The same wedding idea in 17 places, grouped by region. Each entry is a short portrait; follow the link for the full tradition.
Guests wear bright colours, avoid white and black, and take off their shoes at the mandap or gurdwara, covering their heads at a Sikh wedding. They bring shagun in an envelope and join the baraat dance, and the wedding often runs late into the night.
Read: Indian wedding clothesWomen wear shalwar kameez or formal sari, often in bright colours and with jewellery, and men a sherwani or shalwar kameez. Many weddings keep men and women apart, and dinner is served late, after the groom arrives.
Shalwar kameez, being writtenMen wear the barong Tagalog and women a dress or Filipiniana, and guests avoid white and black. Guests often give an envelope, and the reception includes a money dance and a long meal.
Barong Tagalog, being writtenGuests give a red envelope at the door and avoid white and black, and women avoid wearing red as it is the bride's colour. The banquet has eight to twelve courses and the guests join the toasts, ganbei.
Chinese wedding, being writtenGuests wear smart clothes in subdued colours, avoiding white, and give a white envelope at the entrance, then eat at a buffet. The ceremony is short, around 30 minutes to an hour.
Culture of South Korea, being writtenGuests arrive for the long supra, with endless toasts, and may be asked to respond when the tamada toasts them. Dress is smart, and the wedding often continues late.
Supra, being writtenWeddings are typically separate for men and women, with the women dressing in glamorous evening gowns under their abayas, and men in the thobe. Guests arrive late, around 10 pm, and the party goes on until late.
Thawb, being writtenGuests dress smartly and, in Orthodox weddings, women cover shoulders and arms, and men wear a kippah. After the ceremony there is a long dance, with men and women in separate circles in Orthodox communities.
Read: Jewish weddingGuests are served mint tea, dates and sweets, and wear a kaftan or djellaba in bright colours. The bride changes outfits several times, and guests stay late as the wedding may last several days.
Moroccan wedding, being writtenGuests wear the aso ebi, a cloth chosen by the family, and bring cash to spray on the dancing couple. A wedding can have hundreds of guests and last all day, with food and music.
Read: Aso ebiGuests at a traditional wedding wear smart clothes or traditional dress, and women may cover their heads at some homes. Guests bring gifts for the family and may be asked to sing and dance with the ululation.
Zulu wedding, being writtenGuests dress smartly, women avoid white and often black, and men wear a suit. The meal can last five hours and has many courses, with confetti given at the end.
Italian wedding, being writtenGuests wear a suit or dress, and women often a hat or fascinator to a church wedding, and avoid white and sometimes black. The day runs from the ceremony to the wedding breakfast, speeches and an evening party.
Wedding, being writtenGuests follow the dress code on the invitation, avoid white, and bring a gift from the registry or a cheque. The ceremony is on time, and the reception includes a meal, speeches, a first dance and a cake.
Wedding, being writtenGuests dress formally, women avoid white, and the party goes on until morning, with a mariachi band, a dollar dance and a late night snack. Guests are expected to dance.
Wedding, being writtenGuests arrive on time but the bride may be late, a custom said to build suspense, and the party runs well into the night. Men wear a suit, women avoid white, and a sweet table, with brigadeiros, is a highlight.
Brigadeiro, being writtenGuests wear a sulu or a dress in bright colours, bring a gift or a mat, and share kava with the family. Singing and a feast follow the ceremony, and it is polite to stay.
Sulu, being writtenWritten 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.
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