Wedding music and the dance floor at weddings around the world: a comparison by country

Music and dancing run through weddings everywhere: the drummers at the head of the procession, the song of the women at the henna night, the first dance of the couple, the line dance of the guests. A wedding band is often a family's biggest hire, and the dance floor is where generations meet. The details range from the Greek circle dance to the Indian bhangra, from the Polish polonaise to the first dance in a hotel ballroom.

Why dance

Dance is the way a community joins in. Linking arms or holding handkerchiefs makes a chain around the couple, and the old and young dance side by side. Many wedding dances have a meaning: the Greek kalamatianos and the Armenian kochari show unity, the Jewish hora lifts the couple on chairs, and the Polish polonaise opens the ball with a walk for all. Some dances are for women alone, as in the henna night, and some are for men, as in the Georgian and Caucasian warrior dances.

Instruments and songs

Drums and pipes lead the procession in South Asia, the dhol and shehnai in particular. Brass bands play in the Balkans, accordion and violin in Eastern Europe, mariachi in Mexico, the oud and tabla in the Arab world, kora and drums in West Africa and the gamelan in Java. Songs include blessing songs, teasing songs for the in-laws and farewell songs for the bride, who is leaving her home. The bride's friends sing ones that make everyone cry, and the best man's song might do the same.

The first dance and the last

The first dance as a married couple, usually a slow song chosen by the pair, is now a feature of many weddings in the West and beyond. In some customs the couple dance with parents next, then the whole party joins in. The money dance, in which guests pin cash to the bride's dress or pay to dance with her, is found in the Philippines, Poland, the American Midwest and many places in between. The last song of the night often marks the departure of the couple.

How it is changing

Professional choreographers prepare entrances and routines, DJs replace live bands in many places, and viral videos spread dance trends. At the same time many families insist on the old dance and live drummers, which are valued as part of the heritage. Quiet or dry weddings keep to singing, drumming and clapping. Respect for local rules, such as separate dancing or no music, is a part of hosting.

Wedding music and the dance floor around the world

🇮🇳 India

The sangeet is a night of music and dance by both families, and the baraat is led by a dhol drummer and dancing relatives. In Punjab, the bhangra and giddha are danced at weddings by men and women.

Sangeet, being written

🇵🇰 Pakistan

The dholki is a night of singing and drumming with women of the family, held for several evenings before the wedding. Wedding songs, such as the folk songs for the bride's farewell, are sung with a hand drum.

Dholki, being written

🇮🇩 Indonesia

In Javanese weddings the gamelan orchestra plays and the couple may be accompanied by classical dancers. Other regions have their own, such as the Minang dances and the Batak gondang.

Gamelan, being written

🇹🇭 Thailand

A Thai wedding procession, the khan maak, includes the groom's party dancing and drumming through the street to the bride's house, where gates are held by friends of the bride. A band or a traditional music group plays.

Culture of Thailand, being written

🇨🇳 China

Lion dances and firecrackers bless many weddings in southern China and in Chinese communities abroad, and the suona horn and drums lead processions in northern villages. Modern ceremonies add a stage and music.

Suona, being written

🇬🇪 Georgia

The Georgian wedding includes polyphonic singing, such as the Mravalzhamier, a song of long life, and men dance the Khorumi and Kartuli. The tamada leads the music with toasts.

Read: Kartuli

Compare all 16 places

Traditions to start with

HoraThe circle dance of Jewish and Balkan weddings.

DabkeThe Levantine line dance.KalamatianosThe Greek circle dance.

KochariThe Armenian line dance.

BhangraThe Punjabi folk dance.

PolonaiseThe Polish ceremonial dance.

Also part of it, and being written: Sangeet (The Indian night of music before the wedding.), First dance (The couple's first dance.).

Questions people ask

What is the first dance?

The first dance as a married couple, a custom of Western weddings that has spread worldwide. The couple choose the song.

Are men and women ever separate at wedding dances?

In some communities yes, as a matter of faith or custom, and in others the dances are mixed. Guests can ask the hosts.

What is the money dance?

Guests pin or throw money at the dancing couple. It is a way of helping the couple and is practised in several countries.

Do I need to know the steps?

Not usually. Dancers at wedding circles and lines will teach newcomers, and joining in is a form of respect.

About this page

Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Nijemo kolo: Outrageous zone, CC BY 3.0, source

Landshut Wedding: Oktobersonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Lithuanian wedding songs: Gailė Paštukaitė, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Galičnik Wedding Festival: IvanaKrstik, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Imilchil Marriage Festival: Zakaria ElQotbi, CC BY 2.0, source

Lagan Geet: Sevageet, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Azerbaijani wedding traditions: Azim Azimzadeh, Public domain, source

Klezmer: Syrena Records (Warsaw), Public domain, source

Hora: Chajeshukarie ( talk ), Public domain, source

Oaxacan wedding: Adam Jones, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Nadba: Saeeddon1, CC0, source

Adumu: K15photos, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Botides: Gkaridis0, CC BY 4.0, source

Bulgarian wedding music: Allen Ruttenberg, CC BY 2.0, source

Dabke: Sarah Canbel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Polonaise: Korneli Szlegel, Public domain, source

Badchen: Unknown author, Public domain, source

Ukusina: Vulane Mthembu, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Halay: Post of Moldova, Public domain, source

Kochari: Hayordi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Assyrian wedding: Yucalyptus, CC0, source

Baraat: https://www.flickr.com/photos/pnglife/, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Bhangra: Jimmysekhon25, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Klezmer: Unknown artist identified as "M.D.", Public domain, source

Mandapa: Rajendran Ganesan, CC BY 2.0, source

Cueca: Manuel Antonio Caro, Public domain, source

Ghoomar: Aali Jain, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Weddings in Mali: HawaG, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Wedding music and the dance floor