The tradition of the Threshold…

As a wedding Photographer in Maui, I never hear about the groom carrying the bride over the threshold. Most of the weddings here on Maui are smaller beach weddings, destination weddings held at hotels then you have your local family weddings. When I stopped to think about whether or not I’ve ever heard any of my past brides or grooms talk this subject I honestly can’t recall anyone ever mentioning it.

Do people in this day and age still hold this as a tradition? I am out to learn more about this and will be writing more on this at a later time. Until then, you maybe wondering where this tradition began in the first place.

Here are several thoughts that have been found on this tradition:

• To protect the bride from evil spirits that were thought to be lying in wait under the threshold.
• Roman times when it was believed that if the bride stumbled when entering the newlywed’s home for the first time, it would bring bad luck and harm to their marriage. Carrying the bride across the threshold was thought to prevent this from happening.
• Tradition dictates the new wife must enter he home by the main door and, to avoid bad luck, she must never trip or fall–hence the custom that a bride should be carried over the threshold.

Tidbits: The Custom of carrying the bride over the threshold stems from the same belief that aroused the idea of the runway carpet and strewing the aisle with flowers and petals.  It was an ancient belief that the newly married couple was very susceptible to evil spirits.  A protective layer between the bride and the ground were provided by carrying her, and thus protecting her from the “ground monster”.