Italian Wedding Traditions

In the Italian culture, a wedding has always been the most joyous of occasions. Filled with fun, festivities, and most of all FOOD a traditional Italian wedding is always guaranteed to be great fun for all.

Incorporating some of these traditional Italian elements into your wedding is a great way to either pay homage to your heritage or to simply add a touch of Italian flair to your theme:

• The wedding day begins with an early mass and concludes with dancing and lots of food in the evening and into the morning.

• The month of May is to be avoided as a wedding month, as it should be reserved for the veneration of the Virgin Mary.

• August is also an unpopular month to be married it is thought to be bad luck and bring sickness.

• Marriages on Sundays are thought to be the luckiest.

• Rain on the wedding day is considered lucky - “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunate.”

• The groom should carry a piece of iron in his pocket to ward off the evil eye.

• In earlier days, the groom would bring the bouquet as a surprise for the bride, as a gift from the grooms family to her.

• A ribbon may be tied to the front of the chapel to symbolize the bond between the couple getting married.

• Traditionally, the bride wore a veil to hide her from jealous spirits.

• Tearing the veil is thought to be good luck.

• Wearing gold during or before the wedding is thought to bring bad luck. The bride should refrain from wearing gold until after the wedding.

• Drinks are served before dinner to toast the bride and groom.

• After dinner, cake is served with espresso, coffee or other beverages.

• All men may kiss the bride at the reception for good luck.

• The bride will carry a silk purse while visiting each guests to store monetary gifts and cards.

• The cookie dance - The bride and groom lead dancing guests over to the cookie cake, where each guest will take a cookie.

• Dessert tables are often common, where rather than just the wedding cake, there will be a medley of delicious dessert to choose from.

• In the past, the best man would cut the tie of the groom into pieces, then sell them to guests. The proceeds would go to pay for the reception or honeymoon.

• During the reception, the bride and grooms friends may sneak away to play tricks on the couple.

• The candy covered almond favor (known as confetti) was originated in Italy, as an item to throw at the bride and groom to ensure fertility. It is important for them to be tied in odd numbers in mesh bags, as odd numbers will bring good luck.

• Rice or paper confetti is also traditionally thrown at the couple to symbolize money and good fortune.

• At the end of the wedding, Italians may break a vase or glass. The number of pieces were to be the number of years they would be married happily.

• Rather than a receiving line, it is tradition that the couple visits each table individually before slipping away for their honeymoon.

• The bride and groom will leave the wedding without opening any gifts. The bride’s family takes on this task.