International Rituals to Consider for Your Big Day

Your wedding is all about celebrating the love you share with your spouse—and the excitement of bringing two families together. Sometimes families can be very different. Don’t stress if your family traditions don’t dovetail neatly. As you continue to grow as a couple and if you raise children together, your distinct upbringings present many ways to create unique traditions that honor the family traditions you grew up with.

Weddings can be particularly challenging when the bride and groom are accustomed to different wedding traditions. Don’t let this become a source of stress. Instead, look at it as an opportunity to celebrate everything that’s unique about your love and all the possibilities in your future.

If your family doesn’t honor any particular cultural wedding traditions, try adopting some new ones. Weddings traditions vary throughout the world, so you’ve got plenty of great options to adapt to the perfect ceremony for you and your spouse.

Here are some creative ways to make your wedding a celebration of global proportions:

Toast with Japanese sake instead of champagne. In Japan, the bride and groom take turns sipping from sake in three different cups shaped like small bowls. To make this your own tradition, whisper secret vows with the groom as you toast each other.

Wear more than one dress. Wardrobe changes aren’t just for the hosts of awards shows. In China, the bride wears many dresses to symbolize her family’s prosperity. Try changing between the ceremony and the reception for a scaled-down version of this tradition.

Get married under a canopy. Jewish weddings take place under a canopy called a huppah. Modify this tradition by getting married outside under an arch or in a gazebo. The canopy symbolizes the shelter and love the community around you will provide during your life together.

Wear a crown of flowers in your hair. As you say your vows, have your husband wear a matching crown of flowers. In Greek ceremonies, these wreathes called stefana are symbols of royalty and signify the sanctity of your marriage. After the ceremony, the groom can take his off, but yours can stay on as a lovely accessory.

Carry a purse during the reception. Look for a white satin purse at your local bridal shop. Follow Italian tradition by allowing guests to tuck cash into your purse, or borsa. Some brides offer to dance with every guest who fills her purse. You’ll probably need that extra money on your honeymoon.

Literally tie the knot. In many cultures, the bride and groom are ceremonially fastened together as they wed. In Mexico, the priest uses a rosary or white ribbon to bind the couple. Try clasping your hands together and having your officiant gently bind your hands as you say your vows.

Focus on the feast. Swedish weddings feature a smorgasbord of food, from meatballs to jam. Make food the focal point of your reception. If you’re having a smaller wedding, enlist relatives to bring along dishes that represent your family’s heritage.

Check Out Wearing Multiple Dresses at Your Wedding
Check Out Balancing Family Traditions with What You Want
Check Out Wedding Traditions to Retire