All wedding traditions
650 traditions so far, best known first. 440 more are on the list to be written. Filter by region, kind and stage of the wedding.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom and 1 moreCivil partnership in the United Kingdom
A legal union for same-sex and opposite-sex couples in the UK, offering rights equal to marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇯🇵 Japan and 4 morePicture brideNakōdo (仲人) matchmaking; Jungmae gyeolhon (결혼) process
Early twentieth century marriages arranged through photographs between Asian immigrant men and women in Hawaii and the UBetrothal · Finding a match
🇦🇺 Australia and 5 moreCelebrancy
A profession of secular officiants who create personalised life ceremonies for people outside traditional religious or sModern · The weeks before
🇱🇺 Luxembourg City, LuxembourgSame-sex marriage in Luxembourg
The civil union that allows two people of the same sex to wed in Luxembourg since 2015.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Jersey
The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the Crown Dependency of Jersey since 2018.Modern · The ceremony
🇮🇱 Tel Aviv, IsraelUnregistered cohabitation in Israel
Legal recognition for same-sex couples living together without a formal religious or civil wedding ceremony.Modern
🇻🇺 Port Vila, VanuatuRecognition of same-sex unions in Vanuatu
The legal status and history of marriage equality for same-sex couples in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.Modern
🇦🇩 AndorraSame-sex marriage in AndorraMatrimoni entre persones del mateix sexe
The legal recognition of same-sex unions in the Pyrenean principality since 2023.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇸🇨 SeychellesSame-sex marriage recognition in Seychelles
The legal standing of two men or two women who wish to wed in the Indian Ocean republic.Modern
🇵🇱 Warsaw, PolandRecognition of same-sex unions in Poland
The legal process for acknowledging foreign same-sex marriages and civil unions within Polish law.Modern
🇨🇾 Nicosia, CyprusRecognition of same-sex unions in Cyprusπολιτική συμβίωση (Greek), sivil birliktelik (Turkish)
The legal framework for registered partnerships and the ongoing debate over marriage equality in Cyprus.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇸🇮 SloveniaSame-sex marriage in SloveniaZakonska zveza istospolnih partnerjev
The legal recognition of same-sex unions that evolved from limited partnerships to full marriage rights.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇫🇯 Suva, FijiRecognition of same-sex unions in Fiji
The legal status and social context of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Fiji.Modern
🇪🇨 EcuadorSame-sex civil unions in EcuadorUnión de hecho
Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships granted by the 2008 Constitution and implemented in 2014.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇿🇦 South AfricaCivil partnership in South Africa
A legal union in South Africa that grants same-sex and opposite-sex couples the same rights as marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇭🇺 Budapest, HungaryRecognition of same-sex unions in Hungarybejegyzett élettársi kapcsolat
The legal framework for same-sex relationships in Hungary, ranging from informal cohabitation to registered partnershipsModern · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandMarriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
The 2013 New Zealand law that changed the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.Vow · The weeks before
🇰🇷 Seoul, South KoreaRecognition of same-sex unions in South Korea
The ongoing legal and political struggle to recognize same-sex marriages and civil unions in South Korea.Modern
🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandCivil union in New Zealand
A legal partnership for same-sex and opposite-sex couples established by statute in New Zealand.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇿 New ZealandPolygamy in New Zealand
The legal prohibition of multiple spouses and the limited recognition of foreign polygamous unions.Vow
🇻🇪 Caracas, VenezuelaSame-sex marriage in Venezuela
The ongoing legal and social effort to recognize same-sex marriages and civil partnerships in Venezuela.Modern
🇫🇲 MicronesiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Micronesia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships in the Federated States of Micronesia.Vow
🇻🇳 Hanoi, VietnamRecognition of same-sex unions in Vietnam
The legal status and public debate surrounding same-sex weddings in VietnamModern
🇪🇸 A Coruña, Spain and 2 moreFirst same-sex marriage in Spain
The 1901 union of two women in Galicia that preceded legal recognition by over a centuryModern · The ceremony
🇨🇦 CanadaCivil union in Quebec
A legal partnership in Quebec that grants same rights to opposite and same-sex couples as marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇿🇦 South AfricaProhibition of Mixed Marriages Act, 1949
An apartheid-era law in South Africa that banned marriages between white and non-white citizens.Modern
🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesSame-sex marriage in Hawaii
The legalization of marriage for same-sex couples in the Hawaiian islands.Modern
🇱🇹 Vilnius, LithuaniaRecognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania
Legal recognition of same-sex civil partnerships and marriages through court rulings and legislative efforts.Modern
🇱🇻 Riga, LatviaCivil partnership in Latviacivilā partnerība
The legal framework for same-sex couples in Latvia that grants most marital rights without adoption or inheritance.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇩🇰 DenmarkSame-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands
The legal recognition of same-sex unions that began in 2017 after years of parliamentary debate.Modern · The ceremony
🇱🇷 LiberiaPolygamy in Liberia
A customary practice allowing men to have multiple wives despite civil law.Modern
🇱🇮 Vaduz, LiechtensteinSame-sex marriage in Liechtenstein
The civil union that grants equal marital rights to all couples in the Alpine principality.Modern · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United StatesSame-sex marriage in the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal recognition of same-sex unions in a U.S. territory that became a popular destination for international couples.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Guernsey
The legal recognition of same-sex unions across the Bailiwick of Guernsey and its dependencies.Modern · The ceremony
🇲🇪 Podgorica, MontenegroRecognition of same-sex unions in MontenegroŽivotno partnerstvo
Legal recognition for same-sex couples in Montenegro through life partnerships.Modern
🇰🇭 Phnom Penh, CambodiaSame-sex marriage in Cambodia
The legal status and local registry for same-sex couples in Cambodia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇬 UgandaRecognition of same-sex unions in Uganda
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil unions under Ugandan law.Modern
🇮🇩 IndonesiaSame-sex marriage in Indonesia
The legal status and social reality of same-sex unions under Indonesian law.Modern · The ceremony
🇸🇷 SurinameRecognition of same-sex unions in Suriname
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships in Suriname.Modern
🇭🇷 Zagreb, CroatiaRecognition of same-sex unions in CroatiaŽivotno partnerstvo
The legal framework that grants same-sex couples rights through life partnerships and foster care recognition.Modern
🇨🇴 Bogotá, ColombiaSame-sex marriage in Colombia
The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Constitutional Court in 2016.Modern · The ceremony
🇿🇼 ZimbabweRecognition of same-sex unions in Zimbabwe
The legal and social landscape for same-sex marriage in ZimbabweModern
🇦🇲 ArmeniaRecognition of same-sex unions in Armenia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and foreign union recognition in Armenia.Modern
🇧🇭 BahrainPolygamy in Bahrain
A legal marital arrangement where a man may have multiple wives, practiced by a minority of citizens.Modern
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in the British Indian Ocean Territory
Legal recognition of same-sex unions for military personnel stationed on Diego Garcia since 2014.Modern · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSame-sex marriage and Judaism
How different branches of Judaism handle the union of two people of the same sex.Modern · The ceremony
🇳🇦 NamibiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Namibia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and foreign union recognition in NamibiaVow
🇺🇿 UzbekistanPolygamy in Uzbekistan
The practice of men taking multiple wives in a country where the law strictly forbids it.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇵🇱 Warsaw, PolandRecognition of same-sex unions in Poland
The legal process for acknowledging foreign same-sex marriages and civil unions within Polish law.Modern
🇨🇾 Nicosia, CyprusRecognition of same-sex unions in Cyprusπολιτική συμβίωση (Greek), sivil birliktelik (Turkish)
The legal framework for registered partnerships and the ongoing debate over marriage equality in Cyprus.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇸🇮 SloveniaSame-sex marriage in SloveniaZakonska zveza istospolnih partnerjev
The legal recognition of same-sex unions that evolved from limited partnerships to full marriage rights.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇫🇯 Suva, FijiRecognition of same-sex unions in Fiji
The legal status and social context of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Fiji.Modern
🇪🇨 EcuadorSame-sex civil unions in EcuadorUnión de hecho
Legal recognition of same-sex partnerships granted by the 2008 Constitution and implemented in 2014.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇿🇦 South AfricaCivil partnership in South Africa
A legal union in South Africa that grants same-sex and opposite-sex couples the same rights as marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇭🇺 Budapest, HungaryRecognition of same-sex unions in Hungarybejegyzett élettársi kapcsolat
The legal framework for same-sex relationships in Hungary, ranging from informal cohabitation to registered partnershipsModern · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandMarriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
The 2013 New Zealand law that changed the legal definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.Vow · The weeks before
🇰🇷 Seoul, South KoreaRecognition of same-sex unions in South Korea
The ongoing legal and political struggle to recognize same-sex marriages and civil unions in South Korea.Modern
🇳🇿 Wellington, New ZealandCivil union in New Zealand
A legal partnership for same-sex and opposite-sex couples established by statute in New Zealand.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇿 New ZealandPolygamy in New Zealand
The legal prohibition of multiple spouses and the limited recognition of foreign polygamous unions.Vow
🇻🇪 Caracas, VenezuelaSame-sex marriage in Venezuela
The ongoing legal and social effort to recognize same-sex marriages and civil partnerships in Venezuela.Modern
🇫🇲 MicronesiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Micronesia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships in the Federated States of Micronesia.Vow
🇻🇳 Hanoi, VietnamRecognition of same-sex unions in Vietnam
The legal status and public debate surrounding same-sex weddings in VietnamModern
🇪🇸 A Coruña, Spain and 2 moreFirst same-sex marriage in Spain
The 1901 union of two women in Galicia that preceded legal recognition by over a centuryModern · The ceremony
🇨🇦 CanadaCivil union in Quebec
A legal partnership in Quebec that grants same rights to opposite and same-sex couples as marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇿🇦 South AfricaProhibition of Mixed Marriages Act, 1949
An apartheid-era law in South Africa that banned marriages between white and non-white citizens.Modern
🇺🇸 Honolulu, United StatesSame-sex marriage in Hawaii
The legalization of marriage for same-sex couples in the Hawaiian islands.Modern
🇱🇹 Vilnius, LithuaniaRecognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania
Legal recognition of same-sex civil partnerships and marriages through court rulings and legislative efforts.Modern
🇱🇻 Riga, LatviaCivil partnership in Latviacivilā partnerība
The legal framework for same-sex couples in Latvia that grants most marital rights without adoption or inheritance.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇩🇰 DenmarkSame-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands
The legal recognition of same-sex unions that began in 2017 after years of parliamentary debate.Modern · The ceremony
🇱🇷 LiberiaPolygamy in Liberia
A customary practice allowing men to have multiple wives despite civil law.Modern
🇱🇮 Vaduz, LiechtensteinSame-sex marriage in Liechtenstein
The civil union that grants equal marital rights to all couples in the Alpine principality.Modern · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United StatesSame-sex marriage in the Northern Mariana Islands
Legal recognition of same-sex unions in a U.S. territory that became a popular destination for international couples.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Guernsey
The legal recognition of same-sex unions across the Bailiwick of Guernsey and its dependencies.Modern · The ceremony
🇲🇪 Podgorica, MontenegroRecognition of same-sex unions in MontenegroŽivotno partnerstvo
Legal recognition for same-sex couples in Montenegro through life partnerships.Modern
🇰🇭 Phnom Penh, CambodiaSame-sex marriage in Cambodia
The legal status and local registry for same-sex couples in Cambodia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇬 UgandaRecognition of same-sex unions in Uganda
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil unions under Ugandan law.Modern
🇮🇩 IndonesiaSame-sex marriage in Indonesia
The legal status and social reality of same-sex unions under Indonesian law.Modern · The ceremony
🇸🇷 SurinameRecognition of same-sex unions in Suriname
The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships in Suriname.Modern
🇭🇷 Zagreb, CroatiaRecognition of same-sex unions in CroatiaŽivotno partnerstvo
The legal framework that grants same-sex couples rights through life partnerships and foster care recognition.Modern
🇨🇴 Bogotá, ColombiaSame-sex marriage in Colombia
The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Constitutional Court in 2016.Modern · The ceremony
🇿🇼 ZimbabweRecognition of same-sex unions in Zimbabwe
The legal and social landscape for same-sex marriage in ZimbabweModern
🇦🇲 ArmeniaRecognition of same-sex unions in Armenia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and foreign union recognition in Armenia.Modern
🇧🇭 BahrainPolygamy in Bahrain
A legal marital arrangement where a man may have multiple wives, practiced by a minority of citizens.Modern
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in the British Indian Ocean Territory
Legal recognition of same-sex unions for military personnel stationed on Diego Garcia since 2014.Modern · The ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSame-sex marriage and Judaism
How different branches of Judaism handle the union of two people of the same sex.Modern · The ceremony
🇳🇦 NamibiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Namibia
The legal status of same-sex marriage and foreign union recognition in NamibiaVow
🇺🇿 UzbekistanPolygamy in Uzbekistan
The practice of men taking multiple wives in a country where the law strictly forbids it.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.
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Poland: Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Hungary: Christo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea: Nerd271, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Civil union in New Zealand: Helen Robinson, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Vietnam: USAID Vietnam, Public domain, source
- First same-sex marriage in Spain: Jglamela, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Hawaii: Bob Bobster, CC BY 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands: Arne List, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Recognition of same-sex unions in Croatia: Danny Fowler, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Colombia: Diego Cambiaso, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage and Judaism: Ed and Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source