Second-hand superstition
Jun 4th, 2008 by Kate
1776 psp 
Well, it’s only a few weeks till the big day, and I’m searching the web for the last few bits and pieces. At the moment I’m looking on ebay for some white umbrellas – it seems that a lot of people sell their white umbrellas on ebay after the wedding, having never taken them out of the packaging. Getting married in Cumbria, I’m not sure we’ll be so lucky with the weather, so the white umbrellas could come in handy!
Actually, I’ve bought quite a few things for the wedding from ebay, including my bridesmaids’ dresses.
And when it came to my wedding dress, I really liked the idea of a second-hand dress – either from a charity shop, from ebay, from a classified ad site like preloved.co.uk
The Cookout film , or if I was really lucky, Freecycle. But as time ticked on I didn’t find anything suitable and I found something I loved in the sale in my local bridal shop.
I was discussing this with a friend of mine recently, and she was horrified by the idea of buying second-hand wedding goods, particularly a wedding dress. Her argument was: what if the person you were buying it from had got divorced? Surely the dress would then be unlucky?
Superstition aside, there’s a lot to be said for buying wedding items second-hand, and selling them on or giving them to a charity shop afterwards. Table decorations, veils, dresses, tiaras, and even white umbrellas, are all readily available.
Kate
Hi Kate
We bought a lot of second hand items for our wedding too which wasn’t a problem until we started looking for rings.
We went to several antique shops and found that they sold various different kinds of rings except wedding bands. Eventually a lady in one of the shops told us that they never sell antique / second hand wedding bands because people are too superstitious to buy them.
In fact she said that if they received wedding rings they just sent them for scrap! It seems silly to me that so much waste can be created all because of superstition.
Ha, I love reading about people’s superstitions about weddings. I suppose I am defiantly anti-superstition. I absolutely refuse to wear something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. I have no problem wearing something second hand if it appears as an option, but I refuse to believe that the success of our marriage could depend on finding something BLUE!
I prefer to think that something recycled, eg, dress, ring, is just something getting a second chance at success. I don’t think you can attach any sadness to something resource-hungry getting another usage!
I am not superstitious either but did admit to finding it a bit strange when my fiance told me my engagement ring was from an antique shop. After I thought about it though it’s past doesn’t matter…we all have a past don’t we…and I actually it feels more special because my fiance just knew it was the ring for me when he saw it. With the diamond industry being so currupt as well at least you know you are not adding to the violence. All these things are far more important and I absolutely love the ring now!
Hi
Just wanted to say, in today’s climate, I would have thought saving as much money as possible, would be key.
I have been married, and yes it may not have worked out, but the years I was married, it was fabulous…
Hence, I am now selling my ivory and black wedding dress (size 10 and not altered in any way) with matching tiara and veil, 2 black bridesmaids dresses (size 10 and 12) plus my engagement ring and wedding band. In total comes to just under £4000, and are looking to sell the lot for around £1500, plus each item can be sold separately.
These items should not be classed as ‘unlucky’, but an absolute bargain for a future bride to start her new life…
Any interest in the above, please email me at stephish2009@hotmail.co.uk.
thanks
Steph