Why You Need To Include This Little Known Southern Tradition: Burying the Bourbon
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Southern wedding traditions are so much fun to include on your special day, whether you’re in the south or not! While some wedding traditions are more common like wearing something old, borrowed, and blue, others can be less common like burying the bourbon.
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Burying the Bourbon
So what is this tradition and what’s the best way to incorporate it for your wedding? Burying the bourbon is as simple as it sounds, you’re literally burying bourbon! However, it’s done before your actual wedding day. In fact, it’s suggested you bury it exactly one month in advance.
The tradition also has a couple more stipulations, the bottle must be upside down and completely full. Though, there are no specifications as to what size and brand of bourbon is necessary. That’s up to the happy couple!
What’s the Point?
Southern brides originally started burying the bourbon because, according to folklore, it prevents bad weather on their wedding day. With warmer, typically more temperate weather, weddings in the south tend to be outside rather than inside. This has made it important to southern brides over the years to cover the bases when hoping for good wedding day weather!
Today, some superstitious brides may carry on with the tradition in the hopes of sunny skies on the day of their nuptials, but many southern brides think southern traditions make their wedding feel extra special and unique! Not to mention, what groom and his groomsmen won’t enjoy digging up the bourbon and enjoying it at the reception?
Additionally, burying the bourbon makes for a great photo opportunity! Many couples opt for just the wedding day pictures, but doing a before and after is a great idea too. Don’t forget a shovel!
How to Do It
To summarize, the tradition requires:
- Bury a bottle of bourbon exactly 1 month before your wedding, at the wedding venue location
- The bottle of bourbon must be upside down in the ground
- The bottle of bourbon must be completely full and unopened
- Make a map or mark the spot with some sort of marker so you can find it on your wedding day and don’t lose it!
