Wedding news
Dowry and giftsIndia's dowry curse: Outlawed practice remains deeply entrenched - ReportersDressHBCU mascots get married during homecomingCustomsWhy Brides Are Refusing to Buy Traditional Wedding Dresses for $5,000RitesGrooms redefine wedding wardrobes with comfort, tradition, and reusability in mindLawColumn: Va. conservatives should vote for marriage equality amendmentDowry and giftsDLSA Secretary calls for wider student awareness on Dowry Prohibition ActMass weddingsWhy South Africans won't stop spending on celebrationsDowry and giftsNow Solar Panels given as dowry in PakistanRitesFrom brides’ hands to a Starbucks cup: Meet Manii Basran, the mehendi artist who turned her art into a viRitesJefferies Sees A Reason for Indian Hotels To Cheer Louder In The Upcoming Wedding SeasonDowry and giftsIndia's dowry curse: Outlawed practice remains deeply entrenched - ReportersDressHBCU mascots get married during homecomingCustomsWhy Brides Are Refusing to Buy Traditional Wedding Dresses for $5,000RitesGrooms redefine wedding wardrobes with comfort, tradition, and reusability in mindLawColumn: Va. conservatives should vote for marriage equality amendmentDowry and giftsDLSA Secretary calls for wider student awareness on Dowry Prohibition ActMass weddingsWhy South Africans won't stop spending on celebrationsDowry and giftsNow Solar Panels given as dowry in PakistanRitesFrom brides’ hands to a Starbucks cup: Meet Manii Basran, the mehendi artist who turned her art into a viRitesJefferies Sees A Reason for Indian Hotels To Cheer Louder In The Upcoming Wedding Season
EveryShaadi

Wedding traditions of Eswatini

A small kingdom where the Reed Dance gathers thousands of young women before the queen mother.

Eswatini, once called Swaziland, is an absolute monarchy with a strong culture of ceremony. Each year in late August or September young women cut reeds and dance before the queen mother and the king in the Umhlanga. It is not a wedding in itself, but the king has chosen wives from the dance, and the event is a celebration of the community's young women.

A wedding here

Marriage is often through the emalobolo, the bride price in cattle, agreed between families. A bride is expected to be accompanied by her relatives for the wedding rites. Swazi and Christian weddings may be held together.

Law and change

Marriage is governed by civil law and Swazi customary law, and the king may take multiple wives. Child marriage and women's rights are a concern, and the 2018 Constitution gives equal rights on paper.

Wedding customs of Eswatini

Also part of it, and being written: Umhlanga (The Reed Dance.), Eswatini (The country.), Lobola (The bride price.), Swazi people (The community.).

A wedding trail idea for Eswatini

  1. Lobamba Royal Village The royal and ceremonial centre.
  2. Mantenga Cultural Village A heritage village.
  3. Mbabane Market The market.
About this page

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.

KindRiteVowBetrothalGift customAttireAdornmentPerformanceFeast customBlessingPlayFamily roleSettingModern
StageFinding a matchEngagement and betrothalThe weeks beforeThe eveProcession and arrivalThe ceremonyThe wedding feastReception, dance and giftsAfter the wedding

Nothing matches those filters yet. Take one off, or check back: new traditions are written every day.

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.