Different Wedding Traditions Around the Globe!

We all know about western weddings, where the bride dresses up in a white gown, and walks down the aisle as she smiles, looking at her fairy tale wedding dream coming true. But what about the rest of the world? Some different wedding traditions are not only surprising, but also very amusing!

1- Three dresses in China

And you thought your biggest problem was picking out your wedding dress! In modern China, the brides have to pick three different dresses for their wedding day. The first one should be a white western-style gown, and worn for a church or civil ceremony. The second one, a traditional Chinese bridal dress, of Qipao or Cheongsam style, is most of the time a red, embroidered and slim-fitting dress, and is worn at the tea ceremony. And last but not least, the bride should change into a cocktail dress before the end of the banquet to see her guests off.

2- Red Sari and Menhdi in India

Indian women traditionally wear saris on a regular basis. It’s an item of clothing that’s elaborately draped around the body to cover the legs and the torso. However, it’s custom for brides to wear red or white silk saris with gold embroidery to their weddings. They will also wear elaborate gold jewelry, and will have henna (called Menhdi in India) designs on their hands and feet to represent joy, hope and love. The drawing of these designs usually take hours, and it’s the occasion for the future bride’s female friends and family to regroup around her and draw on her skin. It’s called the Menhdi ceremony.

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3- Peruvian Wedding Cake

While we have our bouquet toss, brides in Peru prefer something a bit sweeter and like leaving it up to fate. Single female guests will each have a ribbon to which is attached a charm, but that is tucked in between layers of the wedding cake! Before cutting it, each guest will grab her ribbon and pull, and the one who has a fake wedding ring at the end of her ribbon is said to be the next one to get married!

4- Lebanese Zaffe

Lebanese weddings are known all over the globe, not only because of the brides’ fine tastes, but also (and mostly) because of the “Zaffe”. A loud escort made of the groom’s friends and family, with sometimes, professional dancers and musicians in folkloric costumes, will march with music, dancing and shouting right outside the bride’s home. The group escorts her to the groom where the ceremony will take place.

5- Japanese Sake Sharing

The most interesting part of a wedding ceremony in Japan is not the bride’s traditional Shinto kimono and its headwear, but the “san-san-kudo” ceremony. The bride and groom take each three sips from three flat cups filled with sake, then their parents do the same. This tradition bonds the families together formally.

Tell us which old tradition from your country would you like to maintain at your own wedding?

About Esposa

With a presence spanning over 30 years, Esposa is a luxury bridal boutique offering every bride-to-be a one-stop shop to find her perfect wedding look, from her dream gown to her wedding shoes and the accessories she needs.

Esposa Group includes the Esposa Privé stores located in Downtown-Beirut and Dubai where bridal creations offer the choice between a multi-brand selection showcasing the works of international designers including Viktor and Rolf, Vera Wang, Monique L’huillier, Marchesa and Esposa Privé’s own couture brand, Esposacouture, as well as a wide evening segment and a selection of shoes and accessories. Esposa Group encompasses also the Esposa boutiques located in Lebanon (Dbayeh and Ramleh Al Bayda), and Dubai, showcasing a multi-brand bridal collection in addition to its own couture brand, Plume by Esposa, an evening segment, and a selection of shoes and accessories.