Old-school wedding traditions we're ready to say goodbye to in 2025
From the colour-coded fashion guide to emotional farewells, it's time to move on from these age-old traditions and superstitions.
Weddings come with their fair share of traditions, rituals, and—let’s be honest—a few superstitions that have been passed down without much thought. From avoiding white at a Christian wedding or red at a Hindu one, to keeping couples apart before the big day, some customs hold sentimental value—while others just feel a little unnecessary. But in 2025, we're ready to bid farewell to some outdated beliefs and embrace weddings that are fun, meaningful, and, most importantly, all about the couple!
The auspicious wedding date
For the longest time, picking a wedding date wasn’t just about convenience—it had to be astrologically perfect. Families would consult priests and align planetary positions to ensure the stars were blessing the union. But guess what? Wedding trends show that nearly 76 per cent of couples today are picking dates based on venue availability, weather, and personal convenience rather than sticking to traditional saaya (auspicious) dates. Turns out, love doesn’t need a lucky date—it just needs the right one for you.
The black and white taboo
Black and white have long been on the do-not-wear list at Indian weddings. Black is associated with mourning, and white is often linked to funerals in many Indian cultures. But with modern brides and grooms experimenting with their palettes, these colour taboos are slowly fading. Whether it’s a sleek black tux or an elegant white lehenga, couples are proving that fashion trumps superstition.
Expecting guests to avoid wedding colours
Building on the previous point, here's another long-standing wedding rule that’s slowly losing relevance. While not exactly inauspicious, certain colours have been unofficially off-limits for guests. In Hindu weddings, red has traditionally been reserved for the bride, making it a no-go. Meanwhile, in Christian weddings, white has been strictly associated with the bride’s gown, making it a major faux pas for guests to wear. But with modern brides embracing non-traditional hues like pink, ivory, gold, and pastels, these restrictions are fading fast. In fact, many brides today are more than happy for their guests to wear these colours—as long as it doesn’t look too bridal (let’s not start any drama!).
The emotional farewell
The bidaai ceremony, where the bride symbolically throws rice over her shoulder to ‘repay’ her parents for raising her, has long been a bittersweet moment. While emotional farewells are natural, the idea of a daughter being paraya dhan (someone else’s wealth) is losing relevance. Many families today see weddings as the blending of two homes rather than the ‘giving away’ of a bride. And honestly, a happy send-off with laughter and joy feels like a much better start to a new chapter.
The forced game of joota chupai
The joota chupai ritual, where the bride’s sisters steal the groom’s shoes in exchange for money, is meant to be a fun icebreaker. But over time, the playful tradition has sometimes turned into an outright shakedown, with grooms having to shell out big money. Today, many couples are keeping it light-hearted—or skipping it altogether. After all, a little fun is great, but a forced ransom? Not so much.
Not picking the number ‘13’ for your wedding date
The number 13 has long been considered unlucky, making many couples avoid wedding dates that include it. But in reality, it’s just a number. With couples prioritising venue availability and personal significance over superstition, this fear is quickly fading. Plus, imagine the perks of choosing a ‘less desirable’ date—more venue options and maybe even better rates!
Couples not seeing each other before the wedding: why the suspense?
Across cultures and religions, there’s a long-standing belief that the couple shouldn’t see each other before the wedding ceremony—whether it's due to concerns about bad luck or simply tradition. But modern couples are rethinking this rule and embracing first-look photoshoots instead. Meeting before the ceremony allows them to share a private, emotional moment, calm their nerves, and, let’s be real, get some of the most heartfelt wedding pictures. Weddings are already a whirlwind—why not take a quiet moment together before the big “I do”?
Lead image credit: Amy Jackson/Instagram
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