Wedding Traditions and Their Meaning: Why We Still Do What We Do

The Groom Can't See the Bride Before the Ceremony — Here's Why

This is probably the most well-known wedding superstition, and it goes back much further than romantic movies. In the era of arranged marriages, couples often met for the first time at the altar. The rule that the groom couldn't see the bride beforehand was practical — if he saw her and changed his mind, the whole arrangement would fall apart. Over time, the tradition shifted into something far more meaningful: a genuine moment of anticipation.

Today, that first look at the ceremony is one of the most emotional moments of the entire day — and one of the most photographed. Many couples keep this tradition precisely because of the raw emotion it creates. When the doors open and the groom sees his bride for the first time, that reaction is real and unrepeatable. It also means the groom's appearance matters more than ever: he's the one standing there, in front of everyone, waiting.

Some modern couples choose a "first look" — a private moment before the ceremony, away from guests. It allows for quieter photos and takes the pressure off the altar. Neither approach is wrong. But both put a spotlight on how the groom presents himself, which is worth thinking about.

Breaking Plates and Sweeping Together: More Than Just a Mess

The tradition of breaking porcelain — called tříštění porcelánu in Czech — takes place the morning or evening before the wedding, typically at the bride's home. Guests smash plates, bowls, and cups on the doorstep, and then the bride and groom sweep up the mess together. It sounds chaotic, but the symbolism is straightforward and surprisingly practical: the couple faces their first challenge together, cooperating even under pressure.

The broken shards are said to ward off bad luck and evil spirits — the noise alone was believed to scare them away. The sweeping together represents unity: whatever life throws at you, you clean it up as a team. It's a wonderfully honest metaphor for marriage, and it tends to be one of the liveliest, most photographed moments of the pre-wedding celebrations.

Eating Soup from One Bowl — and What It Actually Means

At many Czech and Slovak weddings, the newlyweds are served soup from a single shared bowl, with two spoons. The tradition is simple in its message: from this point on, you share everything. What's mine is yours. The soup itself is usually a rich wedding broth — served not just for sustenance but as a ritual moment at the start of the wedding meal.

Guests watch closely — sometimes playfully — to see who finishes their side first or who takes the lead in eating. It's lighthearted, but it signals something real: even in small, ordinary moments, marriage is about sharing. It also gives the couple a pause in the middle of what is often a very busy, emotionally overwhelming day.

This is the moment the couple sits together at the table for the first time as husband and wife, and the groom's full look — suit, tie or bow tie, pocket square — is on display from the front, up close. It's worth making sure those details are right.

Cutting the Wedding Cake — and Why the First Slice Matters

Cutting the wedding cake together is one of the oldest traditions that has survived almost entirely intact across cultures. The original symbolism was fertility and shared prosperity — the cake was meant to be shared with all guests, spreading the couple's good fortune. Today it's still the focal point of the reception evening, usually accompanied by the first official toast.

In Central European tradition, the couple holds the knife together for the first cut. Some say whichever hand is on top determines who "runs the household" — a playful detail that still gets laughs at every wedding. The cake is then served to guests, starting with the grandparents or the closest family, as a sign of respect.

By the time cake-cutting happens, the wedding is typically well into the evening. The groom might have loosened his jacket, but the tie or bow tie is still the finishing detail that photographs at every angle. A well-chosen knot in a colour that echoes the wedding palette makes a quiet but consistent statement all night long.

Why the Groom's Accessories Matter as Much as the Traditions Themselves

Every tradition above has one thing in common: the couple is the centre of attention, from the morning before the ceremony to the last dance. That means the groom's appearance is present in every photograph, every shared memory. The suit gets chosen months in advance, but the accessories — tie, bow tie, pocket square, suspenders — are the details that pull the whole look together and connect it to the wedding's colour story.

At Quentino, we've dressed grooms across hundreds of weddings since 2013, and the most common mistake we see is accessories chosen in isolation. A dusty rose tie ordered separately from the groomsmen's pocket squares, each in a slightly different shade of pink. On the day itself, especially in photos, it reads as uncoordinated rather than intentional. The solution is straightforward: coordinate the groom's accessories with the rest of the wedding party from the start.

If you're unsure where to start, the easiest approach is to choose the bride's bouquet colours first, then build the groom's accessories around one or two of those shades. It's a trick that works every time and creates a visual connection between the two of them in photographs — even without being matchy-matchy.

Three Things Grooms Often Get Wrong on the Wedding Day

1. Matching too exactly instead of coordinating

Identical ties for the groom and all groomsmen look flat and uninspired in photos. The groom should stand out — slightly. A bolder shade, a different texture (woven silk vs. matte twill), or a bow tie where everyone else wears a tie creates a clear visual hierarchy without any effort.

2. Ignoring the pocket square entirely

The pocket square is the most visible accessory in close-up photos — during the first look, during the soup tradition, during the cake cutting. Leaving it out, or using one that clashes with the tie, is a missed opportunity. A simple flat fold in white or ivory works with everything. A bold colour-matched fold elevates the whole look.

3. Leaving accessories until the last week

We hear this often: the suit is sorted, the venue is booked, and then three weeks before the wedding someone asks "what about the ties?" At that point, finding matching accessories for the groom and four groomsmen in one specific shade is genuinely difficult. The earlier you start, the more options you have — and the more cohesive the result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't the groom see the bride before the wedding?

The tradition originates from arranged marriages, where the groom seeing the bride early could lead him to back out of the agreement. Today, couples keep it for the emotional impact — that unrepeatable first reaction at the altar is one of the most photographed moments of the entire day. Some couples opt for a private "first look" before the ceremony, which allows for more relaxed photos and genuine emotion away from the crowd.

What is the meaning of breaking plates before a wedding?

Breaking porcelain before the wedding is a Central European tradition meant to ward off bad luck and evil spirits — the noise was believed to scare them away. The couple then sweeps up the mess together, symbolising their ability to face challenges as a team. It's one of the most joyful pre-wedding traditions and makes for great candid photos.

Should the groom wear a tie or a bow tie to a wedding?

Both work — the choice depends on the formality and setting. A bow tie suits a formal indoor ceremony or an evening wedding, particularly with a dark navy or black suit. A tie works in almost any setting and is easier to adjust throughout the day. For outdoor or summer weddings, a silk or woven tie in a lighter shade feels more natural. The key is that the groom's choice should visually differ from what the groomsmen wear — slightly bolder colour, different texture, or bow tie vs. tie.

How do I coordinate the groom's accessories with the wedding colour palette?

Start with the bride's bouquet colours or the dominant wedding colour, then choose one or two shades from that palette for the groom's tie or bow tie and pocket square. The groom's tie should be slightly deeper or richer than the groomsmen's pocket squares — this creates a natural hierarchy without over-matching. Avoid choosing accessories in isolation; order them together so you can compare shades in the same light.

What is the significance of cutting the wedding cake together?

Cutting the wedding cake together is one of the oldest surviving wedding rituals, originally symbolising shared prosperity and fertility. The couple holds the knife together for the first cut, and the cake is then shared with all guests — starting with grandparents or close family as a sign of respect. In Czech and Slovak tradition, it's also the moment for the first official toast of the evening.

Every tradition tells a story. Make sure the groom looks the part for every single one of them. Handmade ties, bow ties, pocket squares and suspenders — crafted in the Czech Republic since 2013.

With love and respect for your day

David, Petra & Tobi