There’s more than one way to say “I Do.” Weddings are full of customs and practices that are filled with symbolism and positive wishes for the newlyweds and their new marriage. There are so many different wedding customs around the world, and each is beautiful in their own way.
Let’s take a look at 16 wedding customs around the world:
1) Dove Release
In the Philippines, it is tradition for the bride and groom to release a pair of white doves on their wedding day. The dove release symbolizes peace and harmony for their life ahead.
2) Handfasting
The practice of Handfasting has its origins centuries ago from rural Scotland. In this Celtic tradition, the bride’s and groom’s hands are tied together. It is from this practice that we have the term “tying the knot.”
3) Sake
During the wedding ceremony in Japan, the bride, groom, and their parents sip sake from the same three cups. This represents the bond of the two families being united together.
4) Ringing Bell
At Irish wedding ceremonies, it is tradition for someone to ring a bell after the couple recites their wedding vows. The sound of a bell is believed to ward off evil spirits and brings happiness and luck to the marriage.
5) Candy Confetti
In Italy, a little bag with five candy coated almonds, or Confetti, is given to each guest as a wedding favor. The five almonds represent health, wealth, happiness, fertility and longevity for the couple.
6) Wooden Ducks
In Korea, couples include wooden ducks in their ceremony. This is because Mandarin ducks are known to mate for life. Including ducks represents the couples’ new marriage.
7) Pinch the Bride
In Egypt, women pinch the bride on her wedding day for good luck.
8) Lump of Sugar
On the wedding day, Greek brides place a lump of sugar in their wedding dress. This represents bringing sweetness throughout their married life.
9) Sawing a Log
German newlyweds use a two-handed saw to cut through a log. This symbolizes their first challenge they face as a married couple.
10) The Color Red
For the Chinese, the color red represents luck, love, boldness, and wealth. Traditional Chinese weddings typically incorporate a lot of this color – including the bride’s dress and veil, the invitation, and the decorations.
11) Spiders
In England, it is believed to be good luck if a bride finds a spider in her wedding dress. In many cultures, living spiders represent good luck.
12) Planting a Tree
In Holland, couples plant a pine tree outside their home. This symbolizes fertility and luck.
13) Snake Rings
In Victorian England, snake rings were popular, as the snake motif represents eternal love. Prince Albert designed the snake engagement ring he gave to Queen Victoria.
14) Something Old, Something New, . . .
“Something old, something new / Something borrowed, something blue / And a sixpence in her shoe.” This rhyme originated Victorian-era England, and recounts items that the bride needs to have with her on her wedding day for good luck and a happy marriage.
Something old symbolizes the bride-to-be’s past, her family, and her values.
Something new symbolizes a new chapter in the brides life.
Something borrowed symbolizes the assurance that the brides marriage is as happy as the lender’s marriage.
Something blue symbolizes purity, faithfulness, and modesty.
A sixpence in her shoe symbolizes lasting wealth for the couple.
15) Rain
In Italy, as well as other countries and cultures, rain on the wedding day signifies a good luck. There are several reasons, including: rain represents fertility, and signifies cleansing and renewal. Also a knot that gets wet is hard to untie (so if you “tie the knot” it will be difficult for the marriage to unravel).
16) Cake Toppers
No one really seems to know just when this practice started. One story says that this practice started over 100 years ago when a baker’s daughter wanted something on the cake that symbolized the love between her and her husband-to-be.
What other wedding customs around the world have you heard of? Let me know in the comments below.
Photo Credits:
Handfasting – ms2855a via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Korean Wedding Ducks – Rowan Peter via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Traditional Chinese Ceremony – kanegen via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Rain On Wedding Day – Jacob Fink via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
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