Wedding traditions with crowns and wreaths
Crowns and wreaths turn the bride and groom into a king and queen for a day.
Crowns and wreaths turn the bride and groom into a king and queen for a day. Common in Orthodox Christian rites, in Scandinavia and in Central Europe, they are made of metal, flowers, leaves, myrtle or orange blossom.
Crowns in the rite
In Orthodox weddings crowns, called stefana in Greek, are placed on the heads of the couple, who become the king and queen of their own household, and in some traditions they stand for martyrdom as well as glory. In Sweden the bride may wear a crown, and in Norway a silver crown, the brudekrone, is lent by the church or family. In Poland a bride may be crowned at the oczepiny. In Korean weddings the bride might wear a jokduri, a small crown.
Wreaths of leaf and flower
Ancient Greeks and Romans wore wreaths of myrtle, marjoram and other leaves, and orange blossom became the Western bridal flower in the nineteenth century. In Ukraine the bride wears a vinok, a wreath of flowers and ribbons, and in Hungary and Germany myrtle wreaths are used. Today flower crowns appear in many styles of wedding.
Written by the EveryShaadi desk with AI assistance. Background on Crowns and wreaths (symbol). Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇸🇿 Ludzidzini Royal Village, Eswatini and 1 moreUmhlanga
The annual Swazi and Zulu gathering where young women cut reeds to preserve chastity and offer tribute labour.Rite · The eve
🇮🇪 Ireland and 1 moreHandfastingceangal na lámh (Irish); pòsadh-bliadhna (Scottish Gaelic)
A pledge ceremony where a couple joins hands to make a binding marriage contract or engagement.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇷🇺 RussiaRussian wedding traditionsРусская свадьба
A multi-day celebration blending Orthodox crowning, ransom games, and lively toasting in Russia.Rite · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United KingdomLuckenbooth brooch
A Scottish heart-shaped silver token of love and protection worn at weddings.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇪 Galway, Ireland and 2 moreCladdagh ringFáinne an Chladaigh
A traditional Irish ring featuring clasped hands, a heart, and a crown to symbolise friendship, love, and loyalty.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal
🇷🇴 Romania and 1 morePerinița
A Romanian circle dance where a pillow marks the last partner dance for unmarried youth before a wedding.Performance · The eve
🇮🇳 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
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Claddagh ring: Royalcladdagh, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Luckenbooth brooch: Walker14806, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Russian wedding traditions: GeorgeLouis, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Handfasting: Sander van der Wel, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Umhlanga: Amada44, Public domain, source