Cultural Wedding Traditions to Borrow or Steal

While some age-old wedding traditions have lost their appeal and significance over time (why are we tying our old shoes to the bumper again…?), others are ripe for adaptation or reinterpretation. Accordingly, we’ve put together a list of wedding customs from cultures around the world that you can incorporate into your own wedding proceedings. Whether you decide to revise them or keep them intact, they can bring a unique twist and extra dose of emotional significance to your union.

What’s especially cool is that nowadays you don’t have to worry about sticking to your own cultural heritage. If you’re Irish Catholic, but love the symbolism of the Hindu Salt Ceremony, then go for it. Or rather than salt, pass a handful of sand from your favorite beach, instead. If your grandmother’s befuddled, you can always blame it on the unusual customs of your in-laws.

African

Sudanese Bridegroom Ceremony

In Sudan, it is a tradition for the groom’s mother-in-law to specially welcome him into the family at the beginning of the ceremony. As he enters the site of the wedding, she will often present him with a personal gift and a flower garland in recognition of the support that he will soon be giving to the family. The ritual is a way to honor the relationship between parents and sons-in-law and to include family in the ceremony.

Egyptian Wedding Procession

Rather than the bride making a solo entrance to the wedding, in Egypt the bride and groom make their entrance together. Often they approach the site of the ceremony in a procession of cars, with friends and family cheering and honking around them. Once they reach the site, they are greeted by a noisy, celebratory procession, called a zaffa, which often features belly dancers, singers and even flamethrowers. The procession is a joyful way for the couple’s loved ones to celebrate their future together.

South African Fire-Lighting Feast

A traditional South African wedding is followed by a feast, called the karamu, at the bride and groom’s new home. The bride’s parents light a first fire in the couple’s new hearth using fire brought from their own home hearth. In this way, the light of love and tradition is passed on into the home of the newlyweds.

Buddhist

Unity Candle Ceremony

It is traditional at Buddhist wedding ceremonies for the groom’s family to arrive at the temple or ceremony site with three candles—one large pillar and two smaller tapers. A parent from each family will light one taper and hand it to his or her child. The bride and groom then together light the large candle to symbolize the union of the two families.

Horoscope Matching

Particularly in India, it is a Buddhist tradition for the groom to consult a lama, or priest, before wedding his intended bride. The priest will consider the matching of their horoscopes, and then determine the most auspicious day for the ceremony to be held. Sometimes he makes this decision in consultation with the groom’s parents.

Catholic

Walking Down the Aisle with Parents

In some Catholic churches the bride and groom are encouraged to each walk down the aisle with their parents. While this rite is generally optional, it is a way to equally acknowledge both sets of parents and the joining together of not just two people, but two families.

The Blessing of the Rings

While in many traditions it is typical for the ring bearer to give the rings directly to the bride and groom to place on one another’s fingers, in the Catholic tradition the rings are first blessed. The best man brings the rings with him to the altar, and then gives them to the priest at the appropriate time in the ceremony. The priest blesses each ring before giving it back to the bride and groom for exchange. 

Chinese

Bridal Cakes

Traditional Chinese weddings once involved a good deal of ceremony both during the engagement process and leading up to the wedding day itself. One tradition was for the groom’s family to present the bride’s family with what were known as “bridal cakes,” in addition to gifts of tea, wine and tobacco. The bride’s family would then distribute the bridal cakes among family and friends as an announcement of the union and invitation to the feast.

The Bridal Bed

On the day before a traditional Chinese wedding, a new bed was brought into the bride and groom’s new home. To bless the bed with good fortune and fertility, children would then climb onto the bed and engage in a joyously noisy scramble for fruit, nuts and sweets that were strewn on the bed for extra incentive.

Double Happiness

The traditional symbol for “double happiness” is frequently featured on contemporary Chinese weddings invitations. There are numerous folktales explaining the origin of the sign, which features the symbol for “happy” repeated twice, forming a composite symbol illustrating an abundance of joy.

 

Christian

Seating of Honored Guests

A Christian wedding ceremony acknowledges the important roles of parents and grandparents in the couple’s lives by beginning the bridal procession with their seating. The tradition also honors the marriages of previous generations. Once the processional music begins, the groom’s grandparents are seated, followed by the bride’s grandparents, then the parents are seated in the same order.

Bridal Veil

In traditional Christian wedding ceremonies, the bride wears a veil that covers her face and head as she walks down the aisle. The veil is lifted by the groom after vows are exchanged. While origins of the tradition are unclear, the bridal veil has come to symbolize purity, modesty and a physical commitment to the groom, although many brides now wear a veil as a form of adornment and a nod to tradition. 

Greek

Crowning Ceremony

The defining moment of an Orthodox Greek wedding ceremony is the crowning of the bride and groom. Crowns that have been blessed by the priest and which are connected with a ribbon are placed on the couple’s heads to symbolize their unity and devotion to God. The couple is then walked around the altar three times in their first steps as a married couple.

Handkerchief Dance

The celebratory dancing is probably the most renowned component of a traditional Greek wedding. The reception dancing begins with the bride and groom performing the kalamatiano, or handkerchief dance. The couple dances together while each holds one end of a scarf or handkerchief. They then invite the rest the guests to join them in the dancing. 

Hindu

Sangeet Party

It is typical for a Hindu Indian bride’s family to hold a Sangeet Party, or evening of entertainment, in the days before the wedding. Singing and dancing are typically featured, as well as food and drink. It is an opportunity friends and family members to meet and greet the bride and groom and their families.

Salt Ceremony

The datar or salt ceremony is a traditional Hindu Indian wedding ritual. Prior to the ceremony, and surrounded by her new family at the groom’s house, the bride gathers a handful of salt and places it in the hands of her husband. He then passes it back to her without spilling it. This is done three times, and the salt is then passed between all member’s of the groom’s family to symbolize their union. 

Hispanic 

The Pledge of 13 Coins

A longstanding Hispanic tradition is for the groom to give an arras (Spanish for “pledge”) or gift of 13 gold coins to the bride during the wedding ceremony. While there are numerous possible explanations for the significance of the number 13, including the number of Christ and his 12 apostles, the gift is a promise of support and trust in the marriage.

First Dance

As in many cultures, the Latin American wedding ceremony features lots of dancing. But a unique component of many Hispanic weddings is for the wedding guests to gather and form the shape of a heart around the newlywed couple during their first dance. 

Indian

Mehndi Ceremony

On the eve of or a few days before the wedding ceremony, it is common for an Indian bride to participate in a mehndi ceremony. The ritual entails the gathering of the bride’s female friends and family members at her home, where they apply elaborate henna patterns to her hands and feet. It is a celebratory occasion designed to make the bride feel beautiful and special on her big day.

Circling the Fire

Hindu Indians believe that a marriage must be witnessed by the fire deity, Agni. During the ceremony, a sacred fire is lit in a copper bowl. The bride and groom circle the fire together in a symbolic gesture of life-long togetherness.

Irish 

Drinking Mead

It is an age-old Irish tradition for guests to drink mead, or honey wine, at a wedding. The drink was thought to have protective powers and to promote virility. It was also customary for the bride and groom to drink mead from special vessels for a month after the wedding, which is where the word “honeymoon” comes from.

Lucky Horseshoe

It is an Irish custom for the bride to carry either a real or a symbolic horseshoe for good fortune on her wedding day. It is believed that the horseshoe must always be worn or carried with the ends facing up, in order to catch and retain the good luck.

Claddagh Ring

The Irish Claddagh ring has become a widely recognized token of marriage. Symbolizing love, honor and friendship, the traditional design depicts hands holding a crowned heart and suggests a couple’s long life together.

Japanese

Drinking Sake

During the course of a traditional Japanese wedding ceremony it is customary for the bride and groom to drink nine cups of sake, which is said to unite them. The rice wine is important to Japanese history and cultural identity, making it a fitting way to recognize a lifelong partnership.

Kimonos

Closely tied to Japanese national identity, kimonos became popular in Japan around the turn of the first millennium. It is traditional for the bride to wear a white kimono in her wedding ceremony, although she often changes into a red kimono or a Western wedding gown at the reception. The groom typically wears a black kimono during the wedding.

Jewish

Chuppah

One of the most prominent features of Jewish weddings, both modern and traditional, is the chuppah, a canopy that symbolizes the home that the couple will build and share together. The chuppah may be either stationary or carried down the aisle and held over the couple by family or wedding guests.

Breaking the Glass

After the conclusion of a Jewish ceremony, it is customary for the groom to break a glass with his foot. Nowadays, the couple will often perform the gesture together. The meaning of the ritual is debated, but one interpretation is that since the glass will remain broken forever, it symbolizes the couple’s everlasting union.

The Ketubah

The ketubah is a marriage contract, which the rabbi performing the ceremony reads under the chuppah following the exchange of rings. After the wedding, couples save and sometimes frame the ketubah as a cherished reminder of their day and their union. Historically, the document was written in Aramaic, but it is now more commonly written in Hebrew. 

The Horah

The Isreali folk dance, the Horah, is commonly performed at Jewish wedding receptions. The guests join hands and dance in a large circle, while the bride and groom are lifted into the air on chairs and celebrated as king and queen of the night. Typically, the dance is accompanied by the Hebrew folk song, Hava Nagila.

Korean

Gift of a Goose

A cherished Korean custom is for the groom to give the bride’s mother a wild goose before the wedding. Today, a wooden goose is often given instead. Since wild geese are believed to mate for life, the gesture symbolizes the lifetime of love and happiness the groom expects to enjoy with his wife.

Throwing Dates + Chestnuts

It is customary for the groom’s parents to throw dates and chestnuts playfully at the bride after the wedding. Often she will try to catch them in her skirt. The gesture expresses a wish for fertility and a happy marriage. 

Muslim

Gift from the Groom

It is a tradition in many Islamic cultures for the groom to give a gift to his bride during the ceremony. The gift does not have to be of great monetary value, but it should be handmade, to express the groom’s commitment to his new bride.

Candied Almonds

Serving candied almonds at wedding receptions is a time-honored Muslim tradition. Due to their reputation as aphrodisiacs, almonds are a symbol of fertility.

Iranian Spread of Symbolic Objects

An Iranian wedding reception takes place at the bride’s parents’ home and can last for up to seven days. The centerpiece is an elaborate floor spread in which symbolic objects—including herbs and species, candles, and fertility tokens—are arranged on an embroidered cashmere, satin or silk cloth. The cloth is typically passed down from mother to daughter. 

Native American

Hopi Engagement Gifts

In the Hopi tradition, when a girl had chosen a boy she would like to marry, she would present him with a loaf of sweet cornmeal cake, called qomi. If the boy accepted the gift, they were considered engaged. In turn, a boy may propose to a girl by leaving a bundle of fine clothing and moccasins by her door.

Ceremonial Hand-washing

In many Native American cultures, water is used as a symbol of purification. Often the bride and groom will wash their hands together during to ceremony in order to signify that they are cleansing their minds, bodies and spirits and beginning a new life together.

The Sacred Fire

Many Native American weddings take place around a fire, which is considered sacred. In one tradition, the bride and groom circle the fire while making their vows. They take seven steps sun-wise (clockwise) and make a vow with each step, while friends and family stand in a circle around them.

Scottish

Double Ceremony

Traditionally, in Scotland, it was typical for the bride and groom to be married twice in consecutive ceremonies. On the day of the wedding, the village would form a procession and lead the couple to the church, where they’d first be married in the Scottish colloquial language outside the doors of the church. The couple would then enter the church and be married again in Latin by the same priest.

The Kilt

Even today, it is customary for a Scottish groom to wear a kilt and other elements of Highland dress, such as knee-high wool socks and a kilt pin, during the wedding ceremony and reception. Traditionally, the kilt is crafted of plaid tartan that indicates which clan, or family, the groom belongs to.

The Luckenbooth

In a custom that dates back to the 1600s, it is a tradition in Scotland for couples to exchange luckenbooths, a sort of brooch that serves as a love token. Later, it was often pinned to the clothing of the first-born baby to protect it from evil spirits. Some luckenbooths have become valuable heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation.

Sikh

The Gana

In a traditional Indian Sikh wedding, it is typical for the bride and groom to wear a gana, or a lucky red thread. It is tied to the right wrist of the groom and the left wrist of the bride, and then tied with objects that are thought to bring good fortune. Lucky objects might include pearls, small bundles of sugar and cowrie shells.

The Vatna Ceremony

A few days before the wedding, an engaged Sikh couple will undergo a ritual application of vatna—a traditional scented powder consisting of barley flour, tumeric and mustard oil—at their respective homes. The ritual is performed by the couple’s families and is thought to cleanse the body and spirit in preparation for marriage.