Wedding traditions with bread
Bread is the plain food of every table, and it is placed at the centre of many weddings.
Bread is the plain food of every table, and it is placed at the centre of many weddings. It stands for the household, for hospitality and for the sharing of a life. Often the loaf is the most decorated object in the room.
Decorated and shared loaves
The Ukrainian korovai is a large, ornate wedding bread with dough birds, flowers and a ring of wheat, and is made by married women of the community in a ritual of song. In Armenia, lavash is placed on the couple's shoulders, and in Georgia the shoti or a cheese bread may be served. In Poland the guests are greeted with bread, and in Greece decorated wedding breads are baked in some regions.
Bread and blessing
In Armenian tradition a piece of lavash is draped across the couple's shoulders as a blessing of plenty and good fortune. In Orthodox weddings bread and wine are served to the couple. In Morocco and in the Berber world, bread is baked in the groom's family home and brought to the bride.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Bread (symbol). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇺🇦 Ukraine and 4 moreKorovaiкоровай (Ukrainian), каравай (Russian), кравай (Bulgarian)
A large round braided bread shared at weddings to bless the couple and unite the community.Feast custom · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreWedding breakfast
The post-ceremony feast served to the couple and their guests in British English usage.Feast custom · The ceremony
🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreBread and salt
A traditional welcome offering of bread and salt to guests or newlyweds in Slavic, Baltic, and Balkan cultures.Feast custom · The weeks before
🇷🇺 RussiaRussian wedding traditionsРусская свадьба
A multi-day celebration blending Orthodox crowning, ransom games, and lively toasting in Russia.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇵🇱 Poland and 6 moreKolachколач (kolach), калач (kalach), kołacz, colac, kalács
A braided or ring-shaped bread that marks weddings and major holidays across Eastern Europe.Feast custom · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇦 UkraineTraditional Ukrainian weddingТрадиційне українське весілля
A multi-day sequence of folk rites, bread baking and church vows that marks the transition from maidenhood to married liRite · Finding a match
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreWedding superstitions
Traditional beliefs about luck and omens that shape wedding rituals across culturesAttire · The weeks before
🇩🇪 GermanyLandshut WeddingLandshuter Hochzeit
A four-year historical pageant in Bavaria re-enacting the 1475 royal marriage of George and Hedwig.Setting · Engagement and betrothal
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Landshut Wedding: Oktobersonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Wedding breakfast: Arpingstone, Public domain, source
- Bread and salt: Olli Niemitalo, CC0, source
- Russian wedding traditions: GeorgeLouis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kolach: Лобачев Владимир, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Traditional Ukrainian wedding: Пимоненко, Николай Корнильевич, Public domain, source
- Wedding superstitions: Anonymous Unknown author, Public domain, source