What is the history of horseshoes at weddings?
In the UK, there is a custom of people (usually children) greeting a just-married bride at the church door with silver horseshoes on ribbon. As well as horseshoes, there are rolling pins, wooden spoons, chimney sweeps, black cats, wishbones, boots, shoes, bells, etc. The collective name is lucky tokens, and they used to be made of painted cardboard, but now usually of plastic. They are available to buy in stationery or greeting card shops. The bride carries them with her bouquet for the rest of the wedding, and at the reception, they are put on display around the cake with the bouquets. I think it was at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of York that the carriage was decorated with silver horsehoes, the most popular token. Most British wedding confettis feature horsehoes. Horseshoes in this country are reckoned to be lucky. If the gap in the horseshoe is at the top, the good luck is kept in, if at the bottom, the bad luck is let out.
