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EveryShaadi

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

🇩🇪 GermanyBeilager A public ceremony in German-speaking lands where witnesses observed the couple entering the marriage bed to finalize theRite · The ceremony 🇧🇩 BangladeshPolygamy in Bangladesh The practice of men taking multiple wives, regulated by different laws for Muslims and Hindus.Gift custom · Engagement and betrothal 🇱🇰 Kandy, Sri LankaKandyan marriage The traditional union rites of Sri Lanka's Buddhist Kandyan community, defined by residence and inheritance.Vow · 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 🇺🇸 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 🇳🇬 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 🇰🇭 Phnom Penh, CambodiaSame-sex marriage in Cambodia The legal status and local registry for same-sex couples in Cambodia.Modern · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇩 IndonesiaSame-sex marriage in Indonesia The legal status and social reality of same-sex unions under Indonesian law.Modern · The ceremony

🇨🇴 Bogotá, ColombiaSame-sex marriage in Colombia The legal recognition of same-sex unions established by the Constitutional Court in 2016.Modern · The ceremony 🇮🇳 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

🇩🇪 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 🇬🇧 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 🇬🇧 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 🇨🇦 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

🇮🇹 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 🇮🇪 Dublin, IrelandSchulze Registers The surviving records of secret marriages performed by a Lutheran minister in 19th century Dublin.Vow · The ceremony 🇲🇨 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 🇰🇪 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

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

🇪🇸 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 🇱🇺 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

🇮🇳 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 🇵🇰 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 🇬🇧 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 🇺🇿 UzbekistanPolygamy in Uzbekistan The practice of men taking multiple wives in a country where the law strictly forbids it.Modern · Engagement and betrothal

🇨🇳 China and 1 moreTongyangxi童養媳 (tóngyǎngxí); Hokkien: 媳婦仔 (sim-pū-á) An adopted girl raised beside a son so a poor family could be sure he would have a wifeBetrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreOkpu Aguokpu agụ A traditional knitted cap worn by Igbo men at weddings and ceremonies to signal status and heritage.Attire · The ceremony

🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער The instrumental wedding music of Ashkenazi Jews, blending Eastern European and Jewish ritual melodies.Performance · Engagement and betrothal

🇳🇬 Iseyin, Nigeria and 2 moreYoruba wedding attire Traditional garments worn by Yoruba couples and guests to mark marriage celebrations.Attire · The ceremony

🇭🇷 CroatiaNijemo kolo A silent Croatian folk dance where couples move in a circle without music.Performance · The ceremony

🇷🇴 Ieud, RomaniaNunta mortului A symbolic Romanian rite that dresses an unmarried dead person as a bride or groom to complete their life cycle.Rite · 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

🇹🇳 Tunis, TunisiaTunisian jebbaجبة A loose traditional tunic worn by Tunisian men and women for weddings and festivals.Attire · Procession and arrival

🇮🇷 Isfahan, IranDebit trousersShalvār Debit (شلوار دبیت) The wide black cotton trousers worn by Bakhtiari men as a badge of tribal identity.Attire · The ceremony

🇨🇳 China and 1 moreDaxiushan大袖衫 A traditional Chinese upper garment with wide sleeves worn by royal women for ceremonies.Attire · The ceremony

🇧🇪 Bruges, BelgiumProcession of the Holy BloodHeilig Bloedprocessie A Catholic parade in Bruges that carries a relic on Ascension Day.Blessing · The ceremony

🇩🇪 GermanyBollenhut A straw hat with woolen pompoms worn by women in specific Black Forest villages as part of their traditional dress.Attire · The weeks before

🇨🇳 Fuzhou, China and 2 moreOil-Paper Umbrella油紙傘 A protective canopy shielding the bride from harm and blessing the marriageBlessing · Procession and arrival

🇨🇳 ChinaPhoenix crown凤冠 (Fèngguān) A traditional Chinese bridal headdress adorned with pearls, gemstones and kingfisher feathers.Attire · The ceremony

🇨🇳 China and 1 moreXiapei霞帔 The embroidered scarf or waistcoat that marks a woman's status in Chinese and Korean weddingsAttire · Engagement and betrothal

🇷🇴 Romania and 5 moreKlezmerקלעזמער The instrumental dance music played by Ashkenazi Jewish musicians at weddings in Eastern Europe and beyondPerformance · Engagement and betrothal

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
Okpu Agu: Justice kelechi achinefu, CC0, source
Nijemo kolo: Outrageous zone, CC BY 3.0, source
Xiapei: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Tunisian jebba: Touzrimounir, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Debit trousers: Niloofar Rakhshan, CC BY 4.0, source
Oil-Paper Umbrella: Richard, CC BY 2.0, source
Tongyangxi: Unknown photographer, Public domain, source
Polyandry in India: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Klezmer: Syrena Records (Warsaw), Public domain, source
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
Phoenix crown: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Same-sex marriage in Colombia: Diego Cambiaso, CC BY-SA 2.0, 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
Marriage of the Sea ceremony: Francesco Guardi, Public domain, source
Bollenhut: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Klezmer: Unknown artist identified as "M.D.", Public domain, source
Yoruba wedding attire: Wolf D., Public domain, source
Daxiushan: Zhou Fang, Public domain, source
Nunta mortului: Iosif Berman, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Procession of the Holy Blood: Cbl62, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

The weekly EveryShaadi

Every week: one wedding tradition from somewhere new, the wedding days coming up around the world, and one idea explained.