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 international wedding customs and traditions, and each is beautiful in their own way.
Let’s take a look at 23 wedding customs and traditions from around the world.
23 International Wedding Customs and Traditions
1) Mehndi
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In India traditional Hindu weddings include the Mehndi, a pre-ceremony celebration held the night before, or even a few days before the wedding day. The mehndi artist applies intricate mehndi, or henna, designs to the bride’s hands and feet. Often the groom’s name or initials is hidden in the design.
2) Korovai
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In Ukraine, instead of a wedding cake, they have a special bread, called the korovai, made by the two families to signify their new connection.
3) Silver Wedding Crowns
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In Norway, the bride wears a silver crown with crescent shaped bangles dangling from it. Their clanking fends off evil spirits that are known to attack newlyweds.
4) Circle of Love
In Mexico guests form a heart shaped circle around the couple. The bride and groom dance their first dance in the center of this “circle of love.”
5) A Special Handkerchief
In Belgium, the bride has a dressmaker make a handkerchief embroidered with her name and wedding date on it. After the wedding, the she’ll have it framed, and keeps it in a place of honor. When the next female in the family gets married, the handkerchief is removed from the frame, the new bride’s name and wedding date is added, and she carries on the tradition.
6) Quaich or Loving Cup
At wedding receptions in Scotland, the couple will drink first from a Quaich or loving cup, which is a shallow cup or bowl with two handles. This custom dates back to the 15th century and symbolizes two families coming together. Tradition has it the couples who first drink from a Quaich will have happiness and good fortune.
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7) Stefana
In Greece, bride and groom both wear a crown or wreath of flowers called a stefana. The stefana is the symbol or royalty and the sanctity of marriage. The groom removes his after the ceremony, but the bride keeps hers on as part of the wedding ensemble.
8) 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.
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9) Handfasting
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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.”
10) Sake
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In Japan, during a traditional Shinto ceremony, the couple each takes sips of sake from three cups. This symbolizes their dedication to each other.
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.
11) Ringing Bell
At Irish wedding ceremonies, one of their wedding customs and traditions is 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.
12) 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.
13) Wooden Ducks
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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.
14) Pinch the Bride
In Egypt, women pinch the bride on her wedding day for good luck.
15) 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.
16) 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.
17) The Color Red
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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.
18) 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.
19) Planting a Tree
In Holland, couples plant a pine tree outside their home. This symbolizes fertility and luck.
20) 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.
21) 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. It is one of the most common of wedding customs and traditions that brides still practice today.
- 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 (or penny) in her shoe – symbolizes lasting wealth for the couple.
Photo Credit: b0red from Pixabay
22) Rain
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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” and it rains, it will be difficult for the marriage to unravel).
23) 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 and traditions from around the world have you heard of? Did you (or are you planning to) include any in your wedding? Let me know in the comments below.
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
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