It’s spring! In many parts of the country that means lots and lots of rain. After all, we need those April showers to bring May flowers. If you are planning on getting married in the spring though, you may not be so keen of the idea of having your big day be wet and gray. Most brides hope the day will bring cloudless skies and bright sunshine. Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about Mother Nature. So if your wedding day forecast calls for rain you may wonder how it is going to affect your special day. There are, in fact, many different beliefs about what it means when it rains on your wedding day. Here are a few of the most common:

Many cultures believe that rain on your wedding day is good luck. In the Hindu tradition rain on the wedding day is considered lucky, as it is believed to foretell a strong marriage. The logic behind this belief is that a wet knot is more difficult to untie. (Getting married is often referred to as “tying the knot.”) So if it rains on your wedding day you will have a long, happy marriage.

Rain is also believed to be a symbol of fortune and abundance, which falls generously on the bride and groom. It brings good wishes and washes away all the couple’s troubles and woes. It also means you will be blessed with fertility and have many children because rain is what replenishes reservoirs and sustains crops.

A more direct interpretation of rain brining luck is the thought that if it rains on your wedding day and everything proceeds smoothly, the marriage will be a success because it shows that you work well together under pressure in the face of obstacles.

A few cultures do not believe that rain on your wedding day is lucky, but quite the opposite. There is an old saying that goes, “Happy is the bride whom the sun shines on.” This goes with hand-in-hand with a popular belief that rain on your wedding day brings unhappiness, bad luck, and tears throughout your married life.

No matter what the weather is on your wedding day keep this in mind: You have a lifetime of sunny and rainy days alike to spend with the one you love throughout your married life. So grab an umbrella and smile! And remember, from “I will” to “I do” I’m here for you.