Weddings, just like every other occasions, have certain idiosyncrasies. However, the fact that something is a stereotype doesn’t necessarily mean that it has any grounds. To wit, we take a look at some of the biggest bridal myths:
The bride must wear white
This will definitely go down as the biggest wedding myth of all time. It actually dates back to when Queen Victoria wore white for her wedding, but you don’t necessarily have to follow suit just because something is the norm in the Western world (I mean, some actually believe that the reason for the whole white gown is to symbolize the bride’s purity or the fact that it’s the happiest day of her life- the reasons are as endless as they are ludicrous). It’s your wedding; you’re marrying the person you love, ad you should wear a gown that looks best on you. Even if you’re not interested in the whole hog, just a few elements of color ought to do the trick.
The bride must wear a veil
This myth has actually been less popular, thanks to the advent of flower crowns and headpieces with intricate embellishments. However, a lot of people still believe it to be a must that the bride wears a veil (in some settings, there is actually a section of the wedding proceedings where the groom lifts the veil and his countenance changes as he looks at his wife… like she isn’t the same woman he probably saw the day before. Anyway, that’s a story for some other time).
The bottom line is that if you feel lie setting a trend or you’re just not down with the whole concept of a traditional wedding, feel free to ditch the veil. It’s your day and you should be able to make the most important decisions; especially those that pertain to you and how you look.
You should have been engaged for at least a year
Somewhere, some people seem to have decided that for you and your partner to be wedded, you need to have been engaged for at least 12 months. The truth here is that while you need to be engaged for a while (if not for anything, to provide enough time for proper wedding preps), it doesn’t necessarily have to be up to a year. A lot of people might argue that this time span is so you can get to know each other, but think about it; what were you doing while you were dating? What else do you need to know about your partner that you don’t already?
You’ll cry a lot
There’s also an expectation that a couple will naturally let the waterworks flow when they gear up to say “I do”. While this happens for many couples as they tend to get caught up in all the emotion and all that, don’t feel bad if you can’t seem to find the tears on your wedding day, there’s no proof to the fact that those who cry on their wedding days are the happiest couples or that they’re the ones who love each other the most.
Know about other bridal myths, let me know in the comment box.
Image: The Knot
Dahunsi Oyedele
