is one of the most powerful moments on a wedding day. At some point after your getting ready, you get to see each other before the aisle moment. Away from all the busyness of a wedding day, a first look allows you to connect, reflect, and celebrate, just the two of you!
When they see their bride, all dolled up in a beautiful gown, the moment becomes more real to him. The tears might even show up when exchanging vows because he can't believe he's finally marrying the love of his life. This special time can make even the manliest man tear up.
It is one of the most anticipated moments of a wedding and it is fair to say one needs to get it right. If public displays of affection are not for you though, remember that the kiss is not compulsory and your wedding is still valid without it, its legal implications notwithstanding!
Inform your maid of honor or wedding party about your period, and let them know you'll need their help during the day. You might even want to pass off some ibuprofen to them for safekeeping. Ask them to hold some menstrual products for you, if need be, and get them to keep an eye on your dress.
Superstitious beliefs have kept many a couple separated until the ceremony, protecting their matrimonial fate from being doomed from the start. The tradition of spending the wedding eve apart is when to-be-weds refrain from seeing one another the night before their wedding, often until the ceremony.
So, the ANSWER is NO, it neither brings any bad luck, nor there's anything wrong with seeing your bride or her dress before the ceremony.
As reported by The Washington Post, in 1849, Godey's Lady's Book (reportedly "the Vogue of the Victorian world") decreed "that white is the most fitting hue" for brides to wear. It noted that it is an "emblem of the purity and innocence of girlhood, and the unsullied heart she now yields to the chosen one."
The tradition is based on an Old English rhyme that dates back to 19th-century Lancashire. It describes the items a bride should have on her wedding day: "something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, a sixpence in your shoe."
Something blue
Blue is the color of love, purity, faithfulness, and modesty. To keep with tradition, the bride can wear a blue piece of jewelry. But for a modern take, you can write a little note or other small message in blue on the bottom of her shoes.
A new study has revealed that the biggest cause of anxiety for brides on their big day is the wedding dance. According to Hen Party Superstore – who surveyed over 1,100 married and soon-to-be married people – the biggest cause of pre-wedding jitters for brides is being the centre of attention during their first dance.
After all, the decision of getting married does bring along a mix-platter of emotions for the grooms as well. There is a feeling of excitement, cheerfulness & delight but also a sense of fear, anxiety & nervousness.
They're not allowed to smile during the ceremony, or before it, or after it–nothing. Wait, why? The point of this is that the couple needs to be “serious about marriage.” If no one smiles, it means they are taking it seriously, literally.
The History of Wedding Veils
But most experts can agree on one narrative: "You can trace its roots back to Rome, where a bride used to walk down the aisle with a veil over her face in order to disguise herself from any evil spirits who wanted to stand in the way of her happiness," she explains.
This tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, when grooms kept their sword-fighting right hand open for combat with those trying to rescue the bride, who was often kidnapped before the wedding.
The wedding night, also most popularly known as 'suhaag raat', is when newly-weds are expected to consummate their marriage and for many couples, who had never had a physical relationship before, this night might be the first time they would be having sex with the partner.
A rehearsal dinner is typically held the night before a wedding, and like the name suggests, is a rehearsal to the following day's events. This dinner is a great opportunity for both the bride and groom's family and friends to mingle and spend some quality time with the couple before the actual wedding.
This practice emerges from pre-18th century time, when it was common place for pre-arranged marriages. It was deemed "unlucky" for a bride and groom to see one another. This was an attempt to keep the groom from backing out of the wedding upon seeing his unidentified bride to be prior to the ceremony.