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EveryShaadi

After the wedding

The first night, the return visit, the honeymoon and the first anniversary.

The wedding does not end with the party. The first night, the return visit to the bride's home, the gift-opening and the honeymoon all follow, and in many cultures the bride has a series of visits and tasks in her new family.

Returning and visiting

In India the pag phera or the satvaru sees the bride return to her parents' home soon after the wedding. In China the huimen is the visit a few days later, with gifts. In Iran the pa-gosha is a gathering at the bride's parents' house after the wedding. In Pakistan and Bangladesh the chauthi and the walima, held by the groom's family, mark the new bride's welcome. In Jewish tradition the seven blessings are repeated at feasts in the week after.

Honeymoon and settling

The honeymoon, a Western custom, is now a global custom, from the Maldives to Niagara Falls. In some cultures the couple live with the husband's parents, in others they start a new household at once. The first anniversary has its own gifts; in the West the first year is traditionally paper.

What is changing

Honeymoons have moved from a luxury to a norm, and couples now travel together or return to jobs the next week. Post-wedding visits are being shortened but still held in many families. Joint households are declining in cities while remaining common elsewhere.

About this page

Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on After the wedding (stage of the wedding). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
KindRiteVowBetrothalGift customAttireAdornmentPerformanceFeast customBlessingPlayFamily roleSettingModern
🇲🇽 Oaxaca, Mexico and 1 moreHuipilhuīpīlli The traditional tunic worn by indigenous women in Mexico and Central America for weddings and daily life.Attire · The weeks before 🇺🇸 New York, United StatesSlave marriages in the United States The unions formed by enslaved African Americans before and after the abolition of slavery in the US.Rite · The ceremony 🇺🇸 United StatesGroom's cake A second dessert served at the wedding reception or rehearsal dinner to reflect the groom's tastes.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts 🇲🇽 Oaxaca, MexicoOaxacan wedding A multi-day Catholic celebration in Oaxaca featuring mole, mezcal, and communal dancing.Feast custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇸 United StatesNavajo wedding ceremony A Navajo marriage ritual centred on harmony, family union, and nature inside a Hogan.Rite · The eve 🇺🇸 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 🇺🇸 United StatesStack cake A layered Appalachian dessert made of crisp molasses cakes and dried apple filling.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts 🇺🇸 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 5 moreSealing (Mormonism) A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony 🇺🇸 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 🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePostnuptial agreement A contract signed after marriage to plan for divorce or death.Vow · After the wedding

Photo credits on this page

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

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