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

🇲🇹 MaltaSame-sex marriage in MaltaŻwieġ bejn persuni tal-istess sess The legal recognition of same-sex marriage and civil unions in Malta.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇬🇧 United KingdomKnobstick wedding A forced marriage arranged by local authorities to shift the cost of a child onto the presumed father.Betrothal · 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

🇬🇧 United KingdomBoutonnière A single flower or small arrangement pinned to the lapel of a groom's suit at a wedding.Attire · The ceremony

🇬🇧 London, United KingdomSame-sex marriage in the United Kingdom The legal recognition of same-sex unions across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.Modern · 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

🇩🇪 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

🇳🇱 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

🇫🇷 France and 2 moreBonbonniere A small decorative container holding sweets given as a wedding favor in several countries.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts 🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 moreBachelor's Day The custom that lets women propose to men on Leap DayBetrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇱 Amsterdam, NetherlandsSame-sex marriage in the Netherlandshuwelijk tussen personen van gelijk geslacht The first national law to allow two people of the same sex to wed.Modern · The ceremony

🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandSame-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland The legal recognition of same-sex marriage following a national referendum in 2015Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇺🇦 Kolomyia, Ukraine and 2 moreKolomyikaколомийка A fast Ukrainian folk dance with rhymed verses, celebrated at weddings in western Ukraine and Canada.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts 🇵🇱 Kraków, PolandWedding of the Weddings A Polish annual gathering for couples who chose alcohol-free wedding receptions.Feast custom · The ceremony

🇫🇷 France and 1 moreAcrostic ring A jewelled band where gemstone initials spell a secret romantic word.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal

🇩🇪 GermanyWedding Quodlibet A lighthearted musical piece by J.S. Bach performed at weddings in early 18th-century Germany.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇷🇴 Romania and 4 moreCălușariCălușarii A traditional Romanian spring dance and male society known for acrobatic leaps and ritual healing.Performance · The weeks before

🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreAnastenariaΑναστενάρια (Greek), Нестинарство (Bulgarian) A barefoot firewalking ritual performed by Orthodox Christian communities in Greece and Bulgaria.Rite · The weeks before 🇬🇷 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

🇺🇦 Ukraine and 7 moreVechornytsiвечорниці A Ukrainian courtship gathering where young people meet, dance and practice matchmaking rituals before the wedding seasoBetrothal · The weeks before 🇳🇴 NorwayEsbat A monthly Wiccan gathering held around the moon phases for ritual and communityBlessing · The ceremony

🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreTuroń A horned effigy that visits homes during Carnival to wish for fertility and collect gifts.Blessing · The weeks before 🇬🇧 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 🇱🇹 Vilnius, LithuaniaRecognition of same-sex unions in Lithuania Legal recognition of same-sex civil partnerships and marriages through court rulings and legislative efforts.Modern 🇱🇺 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

🇪🇪 Tallinn, EstoniaSame-sex marriage in Estonia The legal recognition of same-sex unions in the Baltic state, following registered partnerships.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇦🇹 Vienna, AustriaSame-sex marriage in Austria Civil marriage and partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples in AustriaVow · The ceremony

🇮🇪 Galway, Ireland and 1 moreMarriage stone A carved stone bearing the initials and date of a newly married couple, placed on a building to mark their union.Adornment · After the wedding 🇦🇩 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 🇲🇨 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

🇭🇺 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 🇩🇪 Germany and 2 moreGet of Cleves A disputed 1766 Jewish divorce document that sparked international rabbinic debate over mental competence.Vow · After the wedding 🇬🇧 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 🇬🇧 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 🇬🇧 United KingdomSame-sex marriage in Jersey The legal recognition of same-sex marriage in the Crown Dependency of Jersey since 2018.Modern · The ceremony 🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandSchulze Registers The surviving records of secret marriages performed by a Lutheran minister in 19th century Dublin.Vow · The ceremony

🇩🇪 GermanyLandshut WeddingLandshuter Hochzeit A four-year historical pageant in Bavaria re-enacting the 1475 royal marriage of George and Hedwig.Setting · 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

🇮🇹 Rome, Italy and 1 moreContubernium A recognized union between slaves or a slave and a free person in ancient RomeBetrothal · 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

🇬🇷 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

🇫🇷 France and 4 moreMore danicodansk skik A Medieval Scandinavian marriage custom allowing polygyny and secular unions outside church control.Betrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇭🇷 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

🇨🇿 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 🇸🇮 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

🇮🇹 Venice, ItalyMarriage of the Sea ceremonySposalizio del Mare The annual ritual where Venice symbolically marries the Adriatic Sea with a golden ring.Rite · The ceremony

🇵🇱 Warsaw, PolandRecognition of same-sex unions in Poland The legal process for acknowledging foreign same-sex marriages and civil unions within Polish law.Modern

🇺🇦 UkraineMnohaya litaМногая літа A Ukrainian song sung at weddings to wish the couple many years of life.Performance

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
Turoń: Museum: The Seweryn Udziela Ethnographic Museum in Kraków, CC0, source
Same-sex marriage in Greece: Mzimu, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Landshut Wedding: Oktobersonne, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in Hungary: Christo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
More danico: Edward Burne-Jones, Public domain, source
Contubernium: Mark Landon, CC BY 4.0, source
Boutonnière: David Ring, CC0, source
Same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom: blavoulondon - blavou.co, CC BY 2.0, 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
Wedding Quodlibet: Aschroet, CC0, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in Croatia: Danny Fowler, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Herem of Rabbeinu Gershom: Nixnubix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Marriage of the Sea ceremony: Francesco Guardi, Public domain, source
Ring finger: RAPMOODDE, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage: Stefano Bolognini, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Marriage stone: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Mnohaya lita: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Vechornytsi: Гейслер, Кристиан Готфрид Генрих, Public domain, source
Bonbonniere: TitineH, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Acrostic ring: Jlblackmore, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kolomyika: Teodor Axentowicz, Public domain, source
Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands: Jeffpw, CC BY 3.0, source
Anastenaria: Artkostov, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Same-sex marriage in the Republic of Ireland: Kaihsu Tai, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Registered partnership in the Czech Republic: Martin Strachoň, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Călușari: El bes, CC BY 3.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Estonia: Märt Põder, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

All wedding traditions

Photo credits on this page

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