"Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a lucky six-pence in your shoe." This custom originated in England. Brides both in Germany and the US adhere to it. According to the tradition, the bride is supposed to carry the following things with her at her wedding and integrate them into her attire:

• Something Old represents the link to the bride's old life and her family. The wearing of such an item insures a transfer of happiness to the new bride and signifies a sense of continuity and tradition ( e.g., a family heirloom).
• Something New is for good fortune, happiness, and success in the bride's new life. It signifies hope for the future married life of the bride (e.g., a new wedding dress, the wedding band).
• Something Borrowed is a concept that reminds the bride that she has family and friends to look to at all times. The bride borrows something from a happily married friend or family member (e.g., a special handkerchief).
• Something Blue signifies fidelity, purity, and love (e.g., a blue garter).
• A lucky silver six-pence must be worn in the heel of the left shoe to insure wealth and prosperity. However, the part "and a lucky six-pence in your shoe" is not part of the tradition in every country.

During the ceremony, the flower girl spreads flower petals on the floor before the bride walks down the aisle. This custom symbolizes the wish for many children for the couple.

The ancients believed that a special vein, which they called a "vena amoris" or vein of love, ran from the ring finger directly to the heart. By putting on a fitted ring, the affections were bound in and could never flow out the finger tips. In English-speaking countries, the wedding band has been worn on the left since the edict of Edward VI in 1549, whereas in Germany it is worn on the right hand.

All the single female guests and attendants gather behind the bride, who blindly tosses the bouquet behind herself. Tradition holds that whoever catches the bouquet will get married next.

The wedding cake is usually a large cake, multi-layered or tiered. Tradition generally requires that the first cut of the cake be performed by the bride and groom together, symbolically the first task they perform jointly as husband and wife. Then, the bride and groom feed the first bites of the cake to each other. This provides another lovely piece of symbolism, the mutual commitment of the bride and groom to provide for one another.