Cities, towns and villages
812 places with their own wedding traditions: the customs each is known for, where weddings are held, and a wedding trail idea for many.
South Asia
India, 4 traditionsDelhiThe capital is the wedding market of north India, where Punjabi, Marwari, Bengali and Muslim weddings all find their venues, caterers and jewellers.India, 2 traditionsNew DelhiIndia, 1 traditionBengaluruA technology city where Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Konkani weddings meet, with a quiet, early-morning Kannada rite.India, 1 traditionBhujIndia, 1 traditionChandigarhPakistan, 1 traditionHunzaIndia, 1 traditionHyderabadA city where Telugu Hindu weddings and Deccani Muslim nikahs sit side by side, famous for the bridal biryani and the pearl.India, 1 traditionJaipurThe pink city is a destination for palace weddings, with Rajput and Marwari rites, elephants in some processions and a long jewellery tradition.India, 1 traditionJodhpurThe blue city and its palace, home to Marwari weddings with turbans, a sword at the gate and the dhol.India, 1 traditionKanchipuramThe temple town where the bridal silk sari is woven and bought for much of south India.India, 1 traditionKannurIndia, 1 traditionKasaragodIndia, 1 traditionKochiA Kerala port city where Hindu, Syrian Christian, Muslim and Jewish weddings have lived together for centuries.India, 1 traditionKozhikodeIndia, 1 traditionKuthampullyIndia, 1 traditionLucknowA city of Awadhi courtesy, where Muslim and Hindu weddings share a refined tradition of food, chikan embroidery and manners.India, 1 traditionMalappuramIndia, 1 traditionMumbaiIndia's largest city, where Marathi, Gujarati, Parsi, Catholic and film-world weddings share the same streets.India, 1 traditionOttapalamIndia, 1 traditionRajkotIndia, 1 traditionThrissurIndia, 1 traditionUdaipurThe lake city of palaces, one of the most popular settings for large destination weddings in India.India, 0 traditionsAgraIndia, 0 traditionsAhmedabadA Gujarati wedding city of garba nights, mehndi markets and the bridegroom's arrival with song and a sword.India, 0 traditionsAmritsarThe home of the Golden Temple, where the Sikh Anand Karaj is sung around the Guru Granth Sahib.India, 0 traditionsAurangabadIndia, 0 traditionsAyodhyaIndia, 0 traditionsBareillyNepal, 0 traditionsBhaktapurA medieval Newar town whose streets still hold the Newar marriage rites in courtyard houses.India, 0 traditionsBhopalIndia, 0 traditionsChennaiA Tamil wedding city of silk saris, banana-leaf feasts, nadaswaram music and the tying of the thali.Bangladesh, 0 traditionsChittagongIndia, 0 traditionsCoimbatoreSri Lanka, 0 traditionsColomboWhere Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher weddings meet, and where the poruwa is the heart of a Sinhalese ceremony.Bangladesh, 0 traditionsDhakaA river city where the holud, the akd and the bou bhat make a wedding of several evenings.Pakistan, 0 traditionsFaisalabadIndia, 0 traditionsFaridabadBangladesh, 0 traditionsGazipurIndia, 0 traditionsGhaziabadIndia, 0 traditionsGoaA small coastal state where Catholic, Hindu and Muslim weddings coexist and where beach weddings are a business.Pakistan, 0 traditionsGujranwalaIndia, 0 traditionsGuruvayurA Krishna temple town where dozens of weddings are held in a single morning.India, 0 traditionsGuwahatiThe gateway to Assam, where the bride wears mekhela chador and the Assamese wedding is a simple rite with songs.India, 0 traditionsGwaliorPakistan, 0 traditionsHyderabadIndia, 0 traditionsIndorePakistan, 0 traditionsIslamabadIndia, 0 traditionsJabalpurIndia, 0 traditionsJamshedpurNepal, 0 traditionsJanakpurAfghanistan, 0 traditionsKabulA wedding city of large halls, the henna night and the walwar, a payment from the groom's family that is a point of debate.Sri Lanka, 0 traditionsKandyThe hill capital of the Kandyan kingdom, whose bridal sari and drummers shaped the Sinhalese wedding.India, 0 traditionsKanpurPakistan, 0 traditionsKarachiPakistan's largest city, with weddings of Memon, Sindhi, Pashtun, Baloch and Muhajir families and a loud, multi-night mehndi culture.Nepal, 0 traditionsKathmanduA valley city where Newar, Brahmin, Chhetri and Tamang weddings use red, the tika and the shehnai.India, 0 traditionsKolkataA city of Bengali weddings with the shankha bangle, the sindoor, the sari-draped bride and the long fish feast.India, 0 traditionsKotaPakistan, 0 traditionsLahoreA city of Punjabi weddings with a dhol, a long mehndi night, the barat and a feast of many dishes.India, 0 traditionsMaduraiThe temple city of Meenakshi, whose own celestial wedding is re-enacted every year in spring.Maldives, 0 traditionsMaléA dense island capital where weddings are Muslim, small by South Asian standards, and often held at a resort or a family home.India, 0 traditionsMayiladuthuraiIndia, 0 traditionsMeerutPakistan, 0 traditionsMultanIndia, 0 traditionsNagpurBangladesh, 0 traditionsNarayanganjIndia, 0 traditionsNashikIndia, 0 traditionsNavi MumbaiIndia, 0 traditionsPatnaA Bihari wedding city with lively folk songs, a custom of kohbar paintings and the old practice of the groom's kidnapping in jest.Pakistan, 0 traditionsPeshawarIndia, 0 traditionsPrayagrajIndia, 0 traditionsPuneThe cultural capital of Maharashtra, known for the traditional Marathi wedding, the nauvari sari and the Peshwa-era halls.Pakistan, 0 traditionsQuettaIndia, 0 traditionsRaipurIndia, 0 traditionsRanchiPakistan, 0 traditionsRawalpindiIndia, 0 traditionsSolapurSri Lanka, 0 traditionsSri Jayawardenepura KotteIndia, 0 traditionsSrinagarA Kashmiri wedding is long and rich with a wazwan feast of many courses and the song of the wanwun.India, 0 traditionsSuratBangladesh, 0 traditionsSylhetA tea and shrine city whose wedding customs are carried by the Sylheti diaspora from London to Dhaka.India, 0 traditionsThaneBhutan, 0 traditionsThimphuThe Bhutanese capital, where the bride wears a kira, a scarf is offered, and weddings are modest and religious.India, 0 traditionsVadodaraIndia, 0 traditionsVaranasiThe holy city on the Ganges, where many Hindu couples come to seek blessings and where Banarasi silk is woven for the bride.India, 0 traditionsVasai-VirarIndia, 0 traditionsVijayawada
Southeast Asia
Indonesia, 2 traditionsLombokIndonesia, 1 traditionJakartaA megacity where every region's adat, from Javanese siraman to Betawi palang pintu, is held in a ballroom.Malaysia, 1 traditionKota BharuIndonesia, 1 traditionPalembangIndonesia, 1 traditionPandai SikekIndonesia, 1 traditionSambasMyanmar, 0 traditionsBaganAn ancient temple plain where village weddings mix Buddhism, spirit worship and the sunrise.Brunei, 0 traditionsBandar Seri BegawanThailand, 0 traditionsBangkokThai weddings here start in the morning with monks, a procession of gifts and the pouring of water over the couple's hands.Vietnam, 0 traditionsBiên HòaVietnam, 0 traditionsCần ThơPhilippines, 0 traditionsCebuThe oldest Spanish city in the islands, where Visayan weddings come with lechon, a dance of the bride and groom and the Santo Nino.Thailand, 0 traditionsChiang MaiA northern Thai city with khantoke dinners, Lanna dress and the baci-like tying of the wrist.Vietnam, 0 traditionsDa NangIndonesia, 0 traditionsDenpasarThe Balinese capital, where marriage also means changing the village and the family temple of the bride.Timor-Leste, 0 traditionsDiliVietnam, 0 traditionsHaiphongVietnam, 0 traditionsHanoiA Vietnamese wedding city of betel and areca gifts, lacquered trays and the ao dai.Vietnam, 0 traditionsHo Chi Minh CityA southern Vietnamese wedding city with big restaurant banquets, tiered gift trays and a red ao dai.Vietnam, 0 traditionsHueThe old imperial capital, whose court style still shapes the formal Vietnamese wedding and the bridal ao dai.Vietnam, 0 traditionsHuếMalaysia, 0 traditionsKuala LumpurMalay, Chinese and Indian weddings share one city, from the bersanding throne to the tea ceremony and the Tamil thali.Laos, 0 traditionsLuang PrabangThe old royal capital, where the baci is held under a decorated tree of flowers and thread.Myanmar, 0 traditionsMandalayPhilippines, 0 traditionsManilaA Catholic wedding city of padrinos, the cord and veil rite, the money dance and the long reception.Indonesia, 0 traditionsMedanThe city of the Batak, whose wedding is the adat of ulos cloth, gifts of rice and a ritual of the gifts passing back and forth.Myanmar, 0 traditionsNaypyidawMalaysia, 0 traditionsPenangGeorge Town's Peranakan weddings, with their embroidered dress and beaded slippers, are among the best known in the region.Cambodia, 0 traditionsPhnom PenhA Khmer wedding in the capital lasts a day or more, with a three-part programme of music, hair-cutting and the tying of wrists.Cambodia, 0 traditionsSiem ReapA temple town where Khmer couples seek blessings and where many weddings are photographed against Angkor.Singapore, 0 traditionsSingaporeA city-state where weddings of every community are registered at the ROM and celebrated in hotel ballrooms and heritage shophouses.Indonesia, 0 traditionsSolo (Surakarta)The other Javanese court city, with a bridal style of its own, the solo putri, and the rite of the broken egg.Vietnam, 0 traditionsThủ ĐứcIndonesia, 0 traditionsTorajaThe highland home of the Toraja, whose tongkonan houses and weddings are held under a house of horned roofs.Indonesia, 0 traditionsUbudA Balinese cultural centre where couples marry in the family compound with priests, offerings and gamelan.Laos, 0 traditionsVientianeA Lao wedding of the baci, white thread and the whole village at the table.Myanmar, 0 traditionsYangonA Burmese wedding city of the hluttaw dress, the engagement with a tray of gifts and a feast in a hall.Indonesia, 0 traditionsYogyakartaThe Javanese court city, where the royal wedding rites, the paes bridal make-up and the wedding gamelan are preserved.
East Asia
South Korea, 3 traditionsSeoulA city of short, 30 minute halls, the pyebaek ceremony in hanbok and a famous system of cash gifts.Japan, 3 traditionsTokyoA city of shrine weddings in white kimono and chapel weddings in white dress, with the san-san-kudo cup.Japan, 2 traditionsKyotoThe old capital, where couples marry in a shrine in old dress and processions of a bride in a red umbrella cross the temple grounds.Japan, 2 traditionsOsakaA merchant city of lively weddings, with a shrine at Ikukunitama and a banquet culture.China, 2 traditionsShanghaiA city of pre-wedding photo studios, parents' marriage markets and big banquet hotels.China, 1 traditionBeijingA northern Chinese wedding in red, with a lucky date, a bridal car convoy, the double happiness sign and a banquet.Japan, 1 traditionHiroshimaJapan, 1 traditionOnomichiJapan, 1 traditionSapporoChina, 0 traditionsAnqingChina, 0 traditionsAnshanChina, 0 traditionsAnshunChina, 0 traditionsAnyangChina, 0 traditionsBaiyinChina, 0 traditionsBaodingChina, 0 traditionsBaojiChina, 0 traditionsBaoshanChina, 0 traditionsBaotouChina, 0 traditionsBazhongChina, 0 traditionsBeihaiChina, 0 traditionsBeiliuChina, 0 traditionsBengbuChina, 0 traditionsBenxiChina, 0 traditionsBijieSouth Korea, 0 traditionsBusanA port city of seaside wedding halls and the Korean tradition of the hahm bearer.China, 0 traditionsCangzhouChina, 0 traditionsChangchunChina, 0 traditionsChangdeChina, 0 traditionsChangshaChina, 0 traditionsChangzhiChina, 0 traditionsChangzhouChina, 0 traditionsChaoyangChina, 0 traditionsChaozhouChina, 0 traditionsChengdeChina, 0 traditionsChengduA Sichuan wedding of spicy feasts, mahjong evenings and the beautiful old Qiang and Tibetan weddings of the mountains.China, 0 traditionsChenzhouJapan, 0 traditionsChibaChina, 0 traditionsChifengChina, 0 traditionsChuzhouSouth Korea, 0 traditionsDaeguSouth Korea, 0 traditionsDaejeonChina, 0 traditionsDalianChina, 0 traditionsDandongChina, 0 traditionsDanzhouChina, 0 traditionsDaqingChina, 0 traditionsDatongChina, 0 traditionsDazhouChina, 0 traditionsDeyangChina, 0 traditionsDezhouChina, 0 traditionsDingxiChina, 0 traditionsDongguanChina, 0 traditionsDongyingChina, 0 traditionsEzhouChina, 0 traditionsFangchenggangChina, 0 traditionsFoshanJapan, 0 traditionsFukuokaChina, 0 traditionsFushunChina, 0 traditionsFuxinChina, 0 traditionsFuyangChina, 0 traditionsFuzhouChina, 0 traditionsGanzhouChina, 0 traditionsGaozhouChina, 0 traditionsGongzhulingSouth Korea, 0 traditionsGoyangChina, 0 traditionsGuang'anChina, 0 traditionsGuangyuanChina, 0 traditionsGuangzhouThe Cantonese wedding city, home of the Chinese wedding tea, the dragon-phoenix bangle and the cake gifts.China, 0 traditionsGuigangChina, 0 traditionsGuilinChina, 0 traditionsGuipingChina, 0 traditionsGuiyangChina, 0 traditionsGuyuanSouth Korea, 0 traditionsGwangjuChina, 0 traditionsHaikouChina, 0 traditionsHangzhouChina, 0 traditionsHanzhongChina, 0 traditionsHarbinChina, 0 traditionsHebiChina, 0 traditionsHefeiChina, 0 traditionsHegangChina, 0 traditionsHeiheChina, 0 traditionsHengshuiChina, 0 traditionsHengyangChina, 0 traditionsHeyuanChina, 0 traditionsHohhotHong Kong, 0 traditionsHong KongA city of Cantonese weddings, the Wedding Card Street and the gold bangle and a very full banquet day.China, 0 traditionsHong KongChina, 0 traditionsHuai'anChina, 0 traditionsHuaibeiChina, 0 traditionsHuaihuaChina, 0 traditionsHuainanChina, 0 traditionsHuanggangChina, 0 traditionsHuangshan CityChina, 0 traditionsHuangshiChina, 0 traditionsHuizhouChina, 0 traditionsHuludaoChina, 0 traditionsHuzhouSouth Korea, 0 traditionsJejuAn island of tangerine groves and a matriarchal fishing culture, long known as a honeymoon destination.China, 0 traditionsJiamusiChina, 0 traditionsJiangmenChina, 0 traditionsJiaozuoChina, 0 traditionsJiaxingChina, 0 traditionsJieyangChina, 0 traditionsJilin CityChina, 0 traditionsJinanChina, 0 traditionsJinchengChina, 0 traditionsJingdezhenChina, 0 traditionsJingmenChina, 0 traditionsJingzhouChina, 0 traditionsJinhuaChina, 0 traditionsJiningChina, 0 traditionsJinzhongChina, 0 traditionsJinzhouChina, 0 traditionsJiujiangChina, 0 traditionsJiuquanChina, 0 traditionsJixiChina, 0 traditionsKaifengJapan, 0 traditionsKobeChina, 0 traditionsKunmingChina, 0 traditionsLangfangChina, 0 traditionsLanzhouChina, 0 traditionsLeiyangChina, 0 traditionsLeshanChina, 0 traditionsLianyungangChina, 0 traditionsLiaochengChina, 0 traditionsLiaoyangChina, 0 traditionsLijiangChina, 0 traditionsLincangChina, 0 traditionsLiupanshuiChina, 0 traditionsLiuzhouChina, 0 traditionsLongnanChina, 0 traditionsLongyanChina, 0 traditionsLoudiChina, 0 traditionsLu'anChina, 0 traditionsLufengChina, 0 traditionsLuodingChina, 0 traditionsLuoheChina, 0 traditionsLuoyangChina, 0 traditionsMa'anshanMacau, 0 traditionsMacauA former Portuguese colony where Chinese, Portuguese and Macanese weddings meet in churches and casinos.China, 0 traditionsMaomingChina, 0 traditionsMeizhouChina, 0 traditionsMianyangChina, 0 traditionsMudanjiangChina, 0 traditionsNanchangChina, 0 traditionsNanchongChina, 0 traditionsNanjingChina, 0 traditionsNanningChina, 0 traditionsNanpingChina, 0 traditionsNantongChina, 0 traditionsNanyangChina, 0 traditionsNeijiangTaiwan, 0 traditionsNew Taipei CityChina, 0 traditionsNingboChina, 0 traditionsNingdeChina, 0 traditionsPanjinChina, 0 traditionsPanzhihuaChina, 0 traditionsPingdingshanChina, 0 traditionsPingliangChina, 0 traditionsPingxiangChina, 0 traditionsPu'er CityChina, 0 traditionsPuningChina, 0 traditionsPutianChina, 0 traditionsPuyangNorth Korea, 0 traditionsPyongyangChina, 0 traditionsQingdaoChina, 0 traditionsQingyangChina, 0 traditionsQingyuanChina, 0 traditionsQinhuangdaoChina, 0 traditionsQinzhouChina, 0 traditionsQiqiharChina, 0 traditionsQuanzhouChina, 0 traditionsQujingChina, 0 traditionsQuzhouChina, 0 traditionsRizhaoChina, 0 traditionsRui'anChina, 0 traditionsRuzhouJapan, 0 traditionsSaitamaChina, 0 traditionsSanmenxiaChina, 0 traditionsSanmingSouth Korea, 0 traditionsSeongnamChina, 0 traditionsShangluoChina, 0 traditionsShangqiuChina, 0 traditionsShantouChina, 0 traditionsShanweiChina, 0 traditionsShaoguanChina, 0 traditionsShaoxingChina, 0 traditionsShaoyangChina, 0 traditionsShenyangChina, 0 traditionsShenzhenChina, 0 traditionsShijiazhuangChina, 0 traditionsShiyanChina, 0 traditionsShuangyashanChina, 0 traditionsShuozhouChina, 0 traditionsSipingChina, 0 traditionsSuihuaChina, 0 traditionsSuiningChina, 0 traditionsSuqianSouth Korea, 0 traditionsSuwonChina, 0 traditionsSuzhouChina, 0 traditionsTai'anTaiwan, 0 traditionsTaichungTaiwan, 0 traditionsTainanTaiwan, 0 traditionsTaipeiA city that in 2019 became the first in Asia to allow same-sex couples to marry, and where Taiwanese weddings blend old and new customs.China, 0 traditionsTaiyuanChina, 0 traditionsTaizhouChina, 0 traditionsTangshanTaiwan, 0 traditionsTaoyuanChina, 0 traditionsTianjinChina, 0 traditionsTianshuiChina, 0 traditionsTielingJapan, 0 traditionsTokyo ProperChina, 0 traditionsTongliaoChina, 0 traditionsTonglingChina, 0 traditionsTongrenMongolia, 0 traditionsUlaanbaatarThe Mongolian capital, where a wedding is held in a deel, with milk, a horse and a sip from a silver bowl.South Korea, 0 traditionsUlsanChina, 0 traditionsÜrümqiChina, 0 traditionsWeifangChina, 0 traditionsWeihaiChina, 0 traditionsWeinanChina, 0 traditionsWenlingChina, 0 traditionsWenzhouChina, 0 traditionsWuhanChina, 0 traditionsWuhuChina, 0 traditionsWuweiChina, 0 traditionsWuxiChina, 0 traditionsWuzhongChina, 0 traditionsWuzhouChina, 0 traditionsXi'anChina, 0 traditionsXiamenChina, 0 traditionsXiangtanChina, 0 traditionsXiangyangChina, 0 traditionsXianningChina, 0 traditionsXianyangChina, 0 traditionsXiaoganChina, 0 traditionsXingningChina, 0 traditionsXiningChina, 0 traditionsXinxiangChina, 0 traditionsXinyangChina, 0 traditionsXinyuChina, 0 traditionsXuchangChina, 0 traditionsXuzhouChina, 0 traditionsYa'anChina, 0 traditionsYan'anChina, 0 traditionsYanchengChina, 0 traditionsYangjiangChina, 0 traditionsYangquanChina, 0 traditionsYangzhouChina, 0 traditionsYantaiChina, 0 traditionsYibinChina, 0 traditionsYichangChina, 0 traditionsYichunChina, 0 traditionsYinchuanChina, 0 traditionsYingdeChina, 0 traditionsYingkouChina, 0 traditionsYingtanChina, 0 traditionsYiyangChina, 0 traditionsYongchengChina, 0 traditionsYongzhouChina, 0 traditionsYueqingChina, 0 traditionsYueyangChina, 0 traditionsYulinChina, 0 traditionsYunfuChina, 0 traditionsYuyaoChina, 0 traditionsZaozhuangChina, 0 traditionsZhangjiajieChina, 0 traditionsZhangjiakouChina, 0 traditionsZhangyeChina, 0 traditionsZhangzhouChina, 0 traditionsZhanjiangChina, 0 traditionsZhaoqingChina, 0 traditionsZhaotongChina, 0 traditionsZhengzhouChina, 0 traditionsZhenjiangChina, 0 traditionsZhongshanChina, 0 traditionsZhongweiChina, 0 traditionsZhoushanChina, 0 traditionsZhuhaiChina, 0 traditionsZhuzhouChina, 0 traditionsZiboChina, 0 traditionsZigongChina, 0 traditionsZiyangChina, 0 traditionsZunyi
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Azerbaijan, 1 traditionNakhchivanAzerbaijan, 1 traditionShamkirGeorgia, 1 traditionTbilisiA city of the supra, the Georgian feast led by a tamada, with toasts, polyphonic songs and a bride in a chokha dress.Kazakhstan, 0 traditionsAlmatyA Kazakh wedding city of the toi feast, the bride's veil song and the old matchmaking visit.Turkmenistan, 0 traditionsAshgabatA white marble capital whose weddings feature the heavy silver jewellery of the Turkmen bride.Kazakhstan, 0 traditionsAstanaA modern capital whose wedding photographs are taken in front of its towers and monuments.Azerbaijan, 0 traditionsBakuThe Caspian capital, where an Azerbaijani wedding has a henna night, a groom's procession and a play of the tray.Kyrgyzstan, 0 traditionsBishkekThe capital of Kyrgyzstan, where a tradition of bride kidnapping persists in law-breaking form, and where most weddings are loud feasts.Uzbekistan, 0 traditionsBukharaAn old trading city of gold-embroidered velvet, zardozi and a long tradition of the bridal dowry.Tajikistan, 0 traditionsDushanbeA Tajik capital where the law sets limits on wedding spending and the bride wears a patterned atlas silk.Uzbekistan, 0 traditionsKhivaA walled desert oasis, where couples rent traditional dress and where Khorezm weddings keep their own tunes.Uzbekistan, 0 traditionsSamarkandA Silk Road city where couples are photographed at the Registan and brides are dressed in embroidery.Kazakhstan, 0 traditionsShymkentUzbekistan, 0 traditionsTashkentA wedding city of large halls with plov, the fotiha rite and a bride in embroidered suzani.Armenia, 0 traditionsYerevanAn Armenian wedding capital, with a dance at the church door, the lavash on the shoulders and a duduk.
Middle East
Israel, 2 traditionsJerusalemA city of three faiths, whose weddings may take place beneath the Old City walls or at the Western Wall plaza.Turkey, 1 traditionAntalyaIraq, 1 traditionBaghdadThe capital of Iraq, where the henna night, the hosa chant and a large family procession mark a wedding.Turkey, 1 traditionÇorumTurkey, 1 traditionKayseriIraq, 1 traditionMosulPalestine, 1 traditionRamallahA West Bank city with a long tradition of embroidered wedding dresses and a large henna party.Iran, 1 traditionShirazThe city of poets and gardens, where newly married couples visit the tomb of Hafez.Turkey, 1 traditionSivasIran, 1 traditionTabrizThe Azerbaijani-Turkic city of the large bazaar, where weddings are marked with ashiq music and carpets.Iran, 1 traditionTehranThe Iranian capital, where the aghd ceremony takes place at a floor spread set with mirror, candles and sugar cones.United Arab Emirates, 0 traditionsAbu DhabiThe Emirati capital, which first opened civil marriage to non-Muslims and which holds group weddings for Emirati couples.Turkey, 0 traditionsAdanaYemen, 0 traditionsAdenIran, 0 traditionsAhvazSyria, 0 traditionsAleppoThe northern Syrian city whose sung qudud and fine sweets once filled every wedding.Jordan, 0 traditionsAmmanThe Jordanian capital where Bedouin and urban Palestinian customs share the wedding stage.Turkey, 0 traditionsAnkaraThe Turkish capital, where civil registration came first and Anatolian customs such as the bridal henna and the flag still persist.Turkey, 0 traditionsBalıkesirIraq, 0 traditionsBasraLebanon, 0 traditionsBeirutA city of eighteen recognised religious communities, where a couple's marriage depends on the faith of the couple.Palestine, 0 traditionsBethlehemA city with a Christian community that married in elaborate embroidered dresses and a tall headdress.Turkey, 0 traditionsBursaSyria, 0 traditionsDamascusAn old walled capital where the zaffe brings the groom through the lanes with drums, swords and singing.Turkey, 0 traditionsDenizliTurkey, 0 traditionsDiyarbakirThe inner-walled Kurdish city of drum, halay and long weddings, with wide extended-family guest lists.Turkey, 0 traditionsDiyarbakırQatar, 0 traditionsDohaA Gulf capital where the old market and the new towers share the same wedding calendar.United Arab Emirates, 0 traditionsDubaiA creek port turned global city, where Emirati families keep the henna night and the Ayyala dance, and expatriate couples marry in a dozen traditions.Palestine, 0 traditionsEast JerusalemIraq, 0 traditionsErbilThe citadel city of Iraqi Kurdistan, where Kurdish dress and a long line of dancers fill the wedding.Palestine, 0 traditionsGazaA coastal city whose weddings gathered the whole neighbourhood in song, dance and gifts of gold.Turkey, 0 traditionsGaziantepA city of baklava and copper where a wedding is measured by the sweets and the embroidered velvet dress.Yemen, 0 traditionsHadramawtA valley of mud-brick towers in eastern Yemen, where weddings are marked by song, a swordsman and the migrant family's return.Jordan, 0 traditionsIrbidIran, 0 traditionsIsfahanHalf the world, as the saying goes, where couples photograph beneath the bridges and tiled domes.Turkey, 0 traditionsIstanbulA city of civil registry halls, henna nights, gold coins pinned on the bride and drum-and-zurna processions.Saudi Arabia, 0 traditionsJeddahThe Red Sea port where Hijazi brides are painted with henna and honoured in the mizmar dance.Iran, 0 traditionsKermanshahIraq, 0 traditionsKirkukTurkey, 0 traditionsKonyaThe city of Rumi, where the anniversary of his death is called Seb-i Arus, the wedding night.Kuwait, 0 traditionsKuwait CityThe Kuwaiti capital where the bride is dressed in a ceremony called the jalwa.Bahrain, 0 traditionsManamaThe Bahraini capital, once a pearl-diving port, whose brides still wear pearl jewellery.Iran, 0 traditionsMashhadA pilgrim city whose shrine of Imam Reza receives couples who come to pray after the wedding.Saudi Arabia, 0 traditionsMeccaThe holiest city of Islam, where weddings are held in the shadow of the pilgrimage and honeymoons often include umrah.Saudi Arabia, 0 traditionsMedinaTurkey, 0 traditionsMersinOman, 0 traditionsMuscatThe capital of Oman, where men dance the razha with swords and the khanjar dagger is worn by the groom.Cyprus, 0 traditionsNicosiaA divided capital where Greek and Turkish Cypriot weddings keep the bed-making, the koumbaros and the sugared almonds.Saudi Arabia, 0 traditionsRiyadhThe capital of Saudi Arabia, where the wedding is a night of women's gatherings, gold gifts and a groom's separate party.Israel, 0 traditionsSafedA mountain town of Kabbalah where weddings are held near the grave sites of the sages.Turkey, 0 traditionsSamsunYemen, 0 traditionsSanaaA high-mountain old city of tall brick houses where weddings are marked with the jambiya and henna parties.United Arab Emirates, 0 traditionsSharjahIsrael, 0 traditionsTel AvivA coastal city of beach and rooftop weddings, and of couples who marry in Cyprus because Israel has no civil marriage.Turkey, 0 traditionsTrabzonA Black Sea port where weddings are danced to the horon and the kemenche fiddle.Turkey, 0 traditionsUrfaTurkey, 0 traditionsVan
North Africa
Algeria, 1 traditionAlgiersThe white city on the bay, where the bride wears the karakou, a gold-embroidered velvet jacket.Egypt, 1 traditionAswanEgypt, 1 traditionCairoA city of zaffas, Nile-boat parties and the shabka, the gold gift that seals an engagement.Morocco, 1 traditionImilchilA High Atlas village known for the Imilchil Marriage Festival of the Ait Haddidou.Sudan, 1 traditionKhartoumThe meeting of the Niles, where the bride is smoked, perfumed and wrapped in a silk toub.Egypt, 1 traditionLuxorEgypt, 1 traditionMinyaEgypt, 0 traditionsAlexandriaThe Mediterranean port where couples pose along the corniche and the Greek, Coptic and Muslim communities marry side by side.Morocco, 0 traditionsCasablancaTunisia, 0 traditionsDjerbaAn island where Muslim, Berber and Jewish communities have lived side by side, and weddings have long been shared.Morocco, 0 traditionsFesThe old imperial city whose wedding is still famed for its cuisine, its embroidery and its fine caftans.Morocco, 0 traditionsFezAlgeria, 0 traditionsGhardaiaA walled valley town of the Mozabite people, with modest weddings and a close sense of mutual aid.Egypt, 0 traditionsGizaSudan, 0 traditionsKhartoum NorthEgypt, 0 traditionsLuxor and NubiaA river of temples and a Nubian people whose week-long weddings are painted, drummed and danced.Morocco, 0 traditionsMarrakechThe red city where the bride is carried aloft in the amariya and dressed by a negafa.Morocco, 0 traditionsMarrakeshEgypt, 0 traditionsNew CairoMauritania, 0 traditionsNouakchottThe Mauritanian capital, where a wedding is marked by griot singers, tea and the bride's melahfa wrap.Sudan, 0 traditionsOmdurmanMorocco, 0 traditionsRabatThe capital of Morocco, where the Family Code is written and the weddings are staged in palace gardens.Morocco, 0 traditionsSaléEgypt, 0 traditionsShubra El KheimaEgypt, 0 traditionsSiwaA desert oasis where the bride wears heavy silver and a Berber Siwi language is spoken.Morocco, 0 traditionsTangierLibya, 0 traditionsTripoliThe Libyan capital, where the henna night, the golden dress and the family dinner mark each wedding.Tunisia, 0 traditionsTunisA medina and a coastal city of jasmine, henna and a modern law that banned polygamy in 1956.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Nigeria, 3 traditionsLagosA city of owambe parties, where guests dress in matching aso ebi cloth and money is sprayed on the dancing couple.Ethiopia, 2 traditionsAddis AbabaA highland capital of white cotton dresses, elders' negotiations and a seven-day party.Ghana, 1 traditionAccraA coastal capital where the knocking ceremony and a shared drink open every Ghanaian marriage.Eritrea, 1 traditionAsmaraA modernist capital where a Tigrinya wedding is a march of coffee, incense and the zuria dress.Nigeria, 1 traditionIbadanA huge Yoruba city where the engagement is a theatre of greeting, bargaining and praise.Niger, 1 traditionIn-GallNigeria, 1 traditionIseyinAngola, 1 traditionLuandaA Portuguese-speaking capital where the alambamento, a ritual of asking for the bride, precedes the wedding.Eswatini, 1 traditionLudzidzini Royal VillageNiger, 1 traditionNiameyA Niger river city of Hausa, Zarma and Tuareg marriage, and the country with the world's highest child marriage rate.South Africa, 1 traditionNongomaNigeria, 0 traditionsAbaIvory Coast, 0 traditionsAbidjanA lagoon city where the dot, the traditional dowry ceremony, comes before the church or mosque wedding.Nigeria, 0 traditionsAbujaMadagascar, 0 traditionsAntananarivoA hill capital where the groom's family presents the vodiondry, a lamb's rump, to ask for the bride.Mali, 0 traditionsBamakoA river capital of griots, bogolan mud cloth and long wedding processions through Malian streets.Central African Republic, 0 traditionsBanguiGambia, 0 traditionsBanjulNigeria, 0 traditionsBenin CityGuinea-Bissau, 0 traditionsBissauSouth Africa, 0 traditionsBloemfonteinRepublic of the Congo, 0 traditionsBrazzavilleSouth Africa, 0 traditionsCape TownA city of Cape Malay weddings in the Bo-Kaap and winelands venues beneath the mountain.Equatorial Guinea, 0 traditionsCiudad de la PazGuinea, 0 traditionsConakrySenegal, 0 traditionsDakarThe westernmost capital in Africa, where marriages are announced with gifts of kola and a feast of thieboudienne.Tanzania, 0 traditionsDar es SalaamA Swahili port city of send-off parties, kitchen parties and matched kanga cloths.Djibouti, 0 traditionsDjibouti CityTanzania, 0 traditionsDodomaCameroon, 0 traditionsDoualaThe port city of the Sawa people, where the dowry is paid in cloth, drinks and sea-trade style.South Africa, 0 traditionsDurbanA coastal city of Zulu weddings with leather skirts and beadwork, and one of the largest Indian communities outside India.Nigeria, 0 traditionsEnuguAn Igbo city where a bride finds her husband by carrying a cup of palm wine through the crowd.Eswatini, 0 traditionsEswatiniA small kingdom where the Reed Dance gathers thousands of young women before the queen mother.Sierra Leone, 0 traditionsFreetownBotswana, 0 traditionsGaboroneA planned capital where the patlo, the formal asking, and the bogadi, the bride wealth, shape a Tswana marriage.Cameroon, 0 traditionsGarouaBurundi, 0 traditionsGitegaZimbabwe, 0 traditionsHarareA capital where the roora, the bride price, is negotiated through a go-between before a white wedding.South Africa, 0 traditionsJohannesburgA meeting of Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana and Indian traditions, with lobola, traditional dress and white weddings.South Sudan, 0 traditionsJubaUganda, 0 traditionsKampalaA hill city where the kwanjula, the introduction, and the gomesi dress make the Baganda wedding.Democratic Republic of the Congo, 0 traditionsKanangaNigeria, 0 traditionsKanoAn old Hausa trading city with henna, a dowry of goods and mass weddings sponsored by the state.Rwanda, 0 traditionsKigaliA clean hill capital where the gusaba, asking for the bride, and the gukwa, the dowry, precede the civil wedding.Democratic Republic of the Congo, 0 traditionsKinshasaA rumba capital, where the dowry ceremony, the civil wedding and the church service form three separate days.Democratic Republic of the Congo, 0 traditionsKisanganiGhana, 0 traditionsKumasiThe Asante capital, where kente weavers in nearby Bonwire make cloth for brides.Ethiopia, 0 traditionsLalibelaA mountain town of rock-hewn churches where Orthodox couples marry in the sacramental rite.Gabon, 0 traditionsLibrevilleMalawi, 0 traditionsLilongweThe capital of Malawi, where the chinkhoswe, the engagement ceremony, joins the two families.Eswatini, 0 traditionsLobambaTogo, 0 traditionsLoméDemocratic Republic of the Congo, 0 traditionsLubumbashiZambia, 0 traditionsLusakaA city of kitchen parties, where the bride is taught the ways of married life by her aunts and elders.Nigeria, 0 traditionsMaiduguriMozambique, 0 traditionsMaputoA Portuguese-speaking port where the lobolo ceremony in the south and a civil wedding sit side by side.Lesotho, 0 traditionsMaseruThe capital of a mountain kingdom where Basotho blankets are given to brides and grooms.Zimbabwe, 0 traditionsMasvingoMozambique, 0 traditionsMatolaEswatini, 0 traditionsMbabaneSomalia, 0 traditionsMogadishuA coastal capital of henna, gold and a large celebration called the aroos.Kenya, 0 traditionsMombasaLiberia, 0 traditionsMonroviaComoros, 0 traditionsMoroniChad, 0 traditionsN'DjamenaKenya, 0 traditionsNairobiA city of ruracio, church weddings and committees of friends who raise money to pay for the day.Nigeria, 0 traditionsOgbomoshoNigeria, 0 traditionsOnitshaBurkina Faso, 0 traditionsOuagadougouThe capital of Burkina Faso, where Mossi families exchange kola nuts and the bride wears Faso Dan Fani.Republic of the Congo, 0 traditionsPointe-NoireNigeria, 0 traditionsPort HarcourtMauritius, 0 traditionsPort LouisA harbour capital where Hindu, Muslim, Creole, Chinese and Christian communities hold weddings in their own ways.Benin, 0 traditionsPorto-NovoCape Verde, 0 traditionsPraiaSouth Africa, 0 traditionsPretoriaAngola, 0 traditionsQuilamba QuiaxiSão Tomé and Príncipe, 0 traditionsSão ToméSouth Africa, 0 traditionsSowetoSeychelles, 0 traditionsVictoriaNamibia, 0 traditionsWindhoekA city where Herero women wear long Victorian-style dresses with a horned headdress.Ivory Coast, 0 traditionsYamoussoukroCameroon, 0 traditionsYaoundeA hilly capital where Beti families hold the traditional dowry and the civil wedding on separate days.Cameroon, 0 traditionsYaoundéTanzania, 0 traditionsZanzibarA spice island where taarab music, henna and carved doors are part of a Swahili wedding.
Europe
Germany, 3 traditionsHamburgGermany, 2 traditionsBerlinIn Germany the Standesamt makes the marriage, and a Polterabend with broken china brings luck the night before.Italy, 2 traditionsRomeRoman weddings are held in churches of great age, and the toss of rice, a long lunch and sugared almonds follow.Austria, 2 traditionsViennaA city of waltzes and old palaces where a wedding often opens with a Viennese waltz.Greece, 1 traditionAthensA Greek wedding in Athens centres on the koumbaros, the Orthodox crowning and the plate smashing at the party.Spain, 1 traditionBarcelonaIn Barcelona weddings may include human towers, sardana dancing and the Catalan language.Italy, 1 traditionBolognaDenmark, 1 traditionCopenhagenCopenhagen City Hall holds more weddings than any place in the country, and the city welcomes couples from abroad.Greece, 1 traditionCreteCretan weddings are village feasts with lyra music, raki and roast lamb.North Macedonia, 1 traditionGaličnikGermany, 1 traditionHanoverSwitzerland, 1 traditionLengnauPortugal, 1 traditionLisbonPortuguese weddings in Lisbon come with fado, a long lunch and a rich egg and almond sweet table.Spain, 1 traditionMadridA Spanish wedding in Madrid has arras coins, a late dinner and dancing into the morning.Italy, 1 traditionMilanGermany, 1 traditionMunichBavarian weddings mean dirndl and lederhosen, a brass band and beer in a garden.Norway, 1 traditionOsloNorwegian weddings of Oslo bring the bunad, the national dress, and the kransekake.Italy, 1 traditionPaduaFrance, 1 traditionParisIn France the civil wedding at the town hall comes first, and the city has more than twenty mairies where it happens.Spain, 1 traditionSevilleAndalusian weddings of Seville bring flamenco, sevillanas and orange blossom.Sweden, 1 traditionStockholmIn Stockholm the groom may be kissed by every woman as the bride is kissed by the men, and midsummer weddings are popular.Spain, 1 traditionTres CantosLiechtenstein, 1 traditionVaduzItaly, 1 traditionVeniceWeddings in Venice arrive by gondola and boat, past palaces on the Grand Canal.Spain, 1 traditionVitoria-GasteizNetherlands, 0 traditionsAmsterdamDutch weddings of Amsterdam are civil first, with a town hall ceremony and a canal boat party.Andorra, 0 traditionsAndorra la VellaSerbia, 0 traditionsBelgradeSerbian weddings include the kum, a procession with trumpets and a Slava-style feast.Switzerland, 0 traditionsBernUnited Kingdom, 0 traditionsBirminghamSlovakia, 0 traditionsBratislavaFrance, 0 traditionsBrittanyBreton weddings keep the music of bagpipe and bombarde, the white lace coiffe and the fest-noz dance.Belgium, 0 traditionsBrusselsA Belgian wedding in Brussels brings a civil ceremony, a church blessing and a great table of chocolate and beer.Romania, 0 traditionsBucharestRomanian weddings of Bucharest are lavish, with a pair of godparents and a long night of dancing.Hungary, 0 traditionsBudapestHungarian weddings have the csardas, a bride's dance and a soup in the small hours.United Kingdom, 0 traditionsCardiffWelsh weddings carry the love spoon, the Welsh language and choir singing.Moldova, 0 traditionsChișinăuBelgium, 0 traditionsCity of BrusselsSan Marino, 0 traditionsCity of San MarinoGermany, 0 traditionsCologneUkraine, 0 traditionsDniproIreland, 0 traditionsDublinIrish weddings of Dublin mix church tradition, a long toast, and a night of music.United Kingdom, 0 traditionsEdinburghScottish weddings with kilts, a piper and a ceilidh, set against a castle skyline.Italy, 0 traditionsFlorenceTuscan weddings take place in hill villas, with olive groves, a long table and wine from the estate.Ireland, 0 traditionsGalwayA west of Ireland city where weddings come with Irish music, sea air and the Claddagh ring.United Kingdom, 0 traditionsGretna GreenThe Scottish border village that became famous for quick marriages, and still holds thousands of weddings a year.Finland, 0 traditionsHelsinkiFinnish weddings include the bride's farewell and a sauna evening for the couple's friends.Russia, 0 traditionsKazanPoland, 0 traditionsKrakowKrakow weddings may feature highlander music and folk costume in the Tatra foothills.Russia, 0 traditionsKrasnoyarskUkraine, 0 traditionsKyivUkrainian weddings feature the korovai, a decorated wedding bread, and embroidered cloth.Slovenia, 0 traditionsLjubljanaUnited Kingdom, 0 traditionsLondonA wedding in London can be a register office ceremony in a town hall, a church service, a Hindu mandap or a Sikh gurdwara, sometimes all in one family.Luxembourg, 0 traditionsLuxembourg CityRomania, 0 traditionsMaramuresA northern region where wooden churches and village weddings keep folk dress and old rites.Belarus, 0 traditionsMinskBelarusian weddings keep a loaf, a rushnik and the custom of the wedding pledge.Monaco, 0 traditionsMonacoRussia, 0 traditionsMoscowA Russian wedding in Moscow starts at the ZAGS, a civil registry, and ends at the Eternal Flame with flowers.Italy, 0 traditionsNaplesNeapolitan weddings are loud and long, with the tarantella, singing and a huge table.Russia, 0 traditionsNizhny NovgorodRussia, 0 traditionsNovosibirskRussia, 0 traditionsOmskRussia, 0 traditionsPermMontenegro, 0 traditionsPodgoricaPortugal, 0 traditionsPortoWeddings in Porto mean port wine, cellars and quintas above the Douro.Czechia, 0 traditionsPraguePrague has the Old Town Hall, a Gothic setting where civil weddings are held in a historic hall.Kosovo, 0 traditionsPristinaFrance, 0 traditionsProvenceLavender, olive groves and long outdoor tables make Provence a favoured place for rural and destination weddings.Iceland, 0 traditionsReykjavikIceland weddings come with glacier backdrops, small ceremonies and the old custom of handfasting.Iceland, 0 traditionsReykjavíkLatvia, 0 traditionsRigaLatvian weddings may include the Ligo oak wreath and the old song of the dainas.Russia, 0 traditionsSaint PetersburgRussia, 0 traditionsSamaraGreece, 0 traditionsSantoriniA volcanic island where small whitewashed chapels host weddings over the caldera.Bosnia and Herzegovina, 0 traditionsSarajevoSarajevo is a city of mosques, churches and synagogues, so its weddings follow several faiths.Italy, 0 traditionsSicilySicilian weddings are grand family affairs with baroque churches, cassata cake and the cuddura.North Macedonia, 0 traditionsSkopjeMacedonian weddings hold an old rite of the flag and a night of dance.Bulgaria, 0 traditionsSofiaBulgarian weddings keep a loaf of bread, a kumove and a horo dance.Estonia, 0 traditionsTallinnEstonian weddings come with folk dress, singing and old village customs.Greece, 0 traditionsThessalonikiNorthern Greek weddings in Thessaloniki are noted for the great feast and the zournades band.Albania, 0 traditionsTiranaAlbanian weddings are large and loud, with the besa and a day of dancing.Malta, 0 traditionsVallettaMalta combines Catholic weddings, baroque churches and a well-known destination wedding trade.Vatican City, 0 traditionsVatican CityLithuania, 0 traditionsVilniusLithuanian weddings include a bread, a rue wreath and a song.Russia, 0 traditionsVolgogradRussia, 0 traditionsVoronezhPoland, 0 traditionsWarsawPolish weddings in Warsaw bring bread and salt at the door, the oczepiny at midnight and a feast that lasts until dawn.Russia, 0 traditionsYekaterinburgCroatia, 0 traditionsZagrebCroatian weddings include folk costume, tamburica music and a wine toast.Switzerland, 0 traditionsZurichSwiss weddings are tidy and on time, with a civil registry marriage and a long meal.
North America
Mexico, 1 traditionChiapasMexico, 1 traditionCuetzalanCanada, 1 traditionEdmontonUnited States, 1 traditionHawaiiHawaiian weddings carry the shell, the chant and the lei, and are kept alive by Native Hawaiian families.United States, 1 traditionLos AngelesLos Angeles weddings are outdoors by the beach, on a hilltop or in a Korean banquet hall.United States, 1 traditionNew YorkCity Hall marriages, Orthodox Jewish weddings in Brooklyn and Chinese banquets in Queens all share the same city.United States, 1 traditionNew York CityMexico, 1 traditionOaxacaOaxaca is home to the Zapotec and Mixtec wedding, with the calenda procession and the guelaguetza spirit.Canada, 1 traditionOttawaMexico, 1 traditionVeracruzUnited States, 1 traditionWashingtonMexico, 1 traditionYucatánUnited States, 0 traditionsAustinCanada, 0 traditionsCalgaryUnited States, 0 traditionsCharlestonA Southern port city with live oaks, church bells and a tradition of the bride's cake.United States, 0 traditionsChicagoChicago weddings mix Polish halls, Mexican quinceanera-style parties and Lake Michigan skyline views.Mexico, 0 traditionsCiudad JuárezUnited States, 0 traditionsDallasMexico, 0 traditionsGuadalajaraThe home of mariachi and tequila, where a wedding is a long night of songs.United States, 0 traditionsHonoluluHonolulu weddings come with leis, a shell blown at the ceremony and visitors from Japan and across the world.United States, 0 traditionsHoustonUnited States, 0 traditionsJacksonvilleUnited States, 0 traditionsLas VegasThe wedding capital of the United States, where a license, a chapel and a ceremony can be done in a day.Mexico, 0 traditionsLeónMexico, 0 traditionsMexico CityMexican weddings centre on the lazo, the arras and a party with a mariachi band and a long dance.Mexico, 0 traditionsMonterreyCanada, 0 traditionsMontrealIn Montreal many couples marry before a civil celebrant and celebrate in French and English with a long party.United States, 0 traditionsNashvilleMusic City weddings mean a live band, a guitar player at the aisle and country songs for the first dance.United States, 0 traditionsNavajo NationThe Navajo wedding basket, with its path of colours, holds the sacred cornmeal of the marriage ceremony.United States, 0 traditionsNew OrleansA New Orleans wedding often leaves the church behind a brass band in a second line parade.United States, 0 traditionsPhoenixUnited States, 0 traditionsSalt Lake CityThe home of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where weddings are held in temples as sealings.United States, 0 traditionsSan AntonioUnited States, 0 traditionsSan DiegoUnited States, 0 traditionsSan JoseMexico, 0 traditionsSan Luis PotosíMexico, 0 traditionsTijuanaCanada, 0 traditionsTorontoIn Toronto, weddings are held in more than a hundred languages and at the Marriage Bureau at City Hall.Canada, 0 traditionsVancouverVancouver weddings sit between the mountains and the sea, and combine Pacific, Chinese and South Asian customs.Mexico, 0 traditionsZapopan
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentina, 2 traditionsBuenos AiresArgentine weddings include a civil ceremony at the registry and a long party of tango, asado and the carnaval de cotillon.Chile, 2 traditionsSantiagoChilean weddings include the cueca, a handkerchief dance, and a feast of empanadas and pisco.Cuba, 1 traditionHavanaCuban weddings in Havana are civil first, at a Palacio de los Matrimonios, with a party of music and rum.Bolivia, 1 traditionLa PazBolivian weddings among the Aymara bring a ceremony to the earth and a night of folk dancing.Peru, 1 traditionLimaPeruvian weddings include the cutting of the cake with ribbons and the pasacalle, a dancing procession.Uruguay, 1 traditionMontevideoUruguayan weddings are civil above all, a country that has long separated state and church.Bolivia, 1 traditionSucrePeru, 0 traditionsArequipaParaguay, 0 traditionsAsuncionParaguayan weddings feature the bottle dance, Guarani songs and a chipa feast.Paraguay, 0 traditionsAsunciónVenezuela, 0 traditionsBarquisimetoColombia, 0 traditionsBarranquillaSaint Kitts and Nevis, 0 traditionsBasseterreBrazil, 0 traditionsBelémBelize, 0 traditionsBelmopanBrazil, 0 traditionsBelo HorizonteColombia, 0 traditionsBogotaColombian weddings in Bogota mix a Catholic Mass, a long party and the Colombian arepa.Colombia, 0 traditionsBogotáBrazil, 0 traditionsBrasíliaBarbados, 0 traditionsBridgetownBarbadian weddings often have a beach, a steel band and a black cake soaked in rum.Colombia, 0 traditionsCaliBrazil, 0 traditionsCampinasBrazil, 0 traditionsCampo GrandeVenezuela, 0 traditionsCaracasVenezuelan weddings hold the cake, the money dance and the Venezuelan ham bread.Colombia, 0 traditionsCartagenaA walled Caribbean city of colonial churches and courtyards, popular for destination weddings.Saint Lucia, 0 traditionsCastriesEcuador, 0 traditionsCuencaBrazil, 0 traditionsCuritibaPeru, 0 traditionsCuscoAndean weddings near Cusco include a rite to the Pachamama and a rich textile culture.Brazil, 0 traditionsFortalezaGuyana, 0 traditionsGeorgetownBrazil, 0 traditionsGoiâniaBrazil, 0 traditionsGuarulhosGuatemala, 0 traditionsGuatemala CityGuatemalan weddings, among the Maya, feature the huipil and a traditional marimba.Ecuador, 0 traditionsGuayaquilJamaica, 0 traditionsKingstonJamaican weddings come with a big church service, a hat parade and curried goat.Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 0 traditionsKingstownBrazil, 0 traditionsManausVenezuela, 0 traditionsMaracaiboVenezuela, 0 traditionsMaracayColombia, 0 traditionsMedellínBahamas, 0 traditionsNassauBrazil, 0 traditionsNova IguaçuPanama, 0 traditionsPanama CityThe Panamanian pollera, a white lace dress, is worn by brides and by dancers at festivals.Suriname, 0 traditionsParamariboTrinidad and Tobago, 0 traditionsPort of SpainIn Trinidad, Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Afro-Trinidadian weddings share the same island.Haiti, 0 traditionsPort-au-PrinceHaitian weddings bring a church service, a drummed celebration and a feast of griot.Brazil, 0 traditionsPorto AlegreEcuador, 0 traditionsQuitoEcuadorian weddings in Quito may feature the Andean ceremony with a poncho and drink of chicha.Brazil, 0 traditionsRecifeBrazil, 0 traditionsRio de JaneiroWeddings in Rio come with beachside ceremonies, samba, and the Brazilian brigadeiro on the dessert table.Dominica, 0 traditionsRoseauBrazil, 0 traditionsSalvadorIn Salvador, Catholic and Candomble traditions share the wedding of Afro-Brazilian families.Costa Rica, 0 traditionsSan JoseCosta Rican weddings use a Catholic church and a party at a beach or forest lodge.Costa Rica, 0 traditionsSan JoséPuerto Rico, 0 traditionsSan JuanPuerto Rican weddings come with a plena, a pig roast and gold medals for the couple.El Salvador, 0 traditionsSan SalvadorBolivia, 0 traditionsSanta Cruz de la SierraDominican Republic, 0 traditionsSanto DomingoDominican weddings combine a church ceremony with merengue and a rum toast.Brazil, 0 traditionsSão LuísBrazil, 0 traditionsSao PauloA city of many immigrants, with Italian, Japanese, Lebanese and Korean weddings.Brazil, 0 traditionsSão PauloGrenada, 0 traditionsSt. George'sAntigua and Barbuda, 0 traditionsSt. John'sHonduras, 0 traditionsTegucigalpaVenezuela, 0 traditionsValencia
Oceania
Australia, 0 traditionsAlice SpringsA desert town in Arrernte country, where kinship rules for marriage are older than the town.Samoa, 0 traditionsApiaA Samoan capital where the exchange of fine mats, the ie toga, joins two extended families.New Zealand, 0 traditionsAucklandThe largest Polynesian city in the world, where Samoan, Tongan, Maori and Chinese weddings sit beside vineyard garden parties.Australia, 0 traditionsBrisbaneAustralia, 0 traditionsCanberraTuvalu, 0 traditionsFunafutiSolomon Islands, 0 traditionsHoniaraMarshall Islands, 0 traditionsMajuroAustralia, 0 traditionsMelbourneA city of laneway bars, winery weddings and one of the largest Greek communities outside Greece.Palau, 0 traditionsNgerulmudTonga, 0 traditionsNuku'alofaA Tongan capital where families exchange koloa, the barkcloth and woven-mat wealth, and the bride wears a ta'ovala.Tonga, 0 traditionsNukuʻalofaMicronesia, 0 traditionsPalikirAustralia, 0 traditionsPerthPapua New Guinea, 0 traditionsPort MoresbyThe capital of Papua New Guinea, where bride price in pigs, shells and cash still binds two clans.Vanuatu, 0 traditionsPort VilaA harbour capital in Vanuatu where kastom marriage means pigs, mats and kava given between families.New Zealand, 0 traditionsRotoruaA geothermal town and the heart of Te Arawa, where couples marry beside steaming pools and the carved marae.Kiribati, 0 traditionsSouth TarawaFiji, 0 traditionsSuvaA harbour city where Fijian weddings open with a whale tooth and a bowl of kava, and Indo-Fijian weddings follow the Hindu rite.Australia, 0 traditionsSydneyA harbour city of waterside ceremonies, big Greek, Lebanese and Chinese weddings, and marriage open to same-sex couples since 2017.PF, 0 traditionsTahitiAn island where flower crowns, the pareo and an island-style symbolic ceremony have become part of the wedding.New Zealand, 0 traditionsWellingtonNauru, 0 traditionsYaren