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.

🇨🇳 China and 1 moreGhost marriage冥婚 (mínghūn) A union arranged for deceased individuals to ensure harmony in the afterlife and care in this one.Rite · Finding a match

🇹🇱 Dili, Timor-Leste and 1 moreTimorese wedding traditionsBarlake The gift exchange and family alliance rituals practiced on the island of Timor.Gift custom · Finding a match 🇨🇳 ChinaNaked marriage裸婚 (luǒhūn) A wedding without a house, car, or ring, chosen by couples in China for love and financial necessity.Modern · The weeks before

🇮🇳 Mumbai, India and 3 moreDowry system in Indiaदहेज (Hindi), ज़ेहर (Urdu) The transfer of cash and goods from the bride's family to the groom that has become a source of financial strain and vioGift custom · 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

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreHindu weddingvivaha (विवाह) The traditional marriage ceremony for Hindus, centered on sacred fire and seven vows.Rite · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇹 ItalyConfarreatio The ancient Roman patrician marriage rite marked by sharing a sacred emmer cake.Rite · The ceremony

🇫🇷 France and 5 moreProxy marriage A union where one or both partners are absent and represented by another person.Vow · The ceremony

🇵🇱 Poland and 1 moreBadchenבּדחן (badkhn) The Ashkenazi Jewish wedding entertainer and master of ceremonies who guides the couple through ritual stages with song Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇱 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

🇮🇶 Iraq and 1 moreInterdenominational marriage A wedding between two people of different denominations within the same religion.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 🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreMisyar marriageزواج المسيار (zawāj al-misyār) A Sunni Islamic contract where the wife waives cohabitation and financial support in exchange for a legal union.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in Brazil The nationwide legal recognition of same-sex unions following a 2013 judicial ruling.Modern · 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

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreWedding veil A cloth covering the head or face worn by brides and grooms to mark marriage.Attire · The ceremony

🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreMystery of Crowning The crowning ritual in Eastern Christian weddings that marks the couple as king and queen.Rite · The ceremony

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSealing (Mormonism) A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony 🇵🇱 Kraków, PolandWedding of the Weddings A Polish annual gathering for couples who chose alcohol-free wedding receptions.Feast custom · The ceremony 🇳🇴 NorwayEsbat A monthly Wiccan gathering held around the moon phases for ritual and communityBlessing · The ceremony

🇮🇩 IndonesiaSlametan A communal Javanese feast that brings neighbors together for peace and social unity.Feast custom · The weeks before 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 2 morePolygamy in Saudi Arabia A legal marriage structure allowing a man to have up to four wives under Islamic law.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇵 NepalInter-caste marriage in Nepalअन्तरजातीय विवाह Marriage across caste lines in a society where such unions were once illegal and remain socially contested.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 Kinnaur, IndiaPolyandry in India A practice where a woman has multiple husbands at the same time, found in specific Indian communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇿 UzbekistanPolygamy in Uzbekistan The practice of men taking multiple wives in a country where the law strictly forbids it.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇩🇪 Germany and 3 moreHerem of Rabbeinu GershomḤerem de-Rabbeinu Gershom Medieval ordinances that banned polygyny and forced divorce for Ashkenazi Jews.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇰🇪 KenyaRecognition of same-sex unions in Kenya The legal ban on gay marriage alongside traditional female-to-female unions that persist in some communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇹🇳 Tunis, TunisiaTunisian jebbaجبة A loose traditional tunic worn by Tunisian men and women for weddings and festivals.Attire · Procession and arrival

🇮🇷 Isfahan, IranDebit trousersShalvār Debit (شلوار دبیت) The wide black cotton trousers worn by Bakhtiari men as a badge of tribal identity.Attire · The ceremony

🇨🇳 China and 4 moreCloud collar云肩 (yúnjiān) A detachable shoulder collar worn by Han Chinese brides to frame the face and symbolize cosmic order.Attire · The weeks before 🇮🇳 IndiaLohepfhe A black shawl with red and green bands worn by Angami and Chakhesang Naga men at weddings.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreNose jewelNath A nose piercing ornament that signals marital status and social standing in South Asia and beyond.Adornment · The weeks before

🇿🇦 South Africa and 1 moreShweshweSeshoeshoe A printed cotton fabric worn by Xhosa and Sotho brides and married women in Southern Africa.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 5 moreDashiki suit The tailored tunic and trousers worn by grooms in West African and diaspora weddingsAttire · The ceremony

🇮🇱 IsraelSeudat mitzvahסעודת מצוה The obligatory festive meals in Judaism that mark religious milestones and sacred days.Feast custom · The ceremony 🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreUrfi marriageزواج عرفي A customary union upheld by community tradition instead of state registration.Modern · The ceremony 🇺🇸 Washington, United StatesSame-sex marriage in tribal nations Legal recognition of same-sex unions within the sovereign jurisdictions of Native American tribes in the United States.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

Photo credits on this page

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

Sealing (Mormonism): NewNameNoah, CC BY 4.0, source
Tunisian jebba: Touzrimounir, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Interfaith marriage in Christianity: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, source
Debit trousers: Niloofar Rakhshan, CC BY 4.0, source
Tongyangxi: Unknown photographer, Public domain, source
Polyandry in India: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Seudat mitzvah: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Lavender marriage: Katharine Cornell and the Playwrights' Company; Vandamm Studio, photog, Public domain, source
Shweshwe: HelenOnline, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Herem of Rabbeinu Gershom: Nixnubix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Inter-caste marriage in Nepal: Sajan Pundit, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Brazil: Fabio Pozzebom/ABr, CC BY 3.0 br, source
Same-sex marriage: Stefano Bolognini, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Cloud collar: Unknown author, CC0, source
Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
Timorese wedding traditions: ColinTrainor, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Dowry system in India: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Mystery of Crowning: Shakko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Hindu wedding: Dinesh Cyanam, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Confarreatio: Agnete, CC BY 3.0, source
Slametan: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Proxy marriage: Alejandro Cicarelli, Public domain, source
Badchen: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Dashiki suit: Emilio Labrador, CC BY 2.0, source
Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source