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

🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaPolygamy in Sri Lanka The historical and current legal status of multiple marriages under Kandyan and Muslim law.Vow 🇫🇲 MicronesiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Micronesia The legal status of same-sex marriage and civil partnerships in the Federated States of Micronesia.Vow

🇪🇸 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

🇫🇷 France and 4 moreMore danicodansk skik A Medieval Scandinavian marriage custom allowing polygyny and secular unions outside church control.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal 🇰🇪 KenyaRecognition of same-sex unions in Kenya The legal ban on gay marriage alongside traditional female-to-female unions that persist in some communities.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇩🇪 Germany and 2 moreGet of Cleves A disputed 1766 Jewish divorce document that sparked international rabbinic debate over mental competence.Vow · After the wedding 🇱🇻 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 🇱🇮 Vaduz, LiechtensteinSame-sex marriage in Liechtenstein The civil union that grants equal marital rights to all couples in the Alpine principality.Modern · The ceremony 🇳🇬 Kano, NigeriaPolygamy in Nigeria A marital practice where men take multiple wives, legally recognized in twelve northern states under Sharia law.Family role · Engagement and betrothal 🇲🇪 Podgorica, MontenegroRecognition of same-sex unions in MontenegroŽivotno partnerstvo Legal recognition for same-sex couples in Montenegro through life partnerships.Modern 🇮🇱 IsraelIsha katlanitאישה קטלנית A Jewish legal concept regarding a widow who has lost two husbands and the risks associated with her remarrying.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇰🇭 Phnom Penh, CambodiaSame-sex marriage in Cambodia The legal status and local registry for same-sex couples in Cambodia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇬 Uganda and 3 morePolygamy in Uganda The legal practice of a man having multiple wives simultaneously in Uganda and neighboring nations.Family role · 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

🇨🇴 Bogotá, ColombiaSame-sex marriage in Colombia The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Constitutional Court in 2016.Modern · The ceremony 🇿🇲 ZambiaPolygamy in Zambia A legal form of marriage allowing one man to have multiple wives under customary law.Family role · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇱 IsraelHalizahחליצה (ḥălīṣā) The Jewish rite that frees a childless widow from the duty to marry her deceased husband's brother.Rite · After the wedding

🇩🇪 Germany and 3 moreHerem of Rabbeinu GershomḤerem de-Rabbeinu Gershom Medieval ordinances that banned polygyny and forced divorce for Ashkenazi Jews.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇺🇸 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 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 2 morePolygamy in Saudi Arabia A legal marriage structure allowing a man to have up to four wives under Islamic law.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇳🇦 NamibiaRecognition of same-sex unions in Namibia The legal status of same-sex marriage and foreign union recognition in NamibiaVow 🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Jersey The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the Crown Dependency of Jersey since 2018.Modern · The ceremony 🇦🇹 Vienna, AustriaSame-sex marriage in Austria Civil marriage and partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples in AustriaVow · The ceremony 🇨🇦 Canada and 1 moreMarriage commissioner A civil official appointed to solemnize weddings outside of religious or standard court settings.Vow · The ceremony

🇳🇵 NepalInter-caste marriage in Nepalअन्तरजातीय विवाह Marriage across caste lines in a society where such unions were once illegal and remain socially contested.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇧🇴 Santa Cruz de la Sierra, BoliviaRecognition of same-sex unions in Bolivia The legal recognition of civil unions and marriages for same-sex couples in Bolivia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandSchulze Registers The surviving records of secret marriages performed by a Lutheran minister in 19th century Dublin.Vow · The ceremony 🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePostnuptial agreement A contract signed after marriage to plan for divorce or death.Vow · After the wedding 🇲🇨 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 🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha The legal recognition of same-sex unions across the three island groups since 2017.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 🇮🇱 Israel and 2 moreHeter meah rabbanimהיתר מאה רבנים A rare exemption allowing a man to remarry when his wife refuses a Jewish divorce.Vow · After the wedding 🇳🇿 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 🇬🇧 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

🇿🇦 South AfricaPolygamy in South Africa The practice of men marrying more than one wife under customary and Islamic law in South Africa.Vow · Engagement and betrothal

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea and 5 moreSister exchange A marriage arrangement where two brothers each marry a sister from the other family.Betrothal · 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 🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaKandyan marriage The traditional union rites of Sri Lanka's Buddhist Kandyan community, defined by residence and inheritance.Vow · Engagement and betrothal 🇧🇩 BangladeshPolygamy in Bangladesh The practice of men taking multiple wives, regulated by different laws for Muslims and Hindus.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreCommon-law marriage A union recognized by law because a couple lives together as spouses, without a formal ceremony or license.Vow · After the wedding 🇬🇧 London, United Kingdom and 1 moreSame-sex marriage in Akrotiri and Dhekelia Legal same-sex weddings for British military personnel on the Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus.Modern · The ceremony 🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in the Isle of Man The legalisation of same-sex marriage on the Isle of Man, following civil partnerships since 2011.Vow · The ceremony

🇨🇿 Prague, CzechiaRegistered partnership in the Czech Republicregistrované partnerství The legal framework for same-sex couples in Czechia that grants marriage-like rights without the title of marriage.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇪🇪 Tallinn, EstoniaSame-sex marriage in Estonia The legal recognition of same-sex unions in the Baltic state, following registered partnerships.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.

First same-sex marriage in Spain: Jglamela, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
More danico: Edward Burne-Jones, Public domain, source
Same-sex marriage in the Faroe Islands: Arne List, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Colombia: Diego Cambiaso, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Halizah: Daderot, CC0, source
Herem of Rabbeinu Gershom: Nixnubix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage and Judaism: Ed and Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Inter-caste marriage in Nepal: Sajan Pundit, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Sister exchange: Wilses, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Polygamy in South Africa: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
Registered partnership in the Czech Republic: Martin Strachoň, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Estonia: Märt Põder, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

All wedding traditions

Photo credits on this page

The weekly EveryShaadi