Wedding traditions of Port Moresby
The capital of Papua New Guinea, where bride price in pigs, shells and cash still binds two clans.
In Papua New Guinea marriage joins clans, not only individuals, and the bride price is a long exchange of wealth. Highland groups use pigs and shell money, and coastal groups use goods and cash. More than 800 languages are spoken in the country, and each has its own customs.
A wedding here
The groom's clan collects the payment over weeks, and the two sides meet to count it. The bride's clan returns gifts. Bright face paint, bilums, a string bag, and body decoration are worn for the dance.
Law and change
Bride price is lawful and customary. It is criticised when used to justify violence against wives, and the government and churches promote its limits. The legal age of marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women under the Marriage Act.
Wedding customs of Port Moresby
Also part of it, and being written: Bilum (The string bag.), Motu people (The coastal people.), Culture of Papua New Guinea (The culture.).
A wedding trail idea for Port Moresby
- Koki Market A seaside market.
- National Museum and Art Gallery A museum of regional cultures.
- Ela Beach A beach used for gatherings.
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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Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Bride price: Пимоненко Николай Корнилиевич, Public domain, source