Music, dance and procession

A wedding without music is rare. The band at the gate, the drum on the road, the first dance, the choir in the church and the dance that goes on past midnight are all part of how a community says that this is a joyful day. Music also tells guests what to do: stand, walk, clap, throw money or join the circle.

Procession and call

North Indian weddings are led by the baraat band with dhol drummers and a brass ensemble, and the groom may arrive on a mare. In Ghana and Nigeria, drummers and singers precede the groom's family. In Greece the daouli and zurna lead the groom's party, and in Turkey the davul and zurna play through the streets. In Egypt and the Levant a zaffe, a theatrical entrance of drummers, dancers and sometimes a sword bearer, brings the couple into the hall.

Dances with meaning

The Jewish hora lifts the couple on chairs. The Greek kalamatianos and the Georgian kartuli are circle dances where family join hands. In Poland the oczepiny, the capping of the bride, is followed by dancing and games. In the Philippines the money dance, and in Poland and the Polish diaspora the dollar dance, bring cash to the couple. In Scotland the ceilidh is danced by all ages, and in Ireland the reel and the jig do the same.

What is changing

Playlists have replaced many live bands, though live music is still prized. Couples choose a first-dance song, and some arrange choreographed routines that go viral. Devout communities sometimes restrict music or use only voices and drums, and these choices are respected as part of the tradition.