5 Unique Wedding Traditions from ‘Round the World
If you're planning a wedding, you already know it's an exciting adventure. You also know how easy it is to get wrapped up in all the usual wedding planning details: the venue, music, guest count and so on…
But... have you ever wondered how different cultures and countries celebrate weddings? I'm beyond lucky to have a team that lives all across the world, and here are some fun traditions they shared.
In Hawaii...
There are so many ways we celebrate the Hawaiian culture - from hula dancers, to having a Hawaiian priest blow a conch shell, to our gorgeous tropical views. One of our favorite Hawaiian traditions is a lei exchange. Exchanging or giving lei on your wedding day, shows your aloha, or love, to everyone. Couples will often give lei to each other, and often show gratitude to their family and friends by giving lei to parents, and sometimes all attendees.
In Turkey...
Our project manager, Sue, lives in Turkey, and she told us about Henna night or Kina Gecesi has been part of Turkish culture for hundreds of years. While the customs may vary, a common tradition at henna nights is to make the bride cry—to show her true sorrow at leaving her family.
In the Philippines...
Anna, our content creator, mentioned that Filipino weddings begin with the groom's family visiting the bride-to-be's home to formally ask for her hand in marriage—commonly known as pamamanhikan. This time is also used by both families to discuss some of the wedding arrangements.
Another common tradition for Catholic or Christian Filipino weddings that Joannah (my AMAZING assistant) brought up is the cord and veil ceremony, where a veil is draped over a bride's head and onto a groom's shoulder, and a figure 8 cord will go over both of their heads. This symbolizes unity and eternity for their marriage.
In China...
In spite of modernization, many Chinese wedding traditions persist. From seeking advice from a fortune-teller for an auspicious date, to red wedding invitations and wearing red to symbolize good luck, tea ceremonies to honor one's parents and taking turns serving tea to each set of parents.
In Japan...
The Japanese ritual of san-san-kudo—literally, three cups/the third cup—is a centuries-old ceremony in which the couple and their parents drink sake from three different cups to signify that all are now one family.
Another common Japanese tradition is having a bride fold 1001 cranes to teach her patience.
There’s no shortage of fascinating and sometimes surprising wedding traditions and they are as varied as the cultures that have them. Some are serious, some you may find silly—but they're all important parts of what makes a wedding celebration so memorable. One thing that stays consistent about traditions at weddings: they are meant to bring and wish the couple happiness, harmony and good fortune. Let’s talk, do you have any traditions you follow in your culture or family?
Photo of leis: Stephen Ludwig Photography
Photo of veil and cord ceremony: Mike Pham Photography
Photo of lions: Vivir Photography
Photo of sake: Derek Wong Photography