From stamping on a glass during a Jewish wedding ceremony to exchanging wedding bands, all the wedding traditions we often take for granted have their own history.
Every culture has its own unique, interesting, and amazing wedding traditions. Wedding ceremonies around the world can look remarkably different to those we are used to, and even countries where the ceremonies are similar will often have small details that are only found there.
So if you like the idea of packing your bags to get married while experiencing Tahiti on a cruise or with majestic Norwegian fjords as a background, take a look at some of these fascinating and wonderful wedding traditions from around the world.
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Crown protection in Norway
In Norway, brides wear especially designed silver crowns decorated with good luck charms, to bless the marriage. The tinkling of the charms as the bride moves is also supposed to protect against evil spirits.
All tied up in Mexico
One of the most literal definitions of ‘tying the knot’ in any wedding ceremony! In Mexico, brides and grooms are roped together with a lasso of rosary beads and flowers, draped across the couple’s shoulders in a figure of eight. This symbolizes the ties that bind the couple together, as well as standing for ‘infinity’, signifying that the love will last forever.
Balancing bread in Armenia
In Armenia they have a very different method of protecting newlyweds from evil spirits. Once the wedding ceremony is complete, newly married Armenian couples enter the wedding reception with traditional lavash bread balanced on their shoulders. They break a plate, eat honey, and officially start the celebration!
Clean shaven in Greece
Best man duties in Greece go beyond looking after the rings and planning the bachelor party. Before the ceremony at a Greek wedding the best man will sit the groom down, pull out a razor blade, and shave his beard off! Once he is presentable and ready to be married, the groom’s mother-in-law will feed him honey and almonds as a treat.
Dancing camels in Niger
Wedding receptions in Niger in West Africa usually have a special guest gracing the dance floor - a real live camel. The first dance at a Niger wedding is done by a dromedary, surrounded by guests tapping their feet to the beat of the drum.
A conch serenade in Tahiti
The bride and groom arrive at a Tahitian wedding by catamaran, the traditional boat designed and built in Polynesia. As they step onto the beach, their arrival is greeted by blowing a conch shell, welcoming the couple, alerting their ancestors of the nuptials, and calling down the blessings of the gods.
Temporary tattoos in India
Immediately before an Indian wedding, the bride gathers her closest female friends and relatives together and sit down for hours to have their hands painted in incredibly intricate tattoo designs with mehndi, a paint derived from henna. These wonderful skin paintings will remain in place throughout the wedding and beyond, usually for around two weeks!
Crying in China
The Tujia people of China take the concept of ‘tears of joy’ remarkably seriously. Starting a month before the wedding date, the bride will begin to cry for at least one hour every single day. After ten days of tears, her mother joins in this dolorous ritual, and ten days later, her grandmother as well. By the time the wedding comes around, every female member of the family will be crying, an expression of joy in Tujia culture.
Part of the joy of a wedding in a foreign country is discovering the delightful and unique traditions that make up wedding ceremonies around the world. You might even find inspiration and decide to incorporate another culture’s practices into your own big day!
