🇺🇸 Wedding traditions of the United States
88 traditions from the United States, best known first, across 27 cities and towns.
Marriage in the United States is a legal contract regulated by individual states rather than federal law. Couples typically choose between civil ceremonies and religious rites, with customs varying widely across different cultural communities. The institution has evolved significantly through legal changes regarding age, interracial unions, and same-sex partnerships.
In the United States, marriage is primarily a legal status defined by state statutes rather than a single national code. Couples may marry in civil settings or through religious institutions, depending on personal preference and community tradition. The practice reflects a diverse population where customs from many backgrounds coexist within a framework of individual rights and local regulations.
A typical wedding
Most couples begin by selecting an officiant who can legally solemnize their union. This person might be a judge, a clergy member, or an ordained minister. Many people also hold engagement parties before the main event. The ceremony itself often includes vows, ring exchanges, and readings chosen by the couple. Reception traditions vary greatly. Some gatherings feature formal dinners and dancing, while others are more casual. Food choices range from buffet styles to plated meals. Entertainment often includes live bands or DJs. Guests usually attend in semi-formal attire unless specified otherwise. The celebration serves as a public declaration of the partnership.
Law and registration
Each state sets its own rules for who may marry and at what age. Generally, individuals must be eighteen years old to marry without parental consent. Nebraska requires partners to be nineteen, while Mississippi sets the age at twenty-one. Puerto Rico also mandates that partners be twenty-one. Some states allow minors to marry with judicial or parental approval. The Supreme Court ruled in 1967 that bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional. Alabama removed such language from its constitution in 2000. Same-sex marriage became legal nationwide in 2015 following a Supreme Court decision. Divorce laws vary by state and handle property division and child custody.
Wedding season
There is no single official wedding season across the country due to its geographic size. However, late spring through early autumn sees the highest number of ceremonies. This period offers favorable weather in most regions. September and October are particularly popular months. Winter weddings occur but are less common outside of resort areas. Some families avoid certain times of year for religious reasons or holiday conflicts. Urban centers see events throughout the year regardless of season. Couples often book venues one to two years in advance during peak times.
Gifts and money
Guests typically provide gifts from a registry created by the couple. These registries list items the couple needs for their new home. Cash gifts are also common and often given in envelopes at the reception. Some guests contribute to honeymoon funds or charitable donations instead. The couple usually pays for the majority of the wedding costs themselves. In some traditional families, the bride's family might cover specific expenses like the reception venue. Modern trends show couples paying for more elements of their own celebrations. Gifts are opened privately or not at all in favor of direct contributions.
Communities
American weddings reflect the nation's diverse cultural heritage. Jewish ceremonies often include breaking a glass underfoot. Christian services frequently take place in churches with hymns and sermons. Muslim weddings involve a contract signing and separate gatherings for men and women. Hindu ceremonies may last several days and include rituals around a sacred fire. Indigenous communities incorporate traditional songs, dances, and clothing. Latino weddings often feature large family involvement and lively music. Each group maintains distinct customs while participating in the broader legal framework of the country.
The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Marriage in the United States", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
A wedding in the United States, stage by stage
The customs written up so far, in the order a wedding unfolds.
Cities, towns and villages of the United States
🇰🇷 South Korea and 5 moreBlessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchHoly Marriage Blessing Ceremony (축복결혼식)
A large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇷 Iran and 1 moreNikahnikāḥ (Arabic: نِكَاح)
The Islamic marriage contract that establishes a binding union between two people.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreMarriage proposal
The moment one partner asks the other to marry them and marks the start of an engagement.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United StatesPre-Cana
The Catholic Church course that helps engaged couples prepare for the sacrament of marriage.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 2 moreJewish prenuptial agreement
A contract signed before the wedding to ensure a Jewish divorce can happen if one spouse refuses.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 Hawaii, United StatesCommon-law marriage in the United States
A legal union formed by mutual consent and public presentation without a license or ceremony.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United StatesSelf-uniting marriage
A wedding where the couple marries each other without a third-party officiant.Vow · The ceremony
🇫🇮 Finland and 5 moreBanns of marriagekuulutukset avioliittoon (Finnish)
The public announcement of an impending marriage in church or town hall to allow for legal objections.Vow · The weeks before
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreQuaker wedding
A silent ceremony where Friends witness each other's vows without clergy or rigid rituals.Rite · The weeks before
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 5 moreInterfaith marriage in Judaismשִׁדּוּג חַלּוּץ (Shidug Chalutz) / אינטרפייט מריאז' (Interafeyt Mariyaz')
The union of a Jew and a non-Jew, viewed as void by traditional law but increasingly common in modern communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇫🇷 France and 5 moreProxy marriage
A union where one or both partners are absent and represented by another person.Vow · The ceremony
🇺🇸 New York, United States and 5 moreInterracial marriage
A union between spouses of different races or racialized ethnicities, now legal in most nations.Modern
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 4 moreAgunahעֲגוּנָה (Agunah)
A Jewish woman trapped in a marriage because her husband has not granted a religious divorce document known as a get.Vow · After the wedding
🇩🇪 Germany and 4 moreDower
A share of the husband's property set aside to secure a woman's life if he dies first.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreWedding vow renewal ceremony
A service where a married couple repeats their marriage promises to reaffirm their commitment.Vow · After the wedding
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreWedding ring
A metal circle worn on the finger to show that a person is married.Attire · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreEngagement ring
A ring given to signify a formal agreement to future marriage.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreMarriage bond
A financial guarantee posted to prove a couple was legally free to marry before the ceremony took place.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 3 moreCivil ceremony
A secular marriage rite performed by a government official at a licensed venue.Vow · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSealing (Mormonism)
A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony
🇨🇳 China and 5 morePosthumous marriageminghun
A union performed when one or both partners have died, kept in parts of Asia and permitted by law in a few nations.Betrothal · After the wedding
🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands and 5 moreSame-sex marriage
The legal union of two people of the same sex or gender, recognized in dozens of countries.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 Las Vegas, United StatesLas Vegas weddings
Quick civil or religious ceremonies held in Las Vegas due to easy licensing and diverse venues.Setting · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreInterfaith marriage
A union between spouses of different faiths, navigating legal and religious boundaries across the world.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreLavender marriage
A heterosexual union formed to hide the queer identity of one or both partners and protect a public career.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreRing fingerdigitus annularis
The fourth digit of the hand where wedding and engagement rings are traditionally worn.Attire · The ceremony
🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreLieberman clause
A ketubah provision for rabbinic arbitration to prevent a woman from being unable to remarry.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSame-sex marriage and Judaism
How different branches of Judaism handle the union of two people of the same sex.Modern · The ceremony
🇦🇺 Australia and 5 moreCelebrancy
A profession of secular officiants who create personalised life ceremonies for people outside traditional religious or sModern · The weeks before
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePostnuptial agreement
A contract signed after marriage to plan for divorce or death.Vow · After the wedding
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCommon-law marriage
A union recognized by law because a couple lives together as spouses, without a formal ceremony or license.Vow · After the wedding
🇨🇦 Canada and 1 moreMarriage commissioner
A civil official appointed to solemnize weddings outside of religious or standard court settings.Vow · The ceremony
🇨🇦 Canada and 5 moreLoyal toast
A formal salute to the head of state given at official gatherings in Commonwealth realms and other nations.Vow · The wedding feast
🇺🇸 Salt Lake City, United StatesLatter Day Saint polygamy in the late-19th century
The practice of plural marriage among Latter-day Saints that drew intense government scrutiny and led to its abandonmentVow · Engagement and betrothal
🇹🇭 Thailand and 5 morePrenuptial agreement
A written contract signed before marriage to define property rights and financial outcomes.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Blessing ceremony of the Unification Church: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Banns of marriage: After William Hemsley, CC0, source
- Interfaith marriage in Christianity: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, source
- Loyal toast: Alaxander W. Galbraith, Public domain, source
- Pre-Cana: Jebulon, CC0, source
- Nikah: عامر شاہین, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Marriage proposal: Victorgrigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Interfaith marriage in Judaism: Rembrandt, Public domain, source
- Proxy marriage: Alejandro Cicarelli, Public domain, source
- Interracial marriage: Xavier Lejeune, CC BY 4.0, source
- Dower: Pvasiliadis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Lavender marriage: Katharine Cornell and the Playwrights' Company; Vandamm Studio, photog, Public domain, source
- Sealing (Mormonism): NewNameNoah, CC BY 4.0, source
- Ring finger: RAPMOODDE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mormon polygamy: Charles Weitfle, Public domain, source
- Prenuptial agreement: Jan Josef Horemans the Younger, Public domain, source
- Same-sex marriage and Judaism: Ed and Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage: Stefano Bolognini, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wedding ring: CLW at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Engagement ring: Photo by Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Marriage bond: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Las Vegas weddings: Henrickson ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source