What It Really Means When You Dream About Weddings

Dreams are one of the most interesting parts of the human experience. These stories and images that our minds create while we sleep are baffling even to scientists and psychologists, who have contemplated why this phenomenon occurs for generations. It is believed that every person on the planet experiences at least three to six dreams every night, with each dream lasting around 5 to 20 minutes, according to Medical News Today.

Dreams can be whimsical, sexual, romantic, bizarre, and in some cases, just downright scary. Even though science still can't fully explain why dreams occur, mankind has had its theories throughout history. In the early civilizations, people believed that it was a way for the gods to communicate with humans, per Medicine Antiqua. The Ancient Greeks and Romans believed dreams were a form of divination. Sigmund Freud, considered by many to be a founding father of modern psychology, believed it was a way for the mind to release repressed thoughts and feelings, as noted by Scientific American.   

Even though numerous hypotheses have developed since then, there are some things we do know about dreams for certain. For one, we know that every person's dreams are unique. We also know that many people dream about common themes. Some themes are so common that dream analysts have a proposed standard for what they may symbolize, per Sleep Foundation. One very popular dream topic? Weddings. What does it mean, though? There are a number of interpretations. 

There are a number of reasons why you may be dreaming of a wedding. But if you're currently a bride or groom-to-be, you may be dreaming of weddings simply because you are in the process of planning your own. Chances are you are probably overwhelmed or caught up in the day-to-day of planning your wedding. After all, the feat can be very stressful, exciting, and time-consuming, so it makes sense that you would be dreaming about the monumental affair, or even having recurring dreams about it, according to Bustle.  

"Bride-to-be dreams are trying to help you with the different stresses you experience as you plan the big day, as well as help you resolve any issues that need to be taken care of before you start your new life," dream analyst Lauri Quinn Loewenberg told Bustle. 

Wedding dreams in this scenario may also illuminate common wedding fears one may be feeling. "Being late for your wedding is super common, merely because there are so many deadlines you are dealing with, but dreaming something is wrong with the dress often means there is something with yourself you are unhappy with," Loewenbeg added.  

Some people dream about weddings and are single as a Pringle. If you are one of those people, you may be rightfully wondering, "Why in the world am I dreaming about weddings?" Good question. Weddings are considered by many to be the ultimate commitment. It is two people vowing to stay with each other for their entire lives, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, after all. 

Perhaps you are dreaming of weddings because you are about to commit to something else. "To dream of marriage when you aren't planning a wedding would mean there is some other type of commitment you are embarking on in real life," dream analyst Lauri Quinn Loewenberg, author of "Dream On It,"  told Bustle. "Whatever this commitment or obligation is, your subconscious is presenting it to you in the form of a marriage so you can better understand your role in it."

In contrast, you may fear commitment and your dreams are allowing you to work through it. "In our dreams, we test out different possible solutions and reactions to the people and situations in our life, and when we get comfortable with whatever the response is, we bring the behavior out into our waking life. The dream is the safe place where we get to rehearse potential responses," Layne Dalfen, dream columnist and expert for Oprah Daily and Psychology Today, told BRIDES.

If you're dreaming of weddings and are confused as to why, it might be because deep down, you want to get married. Perhaps you're in a long term relationship and are thinking about tying the knot with your sweetie. Or perhaps you're single, and just want to get married down the road. In either scenario, there are some important factors to consider before taking the plunge.

If you're in a relationship, Dr. LeslieBeth Wish suggested Elite Daily that you take a moment to "get a bird's-eye view of you and your past," as well as "challenge your assumptions, mindset, your feelings, and life situations" before deciding if marriage is the next step for you. Dr. Wish also suggests you contemplate if you are "worried about getting older and ending up alone"; if you're "the only one in your family or friend group who is not engaged or married"; and how satisfied you are in your relationship.

Hopefully, this clears up some of your concerns about dreaming about your special day.