Wedding traditions of Apia
A Samoan capital where the exchange of fine mats, the ie toga, joins two extended families.
Samoan weddings in the fa'a Samoa, the Samoan way, centre on exchange between two families. The ie toga, fine mats woven from pandanus leaves, are given by the bride's side, and food and money by the groom's side. The village chiefs, the matai, take a central role.
A wedding here
The two families trade gifts in a long ritual of speeches. The couple is dressed in white or in a lavalava and tapa cloth. The feast is a large spread of taro, pork, palusami and oka, a raw fish dish.
Law and change
Marriage is recognised by the church and the civil registry. The legal minimum age is 18 for both men and women since a 2008 law, with exceptions.
Wedding customs of Apia
Also part of it, and being written: Ie toga (The fine mat.), Matai (The chiefly title.), Palusami (The dish.), Fa'a Samoa (The way of life.).
A wedding trail idea for Apia
- Apia Flea Market A craft market.
- Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Apia A cathedral on the waterfront.
- Robert Louis Stevenson Museum A museum on the hill.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, venues and wedding-season dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
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