The ceremony

The vows, the rites, the blessing and the moment the marriage is made.

The ceremony is the moment the marriage is made, in religion, in law or in both. It may last five minutes or five hours. It may be held at a temple, a mosque, a church, a registry office, a garden or at home. What it has in common everywhere is that someone witnesses and the couple agree.

What is required

In Islam the core is the offer, the acceptance and two witnesses, with the mahr agreed. In Judaism the ring is given before witnesses under the chuppah and the ketubah is signed. In Hinduism the saptapadi before the fire completes the marriage under the Hindu Marriage Act in India. In Catholic and Protestant weddings the exchange of vows is the key, with a priest or minister present. In civil weddings the declaration before a registrar is what counts.

Many ways to do it

Orthodox Christians crown the couple and share the common cup. Sikhs circle the Guru Granth Sahib four times in the lavan. Bahá'í couples each say a single verse before two witnesses. Chinese families once bowed to Heaven and Earth, to the parents and to each other. Many Indigenous weddings include a blanket, a pipe or a dance, depending on the nation. Quakers sit in silence until the couple stand and speak.

Making it your own

Couples now ask friends to officiate, write vows, include readings from different traditions, and choose music. Some ceremonies are bilingual, and many couples use a mix of two religions. The law still requires a few set words in many countries, and it is worth checking.

About this page

Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on The ceremony (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.

🇮🇳 Jodhpur, India and 1 moreAchkanअचकन (Hindi), اچکن (Urdu) A long, side-fastening jacket worn by grooms and men at formal Indian weddings.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇩 IndonesiaUlosᯥᯞᯘᯬ᯲ The hand-woven textile that binds Batak couples in marriage and symbolizes warmth.Attire · The ceremony

🇲🇾 Malaysia and 4 moreBaju Kurungباجو كوروڠ The traditional blouse and skirt worn by Malay women for weddings and religious ceremoniesAttire · The weeks before

🇳🇬 Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreAso okeAṣọ òkè Hand-woven cloth worn by the Yoruba for weddings and formal gatheringsAttire · The ceremony

🇰🇿 KazakhstanBetasharбеташар The lifting of the bride's veil by the groom's mother during a Kazakh wedding ceremonyRite · The ceremony

🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreMantilla A lace or silk veil worn over the head and shoulders by women in Spain and Latin AmericaAttire · The weeks before

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreToe ring A silver band worn on the second toe to mark a woman as married in India.Adornment · The ceremony 🇺🇦 UkraineSong about the RushnykПісня про рушник (Pisnia pro rushnyk) A Ukrainian song that celebrates the embroidered cloth used in weddings and family life.Performance · The ceremony

🇱🇦 Laos and 1 moreBaciບາສີ (Lao); บายศรี (Thai) The wrist-tying ceremony that calls the soul back to restore balance and good luck.Blessing · The ceremony

🇳🇬 Lagos, Nigeria and 3 moreAso ebiAsọ-Ẹbí Matching outfits worn by groups to show solidarity at Yoruba weddings and other ceremoniesAttire · The weeks before

🇼🇸 Samoa and 3 moreʻIe tōga Prestige woven mats exchanged at Samoan weddings to honor family ties and chiefly status.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇹 Rome, ItalyWeddings in ancient Rome The religious ceremonies and attire that marked a union in the city of Rome before the rise of Christianity.Rite · The weeks before 🇮🇳 IndiaMadisarமடிசார் (Madisar) The nine-yard sari drape worn by Tamil Brahmin women during weddings and religious rites.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 Bhuj, India and 1 moreBandhani A traditional Indian tie-dye method that creates intricate dot patterns by binding small sections of cloth before dyeingAttire · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 IndiaOonjal A decorated swing where the Tamil bride and groom sit to receive family blessings.Blessing · The ceremony

🇮🇩 IndonesiaBeskapꦧꦼꦱ꧀ꦏꦥ꧀ The formal black jacket worn by Javanese men during weddings and official ceremonies.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 2 moreGeleGèlè The towering Yoruba head tie that crowns the bride and marks her status on the wedding day.Attire · The weeks before

🇪🇹 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and 1 moreZuria The ankle-length dress with woven hem bands worn by Tigrinya and Amhara women for weddings and holidays.Attire · The weeks before

🇬🇭 Ghana and 2 moreKente clothnwentoma Hand-woven silk and cotton strips from Ghana that mark weddings and graduationsAttire · The ceremony

🇮🇩 Palembang, Indonesia and 2 moreSongketᬲᭀᬂᬓᬾᬢ᭄ A hand-woven brocade cloth patterned with gold or silver threads for traditional weddings in Southeast Asia.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 Kanchipuram, IndiaKanchipuram silk sari The heavy silk bridal garment woven in Kanchipuram with contrasting borders and gold zari.Attire · The ceremony

🇩🇿 Algiers, AlgeriaKarakou A fitted velvet jacket from Algiers, embroidered with gold and silver thread for weddings.Attire · The ceremony

🇲🇽 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

🇲🇱 MaliWeddings in Mali Multi-day Malian wedding traditions blending Islamic rites, civil law, and local customs with bazin attire.Rite · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 Kochi, IndiaKasavuകസാവ് The white cotton and gold border attire worn by Malayalis for weddings and festivals.Attire · The weeks before

🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreJokduri족두리 A traditional Korean coronet worn by women during weddings and other special occasions.Attire · The ceremony

🇧🇳 Brunei and 2 moreTengkolokتڠكولوق A folded songket headcloth worn by Malay and Indonesian grooms at weddingsAttire · The ceremony

🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreDirndl The bodice, skirt and apron dress worn by brides in the German-speaking Alps.Attire · The ceremony

🇸🇩 Khartoum, SudanJirtigالجَرْتِقْ (Arabic) A Sudanese inauguration ritual where the groom is symbolically crowned as a king.Rite · The weeks before

🇺🇸 United StatesNavajo wedding ceremony A Navajo marriage ritual centred on harmony, family union, and nature inside a Hogan.Rite · The eve

🇮🇩 IndonesiaMinangkabau marriage A matrilineal wedding tradition from West Sumatra where the groom moves into the bride's family home.Family role · Engagement and betrothal

🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaOsariyaඔසරිය The traditional sari style worn by Sinhalese women in Sri Lanka for weddings and formal events.Attire · The ceremony

🇩🇪 Hanover, Germany and 5 moreBridal crownBrautkrone A headdress worn by brides in Central and Northern Europe to symbolize purity and status.Attire · The ceremony

🇯🇵 Tokyo, JapanShinto wedding神前結婚 (Shinzen kekkon) A Shinto purification ritual featuring sake sharing and kimono attire held at a shrine or venue.Rite · The ceremony

🇮🇱 Israel and 2 moreKetubahכְּתוּבָּה The Jewish marriage contract that outlines the groom's financial and personal obligations to the bride.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇲🇦 MoroccoTakchitaⵜⴽⵛⵉⵟⴰ (Berber) / تَكْشِيْطَة (Arabic) A two-layered Moroccan wedding dress adorned with embroidery and traditional closures.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇬 NigeriaYoruba traditional weddingIgbeyawo The multi-day Yoruba marriage ceremony featuring traditional attire, family introductions, and the Eru Iyawo gift list.Attire · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreChuraचूरा (Hindi) The red and white bangles that mark a bride's new status in Indian Hindu weddingsAttire · The weeks before

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreLehenga A long skirt worn as the base of a bridal outfit across the Indian subcontinent.Attire · The ceremony

🇹🇴 Tonga and 2 moreTaʻovala The woven pandanus mat worn around the waist for formal occasions and weddings in Tonga.Attire · The weeks before 🇮🇳 IndiaVadhuya The cotton and wool bridal dress worn by brides in ancient India during the Vedic period.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 IndiaIndian wedding clothes Traditional garments worn by Indian couples and guests across multiple days of celebrationAttire · The weeks before

🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreNude wedding A ceremony where the couple or guests participate without clothing.Modern · The ceremony

🇲🇳 MongoliaDeel The traditional long robe worn by Mongol people for daily life and special occasions like weddings.Attire · The ceremony

🇺🇬 UgandaGomesi The floor-length traditional dress worn by women in Buganda and Busoga for weddings and formal events.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 Kanchipuram, India and 1 moreWedding sari The traditional draped garment worn by brides in South Asia for their marriage ceremony.Attire · The ceremony

🇲🇦 Tangier, MoroccoNegafanggafa (Tamazight); ziyyāna (Arabic) The traditional Moroccan bridal dresser who manages the bride's appearance and wedding rituals.Attire · The weeks before

🇰🇷 South KoreaDangui당의 A long upper garment worn by Korean brides over a chima and jeogori during the Joseon period.Attire · The ceremony

Photo credits on this page

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

Minangkabau marriage: Mamasamala, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Osariya: Mr Anuradha Ratnaweera (අනුරාධ රත්නවීර මහතා), CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Aso ebi: SUPREME LACE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bridal crown: Daderot, CC0, source
Huipil: Gift in memory of Elizabeth Ege Freudenheim, No restrictions, source
Shinto wedding: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Ketubah: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Betashar: Steve Evans, CC BY 2.0, source
Takchita: Gerard Levy, France (Beth Hatefutsoth Photo Archive, courtesy of Gerar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tengkolok: Riski Syahputra, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Yoruba traditional wedding: Fhadekhemmy, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Aso oke: Wolf D., Public domain, source
Karakou: Bachounda, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Lehenga: Iwaqarhashmi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Taʻovala: James Foster, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Indian wedding clothes: Lee Jordan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Nude wedding: Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, source
Deel: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Gomesi: sarahemcc, CC BY 2.0, source
Wedding sari: Tarquin Binary, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Negafa: Amine.elbahij, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dangui: derivative work: Caspian blue ( talk ) Korean_royal_costumes-06.jpg :, CC BY 2.0, source
Beskap: Kris, Photographer of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the P, Public domain, source
Zuria: Kurt Bauschardt, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Songket: Rijksmuseum, CC0, source
Kanchipuram silk sari: McKay Savage, CC BY 2.0, source
Kente cloth: ZSM, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Gele: Royalesignature, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bandhani: RubyGoes, CC BY 2.0, source
Weddings in ancient Rome: Meister der Aldobrandinischen Hochzeit, Public domain, source
Jirtig: Alzain Mohammed, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Baci: Dalbera, CC BY 2.0, source
Navajo wedding ceremony: Neeta Lind, CC BY 2.0, source
Toe ring: Wikiss, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mantilla: Museu Valencià d'Etnologia, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Baju Kurung: Ministry of Information official photographer, Public domain, source
Ulos: Boy Lawson, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Dirndl: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de, source
ʻIe tōga: Sarah Kelemen, CC BY 2.0, source
Jokduri: derivative work: Caspian blue ( talk ) Korean_dance-Jinju_pogurakmu-01, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Weddings in Mali: HawaG, CC BY-SA 4.0, source