More Wedding Traditions

We had a fun talk today after commencement with our friend Agnes, who has been a professional corporate event planner for many years.  We were sharing our plans for the wedding, and she reminded us of several wedding traditions that we might want to observe (none of which we knew).

1. The Groom's Silver.  During the wedding, the groom should have on his person somewhere a piece of silver.  Not something chrome-like, but the real element silver.  A dime would do.  This ensures that the couple will have a rich life—not necessarily lucrative, but rich in friends and family and ideas and activity.  (However, upon further research, I see that there's a Scots custom of the groom placing a silver sixpence in one shoe to assure wealth and financial security.)
2. One-Time Aisle.  At the wedding rehearsal, the bride MUST NOT walk down the aisle.  The thinking is that she should only make that trip once in her life.  She can go down the side aisle, but cannot replicate the same journey she'll take during the wedding.
3. Left and Right Elbow.  In every other social circumstance, a man should offer a lady his right elbow for support.  (Who knew?)  But at a wedding, given the history of marriages bringing together feuding clans, the father or brother escorting the new bride down the aisle must have her on his left elbow, since he might need his right hand to draw his sword in defense.
4. Groom Right, Bride Left.  As the officiant faces the couple, the groom should be at his right hand, and the bride at his left hand.  This marks the last time in their relationship that the groom will be right. 
5. You May Now Kiss the Bride.  Because in about three minutes, everybody and her aunt will be kissing the bride, so the groom at least gets to have the first pass.
6. Congratulations and Best Wishes.  (I already knew this one.)  After the wedding has completed, you offer Congratulations to the groom and Best Wishes to the bride.  If you congratulate the bride, that implies that she worked hard for a good outcome, which in reality must be considered to be her right.  You congratulate the groom, because he's a lucky SOB to have hooked up with the bride, and you wish the bride Best Wishes because... well... she's gonna need them.

And the superstitions on the wedding dress...

Married in White, you have chosen right,
Married in Grey, you will go far away,
Married in Black, you will wish yourself back,
Married in Red, you will wish yourself dead,
Married in Green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in Blue, you will always be true,
Married in Pearl, you will live in a whirl,
Married in Yellow, ashamed of your fellow,
Married in Brown, you will live in the town,
Married in Pink, your spirit will sink.

(Or, given the site we directed you to a couple of days back...
Married in Camo, you'd better bring ammo.
Married in Purple, your life will be hurtful.
Married in Orange, you're doomed because nothing rhymes with orange.

And a shout-out to Shelley from My Fair Wedding back three months ago—
With bridesmaids in Zebra, she must be a diva.)