Home > Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Bad Luck? A Cultural and Historical Investigation

Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Bad Luck? A Cultural and Historical Investigation

So, is rain on your wedding day a good thing or a total disaster? Let's dig in.
Disclaimer: The pictures shown here are meant to visually support the topic. They’re imaginative or representative visuals, not depictions of real situations or individuals.

You’ve planned everything. The dress, the cake, the weird uncle you had to invite... but you can't plan the weather. So what happens when it rains on your big day? Is it a sign of good luck, or is your marriage doomed before it starts?

Rain on Your Wedding Day: Blessing or Bummer?

A rainy forecast can send any couple into a panic. When dark clouds gather, it feels like the whole day might be a wash. But an old piece of folklore says that rain on your wedding day is actually good luck. 1

A bride and groom kissing under a clear umbrella during a gentle rain shower on their wedding day.

So which is it? This question shows a funny conflict between ancient symbols and modern problems. Our superstitions have definitely evolved.

The Good Luck Side

The positive spin on rain is tied to some really old, life-affirming symbols. The biggest one is fertility. In farming cultures, rain watered the earth so crops could grow. 3

By that logic, rain on a wedding was a blessing that meant the new family would also be fruitful. It was a sign that the couple would be blessed with kids. 3 Rain is also seen as a giant cosmic ‘reset’ button. It symbolically cleanses the couple of past sorrows and hardships, giving them a clean slate. 4

The fresh scent after a rainstorm feels like a new beginning, a metaphor for the marriage itself. 6 But maybe the coolest symbol is that of unity. Tying a knot with a wet rope makes it incredibly difficult to untie, the fibers swell and tighten. 1

A close-up of a sailor's knot in a thick rope, wet with water droplets, showing how the fibers have swollen and tightened.

So, a marriage that begins with rain is believed to be extra strong and permanent. 1 A bond that can’t be broken.

Key "Good Luck" Symbols: Rain on a wedding day is seen as a blessing for Fertility (like watering crops), Cleansing (a fresh start for the couple), and Unity (a wet knot is harder to untie, symbolizing a strong, lasting marriage).

The Bad Luck Side

Of course, there’s a flip side. A less common view is that rain brings sorrow. Each raindrop is said to represent a tear the bride will shed in her marriage. 7

Stormy weather with dark clouds and thunder? That could mean a rocky partnership ahead. 7 But in a classic twist, the good-luck version claims the rain represents the last tears the bride will ever cry. 4

This negative view seems less about ancient beliefs and more about modern frustrations. Let’s be honest, a ruined outdoor venue, a muddy dress, and cold guests are a huge bummer. 10 That real-world frustration likely morphed into its own superstition.

Today, telling an anxious bride “it’s good luck!” is a kind of emotional first aid. It reframes a bad situation into a good one, showing how folklore now helps us manage our feelings. 12

Where Did This Superstition Come From?

To get why rain is considered good luck, you have to think like a farmer. In pre-modern, agrarian societies, survival was tied to the land. Rain wasn't just weather, it was a life-giving gift that decided if you’d eat or starve. 3

Gentle rain falling on a field of young green crops, symbolizing fertility and a good harvest.

A wedding, the creation of a new family, was seen like a harvest. Rain on the big day was a clear sign of good fortune, a promise that the household would be fertile and prosperous. 15

European Roots

This belief shows up all over European folklore. In the Celtic handfasting ceremony, a couple's hands were literally tied together with a cord. 17 This connects directly to the "wet knot" idea.

Anyone who has worked with rope knows that water makes a knot tighter. Different cultures, from ancient Europe to India, noticed this and used it as a metaphor for a strong marriage. A marriage sealed in rain was just... stronger.

This positive link is strong in Irish tradition. An old English saying might be, "Happy is the bride that the sun shines on," but many Irish blessings see rain as a good thing. 10 The famous blessing "May the road rise up to meet you" also wishes "may rains fall soft upon your fields." 18

Another Irish blessing says it plain and simple: "Happy is the bride that rain falls on". 18 Italian folklore also connects rain on a wedding day to good luck and fertility, tying back to farming roots. 21

What the Rest of the World Thinks

The idea that wedding day rain is lucky is a global thing. Cultures all over the world came to the same conclusion, each with its own unique spin.

India and East Asia

The Hindu tradition is a huge supporter of this belief. In Hinduism, rain is a clear and powerful blessing from the gods, associated with compassion and devotion, which are key for a good marriage. 23

The falling water is seen as a divine thumbs-up for the union. 3 The core beliefs are fertility (rain for crops equals rain for babies) and unity, thanks to that "wet knot" metaphor making the marriage bond impossible to break. 1

In Japan, a sunshower (rain while the sun is out) is called kitsune no yomeiri , or "the fox's wedding". 25 Legend says that mystical fox spirits, or kitsune , hold their weddings during sunshowers, using the rain as a curtain to hide from humans. 26

An artistic illustration of Japanese kitsune (fox spirits) in traditional wedding attire, walking in a procession during a sunshower.

A similar idea exists in Korea, where a sunshower is called yeo-woo bi ("fox rain") or is said to happen when a "tiger is getting married". 27

Africa and Abrahamic Faiths

In many African cultures, rain is a divine blessing of abundance for the new couple. 3 But some traditions are more practical. The Pedi people of South Africa, for example, perform rituals to prevent rain during a wedding, even though they believe rain is a good omen for the marriage itself. 28

This perfectly captures the modern dilemma, trying to balance long-term symbolic good with short-term practical needs. As for the Bible, it doesn’t specifically mention rain on a wedding day. 12

So, any interpretation comes from how rain is generally portrayed. Throughout the scriptures, rain is shown as a sign of God's favor and blessing, a reward for obedience. 30 It’s seen as a symbol of divine cleansing, like baptism, washing away the past for a fresh start. 15

"Isn't It Ironic?": How Pop Culture Redefined the Rainy Wedding

For centuries, the meaning of a rainy wedding was tied to farming and faith. But in the late 20th century, pop culture rewrote the story. A single song lyric reframed the event for a whole generation, not as good or bad luck, but as just plain ironic.

In 1996, Alanis Morissette released her massive hit "Ironic." The line, "It's like rain on your wedding day," instantly became a cultural reference for the ultimate bummer. 12 The song presented a perfect day, ruined by random bad luck. 32

A stylized graphic representing the lyric 'It's like rain on your wedding day' from Alanis Morissette's song 'Ironic.'

This hit home with a modern audience who saw rain as a logistical nightmare, not a blessing for crops. The song sparked a huge debate about what "irony" actually means. 34

The Pop Culture Effect: Alanis Morissette's 1996 hit "Ironic" single-handedly reframed a rainy wedding for millions, changing its perception from an ancient symbol of good luck to a modern example of an unfortunate, ironic bummer.

Technically, it's not ironic, just unfortunate. But that didn't matter. For millions, the song cemented rain on your wedding day as a bad thing, a cosmic joke. 34 It shows how mass media can create modern folklore almost overnight.

You can see this split view online. On Reddit, you'll find stories from couples who were devastated by rain, and others who said it made their day more magical and intimate (with amazing photos to prove it). 37, 39 A search for a "rain on your wedding day GIF" gives you two options: a miserable, soaking-wet bride or a super-romantic couple kissing under an umbrella. 41

The Reality of a Rainy Wedding

Symbolism is nice, but for a modern couple, a rainy wedding day means one thing: stress. The real challenge is managing an expensive, emotional event when the weather just won't cooperate.

The Stress and the Silver Linings

For anyone planning an outdoor wedding, it all comes down to "Plan B". 1 This means last-minute calls for tents, moving the ceremony indoors, and juggling vendors, all while trying to stay calm. 45 The worries are real: a muddy dress, ruined hair, and unhappy guests. 46

And yet... great things can come from the chaos. Photographers love rainy days. The overcast sky creates soft, flattering light, and colors look more vibrant. 1

A stunning wedding photograph of a couple reflected in a puddle, holding an umbrella as rain falls around them, creating a romantic and artistic scene.

Plus, moving everyone inside creates a "forced coziness." Guests are closer together, leading to a warmer, more communal vibe. 1

The First Test

A rainy wedding day often becomes a metaphor for the marriage itself, it's the first big test of the partnership. 1 A wedding is planned with a perfect outcome in mind, just like a marriage. Rain is the first unpredictable problem that messes up the plan.

The First Test of Marriage: How a couple handles unexpected rain on their wedding day is often seen as a metaphor for how they will navigate future challenges together—with frustration or with grace and teamwork.

How a couple reacts, with anger or with humor and grace, shows how they'll handle future challenges together. Successfully getting through a rainy wedding isn't about luck. It’s a real-life demonstration of the teamwork that makes a good marriage.

The Verdict: A Shower of Good Fortune

So, after looking at centuries of folklore and modern pop culture, is rain on your wedding day bad luck? There are two stories here. The modern one, born from convenience and a '90s pop song, frames rain as a frustrating disaster.

But that view is dwarfed by a much older story. This belief, found all over the world, is powerful and consistent. From Hindu traditions to Celtic rituals, rain is a profound blessing.

It symbolizes fertility, cleansing, and a fresh start. Most importantly, it's a symbol of unity, a force that tightens the marital knot to make it unbreakable. While it's definitely inconvenient, the overwhelming weight of history says it's a sign of good fortune.

The idea that it's "bad luck" is a new invention. By a huge majority of global traditions, rain on your wedding day isn't a curse. It’s a shower of good fortune for a marriage that will be strong and full of life.

Works cited

  1. Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Really Good Luck? - Brides, https://www.brides.com/rain-wedding-day-good-luck-8348952
  2. Is It Good Luck To Rain On Your Wedding Day? - Universal Life Church, https://www.ulc.org/ulc-blog/is-it-good-luck-to-rain-on-your-wedding-day
  3. Rain on Wedding Day: Good Luck Or Just Myth? - happywedd, https://www.happywedd.com/blog/rain-on-wedding-day-good-luck-or-just-myth/
  4. thepinkbride.com, https://thepinkbride.com/wedding-superstition-3-rainy-days/
  5. suffolkconferencecenter.com, https://suffolkconferencecenter.com/blog/19-positive-things-that-happen-with-rain-on-your-wedding-day/#:~:text=Good%20Luck%20and%20Fertility,of%20a%20happy%2C%20thriving%20marriage.
  6. The way we see it Rain on a wedding day is good luck! | The Gardens of Cranesbury View, https://www.gardensofcranesburyview.com/the-way-we-see-it-rain-on-a-wedding-day-is-good-luck/
  7. Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Good Luck? - Zola Expert Wedding Advice, https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/is-rain-on-your-wedding-day-good-luck
  8. Wedding Superstitions: Rainy Wedding Day - A Perfect Blend Entertainment, https://apbentertainment.com/wedding-superstitions-rainy-wedding-day/
  9. Is Rain on your Wedding Day Good Luck? | Colorado Wedding Photographer, https://elizabethjanephotography.com/is-rain-on-your-wedding-day-good-luck/
  10. Rain On Your Wedding Day - Good Luck or Bad Luck? - Jennifer Cram, https://www.jennifercram.com.au/BLOG/rain_on_your_wedding_day_good_or_bad_luck.htm
  11. What is the superstition about rain during an outdoor wedding? - Quora, https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-superstition-about-rain-during-an-outdoor-wedding
  12. 7 Positive Things That Happen With Rain on Your Wedding Day, https://hillcitybride.com/2022/02/rain-on-your-wedding-day/
  13. Whoever said that rain on your wedding day is good luck was just trying to calm down an anxious bride. : r/Showerthoughts - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/Showerthoughts/comments/9e7f66/whoever_said_that_rain_on_your_wedding_day_is/
  14. Rain on Wedding Day Meaning: A Sign of Good Luck? - Nolte's Bridal, https://noltesbridal.com/rain-on-wedding-day-meaning-a-sign-of-good-luck/
  15. Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Good Luck? | Wedding Spot Blog, https://www.wedding-spot.com/blog/is-rain-on-your-wedding-day-good-luck
  16. Rain on Your Wedding Day: Why is It Good Luck? - Evoke Photography, https://evokephotography.com.au/why-rain-is-good-luck-on-your-wedding-day
  17. Why rain is good luck on your wedding day - SvenStudios, https://svenstudios.com/2017/07/why-rain-is-good-luck-wedding-day/
  18. Why Is Rain on Your Wedding Day Good Luck? The History & Origin, https://www.theknot.com/content/rain-on-wedding-day-good-luck
  19. 3 REASONS TO CELEBRATE RAIN ON YOUR WEDDING DAY - Thicket Priory, https://thicketpriory.co.uk/3-reasons-to-celebrate-rain-on-your-wedding-day/
  20. Irish Wedding Superstitions - Gaelic Matters, https://www.gaelicmatters.com/wedding-superstitions.html
  21. Wedding superstitions - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedding_superstitions
  22. Rain on the Wedding Day | Dartmouth Folklore Archive, https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/folklorearchive/2016/11/13/rain-on-the-wedding-day/
  23. www.theknot.com, https://www.theknot.com/content/rain-on-wedding-day-good-luck#:~:text=The%20History%20and%20Origin%20of%20the%20Superstition&text=In%20Hinduism%2C%20rain%20is%20associated,move%2C%20a%20blessed%20fresh%20start.
  24. Consider Yourself Lucky If It Rains During Your Wedding Day! - Hamaraevent, https://www.hamaraevent.com/blog-on-events-venues-weddings-and-parties/consider-yourself-lucky-if-it-rains-during-your-wedding-day
  25. Kitsune no yomeiri - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune_no_yomeiri
  26. October Mythology Special: The Legends Surrounding Sun Showers - Bloom Reviews, https://bloomreviewsblog.com/2018/10/15/october-mythology-special-the-legends-surrounding-sun-showers/
  27. Day 62: Fox Rain, Tiger's marrying foxes & sunshowers | A new day, a new thing, https://anewdayanewthing.wordpress.com/2015/03/03/day-62-fox-rain-tigers-marrying-foxes-sunshowers/
  28. The making and prevention of rain amongst the Pedi tribe of South ..., https://scielo.org.za/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0259-94222013000100004
  29. wisdomshort.com, https://wisdomshort.com/books/bible/on-rain-wedding-day#:~:text=The%20Bible%20does%20not%20specifically,viewing%20it%20as%20good%20luck.
  30. 19 Positive Things That Happen With Rain on Your Wedding Day - Suffolk Conference Center, https://suffolkconferencecenter.com/blog/19-positive-things-that-happen-with-rain-on-your-wedding-day/
  31. What does the Bible say about rain on your wedding day ..., https://wisdomshort.com/books/bible/on-rain-wedding-day
  32. Ironic (song) - Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironic_(song)
  33. In defense of Ironic! That stuff really is ironic according to 1900 dictionary : r/alanismorissette, https://www.reddit.com/r/alanismorissette/comments/q53fs7/in_defense_of_ironic_that_stuff_really_is_ironic/
  34. “Ironic” by Alanis Morissette - ReadWriteThink, https://www.readwritethink.org/sites/default/files/resources/lesson-docs/Irony_Examples.pdf
  35. CMV: Many of the examples in _Ironic_ by Alanis Morissette are in fact ironic. - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/changemyview/comments/fcxykt/cmv_many_of_the_examples_in_ironic_by_alanis/
  36. Did Alanis Morissette Get Irony Right? - Copyblogger, https://copyblogger.com/did-alanis-morissette-get-irony-right/
  37. Rain messed up our wedding and now I'm dealing with post wedding blues (vent post) - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/wedding/comments/14y6gk8/rain_messed_up_our_wedding_and_now_im_dealing/
  38. Title: Our Wedding Had a Rainstorm… and It Was Honestly Magical - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/wedding/comments/1lwlf59/title_our_wedding_had_a_rainstorm_and_it_was/
  39. Did it rain on your wedding day? : r/BigBudgetBrides - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/BigBudgetBrides/comments/1bv0tkp/did_it_rain_on_your_wedding_day/
  40. It's going to rain on my wedding day… - Reddit, https://www.reddit.com/r/wedding/comments/1mc1ihk/its_going_to_rain_on_my_wedding_day/
  41. Rain on Your Wedding Day: Embrace Good Luck with a Rainy Day Wedding - Belvedere Events & Banquets, https://belvederebanquets.com/rain-on-your-wedding-day/
  42. 47 Couples Who Absolutely Nailed Their Rainy Day Wedding Photos - wedissimo, https://wedissimo.com/rain-day-wedding-photos/
  43. Rain on your wedding--officially freaking out! | Weddings, Planning | Wedding Forums | WeddingWire, https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/rain-on-your-wedding-officially-freaking-out/d2be49e3787553a6.html
  44. ADVICE FOR RAIN ON A WEDDING DAY; RAINY WEDDING TIPS - Natalie J Weddings, https://www.nataliejweddings.com/rainy-wedding-day-advice-top-tips/
  45. How to prepare for rain on your wedding day | Lauren Baker Photography Blog, https://laurenbakerphoto.com/2018/05/how-to-prepare-for-rain-on-your-wedding/
  46. i want to cry - calling for rain on wedding day | Weddings, Planning ..., https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/i-want-to-cry-calling-for-rain-on-wedding-day/dc8e33211e8768bc.html
  47. Any other Rain drenched brides?? Stories to make me feel better please !, https://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/any-other-rain-drenched-brides-stories-to-make-me-feel-better-please/
  48. It's going to rain on my wedding day and I'm depressed about it - Weddingbee-Boards, https://boards.weddingbee.com/topic/its-going-to-rain-on-my-wedding-day-and-im-depressed-about-it/
  49. How to Handle Rain on Your Wedding Day - Pine Lake Ranch, https://pinelakeranch.com/how-to-handle-rain-on-your-wedding-day/
  50. Mother Nature's Wedding Present: 11 Ways Rain Will Improve Your Wedding Day | North Georgia Barn Wedding Blog | Planning Tips & Inspiration, https://www.coldcreekfarm.com/blog/mother-natures-wedding-present-11-ways-rain-will-improve-your-wedding-day
  51. 22 of the Best Rainy Day Wedding Photos - weddingsonline, https://www.weddingsonline.ie/blog/22-of-the-best-rainy-day-wedding-photos/
  52. Rain on a Wedding Day | Top 6 Tips for What To Do - In Love and Adventure, https://inloveandadventure.com/rain-on-wedding-day/