Wedding traditions with horse and carriage

The horse and the carriage take the couple to the wedding in style. They are part of the picture of a marriage in many places, from the Indian baraat mare to the English carriage, and from the Mongolian horse race to the camel and elephant of Rajasthan.

The groom on a mare

In North India, a groom rides a decorated mare, ghodi, to the wedding, led by his family and dancing relatives, and the sister-in-law feeds the horse. In Rajasthan, elephants and camels may also be used. The practice is more than a taste for show: the groom is treated as a prince for the day. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the groom may arrive by car or on foot, depending on community.

Carriages and rides

A horse-drawn carriage is a staple of English and European weddings, and a decorated wagon was common in Hungary and Poland. Mongolian and Kazakh weddings include horse races and horseback games, and in Mongolia the groom's family rides to the bride's. In the Camargue, France, and in Spain, riders accompany a couple in costume. In Ireland, horseshoes are a luck charm.