All wedding traditions

674 traditions so far, best known first. 108 more are on the list to be written. Filter by region, kind and stage of the wedding.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

🇸🇪 Stockholm, SwedenSame-sex marriage in SwedenSambolydning i Sverige The legal recognition of same-sex unions in Sweden since 2009.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇫🇷 FranceCivil solidarity pactPacte civil de solidarité (PACS) A French civil union contract that offers legal rights to couples without the full status of marriage.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇹 ItalyFede ring A clasped-hands ring that symbolizes betrothal and faithfulness in marriage traditions.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇫🇮 Finland and 5 moreBanns of marriagekuulutukset avioliittoon (Finnish) The public announcement of an impending marriage in church or town hall to allow for legal objections.Vow · The weeks before

🇩🇪 Berlin, GermanySame-sex marriage in GermanyEhe für alle The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in Germany since 2017.Modern 🇮🇩 IndonesiaNgerorod A traditional Balinese Hindu elopement where couples marry by mutual consent despite family opposition.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreYibbumייבום A Jewish rite where a brother marries his childless deceased brother's widow to continue the family line.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇸 IcelandSame-sex marriage in Icelandsamkynja hjónaband The legal union of two people regardless of gender, established in Iceland in 2010.Modern · The ceremony

🇩🇪 Germany and 5 moreMorganatic marriageEhe zur linken Hand A union between people of unequal rank that bars the spouse and children from inheriting titles or throne rights.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 IndiaDaiva marriageदैवविवाह (Daivavivāha) An ancient Hindu rite where a daughter is given to the priest who officiates her father's sacrifice.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇨🇳 China and 5 morePosthumous marriageminghun A union performed when one or both partners have died, kept in parts of Asia and permitted by law in a few nations.Betrothal · After the wedding 🇮🇱 Israel and 5 moreLevirate marriage A custom where a man marries his deceased brother's widow to protect her and keep the family line intact.Betrothal · After the wedding

🇺🇸 Las Vegas, United StatesLas Vegas weddings Quick civil or religious ceremonies held in Las Vegas due to easy licensing and diverse venues.Setting · Engagement and betrothal

🇿🇦 Cape Town, South AfricaSame-sex marriage in South Africa The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Civil Union Act of 2006.Modern · The ceremony

🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreLavender marriage A heterosexual union formed to hide the queer identity of one or both partners and protect a public career.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in Brazil The nationwide legal recognition of same-sex unions following a 2013 judicial ruling.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇦🇺 Sydney, AustraliaSame-sex marriage in Australia The legal recognition of marriages between two people of the same gender in Australia.Modern · The ceremony

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, Netherlands and 5 moreSame-sex marriage The legal union of two people of the same sex or gender, recognized in dozens of countries.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 IndiaSaptapadiसप्तपदी (Saptapadī) The seven steps or rounds around the sacred fire that complete a Hindu marriage.Rite · The ceremony

🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in Denmarkægteskab mellem personer af samme køn The legal recognition of same-sex unions in Denmark since 2012, following a pioneering partnership law from 1989.Modern · The ceremony

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSealing (Mormonism) A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony 🇪🇬 Egypt and 2 moreMisyar marriageزواج المسيار (zawāj al-misyār) A Sunni Islamic contract where the wife waives cohabitation and financial support in exchange for a legal union.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreInterfaith marriage A union between spouses of different faiths, navigating legal and religious boundaries across the world.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇶 Iraq and 1 moreInterdenominational marriage A wedding between two people of different denominations within the same religion.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreRing fingerdigitus annularis The fourth digit of the hand where wedding and engagement rings are traditionally worn.Attire · The ceremony

🇨🇳 Beijing, China and 4 moreHeqin和親 (Héqīn) A historical Chinese policy of uniting imperial families with neighboring rulers to secure peace.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal 🇬🇷 Greece and 2 moreAdelphopoiesis A historical Eastern Christian ceremony uniting two people of the same sex in a recognized spiritual bond.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal 🇲🇨 Monaco, MonacoRecognition of same-sex unions in Monacocontrat de vie commune; union civile Legal frameworks for same-sex couples in Monaco, from cohabitation agreements to ongoing civil union debates.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇩🇪 GermanyBeilager A public ceremony in German-speaking lands where witnesses observed the couple entering the marriage bed to finalize theRite · The ceremony 🇦🇩 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

🇵🇱 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

🇬🇷 Athens, GreeceSame-sex marriage in GreeceΟμοφυλοφιλικός γάμος (Omofylofilikos gamos) The legal recognition of marriage between two people of the same sex, effective since February 2024.Vow · 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

🇮🇷 Iran and 3 moreXwedodahxwidōdāh A Zoroastrian rite of close-kin marriage rooted in ancient cosmology and royal tradition.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇱 IsraelGetגט The Aramaic divorce document that frees a Jewish woman to remarryVow · After the wedding 🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreLieberman clause A ketubah provision for rabbinic arbitration to prevent a woman from being unable to remarry.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 🇲🇻 MaldivesPolygamy in the Maldives The legal practice allowing men to marry multiple wives under strict financial conditions.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇸 United StatesCovenant marriage A stricter legal marriage contract in three US states that limits divorce grounds and requires counseling.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇰🇷 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 🇵🇰 Lahore, Pakistan and 1 morePolygamy in Pakistan The legal allowance for Muslim men to have up to four wives under Pakistani law.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇳 Kinnaur, IndiaPolyandry in India A practice where a woman has multiple husbands at the same time, found in specific Indian communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇿 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 🇪🇸 SpainRoyal Pragmatic on MarriageReal Pragmática A Spanish law requiring parental permission for marriage to enforce social class boundaries.Vow · 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
Sealing (Mormonism): NewNameNoah, CC BY 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Germany: This image is a work by Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons user C.Suthorn, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Greece: Mzimu, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Xwedodah: Dageoa, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Interfaith marriage in Christianity: Andreas Praefcke, CC BY 3.0, source
Get: Moshe Rynecki (1881-1943), Public domain, source
Yibbum: School of Rembrandt, Public domain, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in Hungary: Christo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Fede ring: Anonymous ( Europe ) Unknown author, Public domain, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea: Nerd271, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Polyandry in India: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Civil union in New Zealand: Helen Robinson, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
Same-sex marriage in Iceland: Stanko Gruden/STA/Predsednik Republike Slovenije, CC0, source
Lavender marriage: Katharine Cornell and the Playwrights' Company; Vandamm Studio, photog, Public domain, source
Same-sex marriage in Denmark: PavelStotsko, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Morganatic marriage: Sergei Lvovich Levitsky (1819 – 1898) and Rafail Sergeevich Levitsky (, Public domain, source
Saptapadi: Bhumish143, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Australia: Mikeybear, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Ring finger: RAPMOODDE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Brazil: Fabio Pozzebom/ABr, CC BY 3.0 br, source
Same-sex marriage: Stefano Bolognini, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Banns of marriage: After William Hemsley, CC0, source
Heqin: पाटलिपुत्र, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Las Vegas weddings: Henrickson ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source

All wedding traditions

Photo credits on this page

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