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

🇺🇸 United StatesIndian Wedding Blessing A modern poem often recited at weddings in the United States, falsely attributed to Native American traditions.Blessing · The ceremony

🇦🇲 Armenia and 1 moreKochariՔոչարի A circle dance from the Armenian Highlands that marks weddings and community gatherings.Performance · Reception, dance and gifts

🇫🇮 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

🇨🇳 Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Marriage Market人民公园相亲角 (Rénmín Gōngyuán Xiāngqīn Jiǎo) Parents pin written profiles of their unmarried children to strings in a Shanghai parkBetrothal · Finding a match 🇫🇷 FrancePosthumous marriage in France A legal union authorized by the French President when one partner dies before the wedding takes place.Vow · The weeks before

🇷🇺 Russia and 5 moreBread and salt A traditional welcome offering of bread and salt to guests or newlyweds in Slavic, Baltic, and Balkan cultures.Feast custom · The weeks before 🇮🇸 IcelandIcelandic weddings A blend of church ceremony and multi-day feasting that marks the union of two people in Iceland.Feast custom · The ceremony 🇭🇺 HungaryVőfély The Hungarian wedding host who guides the couple through rites, speeches, and traditions.Family role · Finding a match

🇮🇳 IndiaIndian wedding clothes Traditional garments worn by Indian couples and guests across multiple days of celebrationAttire · The weeks before 🇳🇬 NigeriaMoney marriage A practice in southern Nigeria where a girl is given in marriage to settle her family's debts.Gift custom · Finding a match 🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreMoney dance A reception ritual where guests give cash to the couple while dancing or showering them with notes.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts

🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreAssyrian wedding Marriage ceremonies blending ancient Assyrian rites with modern cultural practices among the Assyrian people.Rite · Finding a match

🇮🇳 IndiaOdia Hindu weddingBahaghara (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ବାହାଘର) The traditional Hindu marriage ceremony of the Odia people in Odisha, India.Rite · Engagement and betrothal

🇮🇱 Israel and 3 moreChuppahחֻפָּה (ḥuppā) The four-poster canopy that marks the Jewish wedding ceremony and symbolizes the couple's new home.Setting · The ceremony

🇺🇦 UkraineTraditional Ukrainian weddingТрадиційне українське весілля A multi-day sequence of folk rites, bread baking and church vows that marks the transition from maidenhood to married liRite · Finding a match

🇳🇬 NigeriaYoruba traditional weddingIgbeyawo The multi-day Yoruba marriage ceremony featuring traditional attire, family introductions, and the Eru Iyawo gift list.Attire · Engagement and betrothal

🇧🇬 Bulgaria and 5 moreBulgarian wedding musicсватбарска музика Fast-paced instrumental music played at Bulgarian weddings that blends folk, Romani, and Turkish styles.Performance · The ceremony

🇿🇦 South AfricaUkuthwalwa A South African practice of abducting a woman for marriage, now largely illegal and contested.Betrothal · Finding a match

🇮🇳 IndiaSehraसेहरा (Hindi) A floral or beaded veil tied to the groom's turban before he departs for the wedding ceremony.Attire · The weeks before

🇫🇷 France and 2 moreBonbonniere A small decorative container holding sweets given as a wedding favor in several countries.Feast custom · Reception, dance and gifts

🇳🇱 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

🇪🇬 Egypt and 5 moreHenna night The evening before a wedding when the bride and groom are decorated with henna patterns for luck and joyAdornment · The eve 🇮🇳 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 🇧🇹 Bhutan and 5 moreSororate marriage A practice where a man marries his late or infertile wife's sister to keep family ties strong.Family role · After the wedding

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

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

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

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

🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreSealing (Mormonism) A temple ritual that binds couples and families together for eternity.Rite · The ceremony 🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 moreBachelor's Day The custom that lets women propose to men on Leap DayBetrothal · Engagement and betrothal

🇨🇦 Toronto, CanadaSame-sex marriage in Canada The legal recognition of marriage for same-sex couples across Canada since 2005.Modern

🇮🇳 Delhi, India and 4 moreSindoorसिंदूर (Hindi) The vermilion powder a Hindu husband applies to his wife's hair parting to mark her marriage.Adornment · Engagement and betrothal 🇮🇳 IndiaLehenga-style sari A pre-draped Indian wedding garment that combines the look of a lehenga with the drape of a sari.Attire · 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

🇿🇦 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

🇧🇷 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

🇳🇱 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

🇯🇵 JapanTsunokakushi角隠し A white silk headdress worn by Shinto brides to cover the hairline and symbolize modesty.Attire · The ceremony

🇳🇵 Nepal and 2 moreKhata A ceremonial scarf offered to show respect and welcome at weddings and other gatherings in Tibet and Nepal.Adornment · Reception, dance and gifts 🇮🇳 India and 1 moreMangala AshtakaMaṅgala Aṣṭaka A Hindu blessing sung at Marathi weddings and recited in Sinhalese Buddhist ceremoniesBlessing · The ceremony

🇸🇾 Syria and 3 moreMystery of Crowning The crowning ritual in Eastern Christian weddings that marks the couple as king and queen.Rite · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreWedding veil A cloth covering the head or face worn by brides and grooms to mark marriage.Attire · The ceremony

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreKanyadanaकन्यादान (Kanyādāna) The Hindu rite where a father gives his daughter in marriage to the groom.Rite · The ceremony

🇺🇸 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 🇮🇱 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

🇺🇸 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

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Sealing (Mormonism): NewNameNoah, CC BY 4.0, source
Yoruba traditional wedding: Fhadekhemmy, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Recognition of same-sex unions in South Korea: Nerd271, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Boutonnière: David Ring, CC0, source
Lavender marriage: Katharine Cornell and the Playwrights' Company; Vandamm Studio, photog, Public domain, source
Kanyadana: ArpitaRai, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tsunokakushi: Flickr user Photocapy, CC BY-SA 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
Saptapadi: Bhumish143, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bulgarian wedding music: Allen Ruttenberg, CC BY 2.0, source
Ukuthwalwa: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Public domain, source
Sehra: SynthContibutor, 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
Kochari: Hayordi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shanghai Marriage Market: Jpbowen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bread and salt: Olli Niemitalo, CC0, source
Indian wedding clothes: Lee Jordan, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Odia Hindu wedding: Aditya Mahar, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Assyrian wedding: Yucalyptus, CC0, source
Henna night: Izzah Zainab, CC BY 2.0, source
Sindoor: Masum-al-hasan, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Khata: Wiki-uk, CC BY 3.0, source
Bonbonniere: TitineH, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Wedding veil: David Ring, CC0, source
Traditional Ukrainian wedding: Пимоненко, Николай Корнильевич, Public domain, source
Chuppah: me, Public domain, source
Mystery of Crowning: Shakko, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Las Vegas weddings: Henrickson ( talk ) ( Uploads ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Same-sex marriage in the Netherlands: Jeffpw, CC BY 3.0, source
Same-sex marriage in Canada: Mm.Toronto, Public domain, source

All wedding traditions

Photo credits on this page

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