Procession and arrival
The groom's baraat, the bridal escort, the blocked gate and the arrival at the venue.
The procession is the journey. The groom rides to the bride's house, the bride is escorted to the ceremony, or the whole village walks together. It is loud, public and festive, and often includes a mock challenge at the door.
The groom arrives
The Indian baraat brings the groom, often on a decorated mare, with dancers and a band, to the bride's family, who greet him at the milni. In Nigeria and Ghana the groom's family makes a formal entry. In Pakistan the barat arrives from the groom's side. In Mongolia and Kazakhstan the groom travels with his family to the bride's home, and in Greece the groom's party arrives with music and the bride's family offers a toast.
The bride is escorted
In Western weddings the bride travels in a car or carriage to the church and then walks the aisle, often with her father. In Egypt and Lebanon a zaffe leads the couple. In Morocco the bride is carried in the amariya on a platform. In parts of China the bride was historically carried in a red sedan chair and is now brought in a decorated car, and in Japan she may walk in a procession of priests and family to the shrine, under a red umbrella.
The blocked gate
At many weddings the door is blocked until a payment or a task is completed: the groom's friends in China and Korea, in India the sisters of the bride, and in Scotland children who tie a ribbon across the church gate for a coin. The point is play and welcome, and a way for the two sides to test one another.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Procession and arrival (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.
🇮🇹 Gubbio, Italy and 1 moreSaint Ubaldo DayFesta dei Ceri
A procession where runners carry massive wooden pedestals with saint statues through the streets of Gubbio and Jessup.Blessing · Procession and arrival
🇮🇩 Indonesia and 4 morePantunڤنتون
A Malayic oral poetry form used in wedding greetings and daily communication to express ideas through rhyme.Performance · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇹 Viterbo, ItalyMacchina di Santa Rosa
The annual procession in Viterbo where men carry a towering structure to honor their patron saint.Blessing · Procession and arrival
🇨🇳 Fuzhou, China and 2 moreOil-Paper Umbrella油紙傘
A protective canopy shielding the bride from harm and blessing the marriageBlessing · Procession and arrival
🇵🇱 Poland and 3 moreEaster palmPolish: palma wielkanocna; Lithuanian: verba
A decorated willow or juniper bundle blessed on Palm Sunday to protect homes and crops.Blessing · The weeks before
🇬🇭 GhanaAdowa dance
A traditional Akan dance from Ghana that uses hand and foot movements to express emotions at weddings and other ceremoniPerformance · Procession and arrival
🇮🇳 Patiala, IndiaParanda
A silk thread hair ornament worn by Punjabi women during weddings and festivals.Adornment · The weeks before
🇧🇷 Recife, BrazilFrevo
A fast, acrobatic dance and musical style from Recife that turns Carnival street parades into a display of agility.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇵🇱 Poland and 3 moreŚmigus-Dyngus
The Easter Monday water splashing and willow whipping tradition of Central EuropeRite · The weeks before
🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער
The instrumental wedding music of Ashkenazi Jews, blending Eastern European and Jewish ritual melodies.Performance · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇵 NepalPanche bajaपञ्चे बाजा
A set of five traditional instruments played at Hindu weddings in Nepal.Performance · Procession and arrival
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Śmigus-Dyngus: Nationwide Specialty Co., Arlington, Texas -- In Buffalo, N.Y., Stanle, CC BY 3.0, source
- Pantun: Nurmalinda Maharfar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Oil-Paper Umbrella: Richard, CC BY 2.0, source
- Klezmer: Unknown artist identified as "M.D.", Public domain, source
- Frevo: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Saint Ubaldo Day: Marco Riccardini, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Macchina di Santa Rosa: Amras Carnesîr, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Panche baja: Janak Bhatta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Easter palm: Evaldas Liutkus, CC BY 2.0, source
- Adowa dance: Quami43, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Paranda: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, source