Almost every country and culture has its own unique wedding customs, with some places having particularly strange rituals.
Cuba: “La Caja de Muertos” or the “Money Dance” is considered one of the most unique cultural traditions in Cuban weddings. According to Cuban customs, guests dance with the bride and groom and pin money onto the bride’s dress. This wedding gift is meant to symbolize good luck and wish the couple happiness. The newlyweds can use the money to pay for the wedding and honeymoon expenses.
Photo: Kassidy Marie.
Venezuela: The bride and groom sneaking away before the end of the reception is an interesting tradition in Venezuelan weddings. As a result, a piece of advice for first-time wedding guests in Venezuela is not to wait until the end of the reception to chat with the newlyweds, as they may have already left.
Photo: Tec Petaja.
Spain: At some weddings in Spain, the groom’s friends will cut off his tie with scissors and sell the pieces to guests to raise money for the newlyweds. This practice is sometimes also done with the bride’s dress. Photo: tie-cravatta.
Mexico: During the wedding ceremony, Mexican brides and grooms exchange vows while being draped with a “lazo” (or lasso) made of beads and flowers that is placed around their shoulders in the shape of an infinity symbol. “El lazo” symbolizes the infinite nature of the couples’ love and the desire for their marriage to last forever. Photo:Blackvanillaphotography.
Scotland: Scottish brides and grooms are traditionally “blackened” by their friends on a day before the wedding, where they are covered with items such as eggs, feathers, treacle, and sour milk. Following this, the couple is not allowed to clean themselves and must parade around their local area. This tradition is called “Blackening of the Bride,” originating from the ritual of chasing away evil spirits.
Photo: Steading Holidays.
France: A French tradition that takes place on the wedding night is called the Charivari. This involves people gathering outside the newlyweds’ bedroom window and making noise by blowing horns, banging pots and pans, singing, and dancing until the bride comes out to invite them in. The celebration continues until the early hours of the morning. It is believed that the louder the noise, the happier the couple’s life will be. Photo: Freepik.
India: Saat Phere or Saptapadi is an important ritual in traditional Hindu weddings. The bride and groom walk around a holy fire, usually seven times, symbolizing the seven vows binding them together as husband and wife, with a prayer to Lord Ganesh for strength to overcome obstacles in their lives.
Photo: WhatKnot Wedding Photography.
Congo: While most engaged couples are excited and eager, Congo couples must restrain their happiness. Throughout the wedding day, from the ceremony to the reception, both the bride and groom are not allowed to smile or laugh. If they do, it is interpreted as not taking their marriage seriously.
Photo: Onedio.