It’s time for Ask Wedding Experience, where we answer (or do our best to answer) your most pressing wedding-related questions, no matter how weird OR common they might be. Today’s question tackles a time-honored tradition – a tradition that no one seems to understand, despite us all knowing it. That question is, why do wedding cars have cans? The Wedding Experience team takes its best shot at giving you the answer below.
Why do wedding cars have cans tied to the back, anyway?
While many would think that this tradition is simply some strange modern choice, the real story behind it is surprising. This bizarre wedding tradition actually dates back to the Tudor period in England, several hundred years ago. As the carriage carrying the bride and groom pulled away, people would throw shoes at it. Why you ask? Because it was considered good luck to hit the carriage with their shoe. After awhile, the tradition morphed into tying the shoes to the back of the carriage (and eventually, car). Eventually, the shoes were replaced by cans (we’re assuming because of the noise meant to draw attention to the newlyweds, and people got tired of sacrificing their good shoes).
There’s also another explanation that originates in France. Back then, people would bang pots and pans under newlyweds’ windows, until they reappeared in full attire to be cheered. As the French migrated to the U.S., this tradition followed, eventually morphing into the modern one we see today. There are other folk legends that also attribute this tradition to a variety of other cultures. You can learn more about the origin of the French tradition here.
Interested in learning more about other odd wedding traditions? Check out our recent feature on “why do wedding dresses have to be white“, here for more odd wedding news!
