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.
RegionSouth AsiaSoutheast AsiaEast AsiaCentral Asia and the CaucasusMiddle EastNorth AfricaSub-Saharan AfricaEuropeNorth AmericaLatin America and the CaribbeanOceania
🇬🇭 Ghana and 1 moreBorborbor
A lively drumming and dance tradition of the Ewe people in Ghana and TogoPerformance · The wedding feast
🇮🇹 Siena, ItalyMarch of the PalioMarcia del Palio
The brass anthem played during the historical parade before Siena's horse race.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇺🇦 Ukraine and 2 moreQaytarma
A Crimean Tatar folk dance of cyclical motion performed at weddings and holidays.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇭🇷 Croatia and 2 moreBećarac
A humorous folk song sung at weddings and village parties in Eastern CroatiaPerformance · The wedding feast
🇲🇷 MauritaniaT'heydinnالتهيدين (al-T'haydīn)
A Mauritanian Moorish epic performance of poetry and music kept by griot families.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇬🇧 United KingdomNantgarw DancesDawnsfeydd Nantgarw
A Welsh folk dance style from south Wales featuring handkerchiefs and sticks.Performance
🇧🇷 Salvador, BrazilPuxada de Rede
A Brazilian dance that reenacts the tragic retrieval of a fisherman's body from the sea.Performance · The weeks before
🇷🇴 Romania and 3 moreMărțișor
The red and white string charm worn in early spring to welcome the new year.Adornment · The weeks before
🇨🇦 Canada and 5 moreLoyal toast
A formal salute to the head of state given at official gatherings in Commonwealth realms and other nations.Vow · The wedding feast
🇩🇿 Algeria and 3 moreSebibaسبيبة (Arabic), ⵙⴱⵉⴱⴰ (Tifinagh)
The Tuareg New Year dance and festival held in Djanet to mark the end of a chaotic transition period.Performance · The weeks before
🇨🇳 China and 1 moreTuanshan團扇 (tuánshàn)
A rigid silk fan held by the bride to hide her face before revealing it to the groom.Adornment · The ceremony
🇬🇷 Greece and 2 moreTsifteteliτσιφτετέλι (Greek), Çiftetelli (Turkish)
A belly dance rhythm from Anatolia and the Balkans performed primarily by womenPerformance
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreVirginia reel
A line dance where couples move through a series of set figures in two parallel rows.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇳🇱 NetherlandsPoffer
The elaborate white headdress worn by married women in the Netherlands to mark their status.Attire · Engagement and betrothal
🇧🇪 Bruges, BelgiumProcession of the Holy BloodHeilig Bloedprocessie
A Catholic parade in Bruges that carries a relic on Ascension Day.Blessing · The ceremony
🇷🇴 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
🇺🇬 Uganda and 1 moreEkikibi
A circular dance by the Bakonzo that mimics swimming fish to celebrate marriage.Performance · The ceremony
🇷🇼 Rwanda and 1 moreIntore
A traditional Rwandan and Burundian war dance performed by men to celebrate heroism and historyPerformance · The wedding feast
🇮🇷 Isfahan, IranDebit trousersShalvār Debit (شلوار دبیت)
The wide black cotton trousers worn by Bakhtiari men as a badge of tribal identity.Attire · The ceremony
🇰🇿 Astana, Kazakhstan and 3 moreKara JorgaQara jorğa
A traditional Kazakh song and dance that mimics the ambling gait of a horse.Performance
🇹🇳 Tunis, TunisiaTunisian jebbaجبة
A loose traditional tunic worn by Tunisian men and women for weddings and festivals.Attire · Procession and arrival
🇳🇱 NetherlandsSame-sex marriage in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten
The legal right for same-sex couples to marry in the Caribbean constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.Modern · The ceremony
🇮🇳 India and 5 morePolyandry
A marriage structure where one woman is wed to multiple men simultaneously or in sequence.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 India and 3 moreInter-caste marriage
A union between people of different castes, often contested in South Asia.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 Edinburgh, United Kingdom and 5 moreScottish country dance
A social group dance where couples trace progressive patterns to traditional Scottish musicPerformance · Reception, dance and gifts
🇳🇱 NetherlandsSame-sex marriage in Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
The legalisation of same-sex unions on the Dutch Caribbean islands following their integration into the Netherlands.Modern · The ceremony
🇫🇷 Montpellier, FranceSame-sex marriage in Francemariage pour tous
The legal recognition of marriage for couples regardless of gender, established in France in 2013.Modern · The ceremony
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreShoe tossing
A wedding superstition where old shoes are thrown at the couple for good luckBlessing · After the wedding
🇵🇰 Pakistan and 5 moreCousin marriage
A union between people who share a grandparent or recent ancestor, practiced in many regions and communities.Vow · Finding a match
🇳🇪 Niger and 5 morePolygyny
A marriage structure where a man has multiple wives simultaneouslyGift custom
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreUrfi marriageزواج عرفي
A customary union upheld by community tradition instead of state registration.Modern · The ceremony
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, IsraelBirkat Hamazonבִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוׂן (Birkat Hamazon)
The Hebrew blessings recited after a Jewish meal to thank God for the food and the land.Blessing · After the wedding
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 5 moreDashiki suit
The tailored tunic and trousers worn by grooms in West African and diaspora weddingsAttire · The ceremony
🇺🇸 Washington, United StatesSame-sex marriage in the District of Columbia
The legal union of two people regardless of gender in Washington, D.C., established in 2010.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇹🇭 Thailand and 5 morePrenuptial agreement
A written contract signed before marriage to define property rights and financial outcomes.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreWhite tie
The highest level of formal Western evening attire for men and womenAttire · The ceremony
🇮🇳 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
🇬🇧 United KingdomDebutante dress
The strict white gown and feathered headdress worn by young women at their debutante cotillion.Attire · The weeks before
🇺🇸 Salt Lake City, United StatesLatter Day Saint polygamy in the late-19th century
The practice of plural marriage among Latter-day Saints that drew intense government scrutiny and led to its abandonmentVow · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 Jerusalem, Israel and 1 moreBekisheבעקישע (bekishe) or בעקעטשע (beketche)
A long black coat worn by Hasidic men on the Sabbath and at weddings.Attire · The ceremony
🇩🇰 Denmark and 5 moreWidow conservationÄnkekonservering
A Protestant custom where a new vicar married his predecessor's widow to secure her support.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal
🇳🇵 NepalPanche bajaपञ्चे बाजा
A set of five traditional instruments played at Hindu weddings in Nepal.Performance · Procession and arrival
🇺🇸 Chicago, United StatesSame-sex marriage in Illinois
The legal recognition of same-sex unions in the US state since June 2014.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇱 IsraelSeudat mitzvahסעודת מצוה
The obligatory festive meals in Judaism that mark religious milestones and sacred days.Feast custom · The ceremony
🇻🇳 Huế, VietnamÁo nhật bình
A rectangular-collared court robe worn by Nguyễn dynasty women for weddings and ceremonies.Attire · The ceremony
🇩🇪 GermanyKranzgeld
The obsolete German legal compensation paid to a woman if her fiancé broke the engagement after sex.Vow · Engagement and betrothal
🇺🇸 Washington, United StatesSame-sex marriage in tribal nations
Legal recognition of same-sex unions within the sovereign jurisdictions of Native American tribes in the United States.Modern · Engagement and betrothal
🇮🇳 Firozabad, India and 1 moreBangle
A rigid circular bracelet worn by women in South Asia and beyond, often marking marital status or festive occasions.Adornment · The ceremony
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Tuanshan: 猫猫的日记本, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Bangle: schwiki, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sebiba: Abderrahmane boudjenane, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tunisian jebba: Touzrimounir, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kara Jorga: Ulan Alimbek, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Debit trousers: Niloofar Rakhshan, CC BY 4.0, source
- Intore: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Poffer: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Puxada de Rede: SebáNeto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nantgarw Dances: Tabulabells, CC0, source
- Qaytarma: Gottfried Heinrich Geißler, Public domain, source
- Borborbor: Noahalorwu, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Polyandry in India: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
- Seudat mitzvah: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Shoe tossing: Zarateman, CC0, source
- Mormon polygamy: Charles Weitfle, Public domain, source
- Widow conservation: Keith Ruffles, CC BY 3.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in France: Claude TRUONG-NGOC, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Prenuptial agreement: Jan Josef Horemans the Younger, Public domain, source
- Birkat Hamazon: Peggy Greb, USDA ARS, Public domain, source
- Áo nhật bình: Unknown author, CC0, source
- Same-sex marriage in Illinois: nathanmac87, CC BY 2.0, source
- Procession of the Holy Blood: Cbl62, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Polygyny: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Panche baja: Janak Bhatta, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Scottish country dance: © James F. Perry, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dashiki suit: Emilio Labrador, CC BY 2.0, source
- Same-sex marriage in the District of Columbia: Nate Hill, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- White tie: jonlo168, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bekishe: JJ211219 at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Debutante dress: State Library of Queensland, Australia, No restrictions, source
- Nose jewel: Etan Doronne @ www.myindiaexperience.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Loyal toast: Alaxander W. Galbraith, Public domain, source
- Cousin marriage: 綾絲, CC BY-SA 4.0, source