20 Wedding Traditions Around the World: Celebrating Love Across Cultures

Here’s a relatable scenario we’re all familiar with: you're scrolling through your social media feed when you see a friend's wedding photos from their ceremony in Bombay, complete with vibrant marigold garlands and intricate henna designs.

The next post shows another friend's intimate Scottish celebration where they literally tied the knot with an ancient Celtic rope. Then there's your cousin's Greek wedding, where plates were joyfully smashed to pieces.

Each celebration looks completely different, yet they all share that same magical moment - two people choosing to build a life together.

Wedding traditions are like fingerprints - no two cultures do them exactly the same way, yet they all serve the same beautiful purpose: celebrating love, honoring family, and marking the beginning of a new chapter.

Whether you're planning an intimate online ceremony or a grand celebration, understanding these traditions can help you create a meaningful experience that honors your heritage while embracing modern convenience.

In today's interconnected world, couples often find themselves blending multiple cultural backgrounds or celebrating from different corners of the globe.

The beauty of modern wedding planning is that you can honor these time-tested traditions regardless of where you are or how you choose to celebrate.

Let's explore 20 fascinating wedding traditions from around the world and discover how each one carries deep cultural significance that transcends borders.

1. Chinese Tea Ceremony: Honoring Generations Past and Future

In Chinese culture, the tea ceremony represents one of the most sacred wedding traditions, serving as a bridge between generations.

During this intimate ritual, the couple serves tea to their parents and elder relatives as a gesture of respect and gratitude. The act symbolizes the couple's appreciation for their upbringing and their commitment to honoring family values in their new marriage.

The ceremony follows a specific order, with the couple serving the groom's parents first, followed by the bride's family.

Each family member offers red envelopes containing money or jewelry as blessings for the couple's future. This tradition beautifully demonstrates how marriage isn't just about two individuals - it's about joining families and honoring the wisdom of those who came before.

Modern couples often adapt this tradition by incorporating it into their online ceremonies, having family members join virtually from around the world to receive their tea and offer blessings through video calls.

2. Filipino Cord and Veil Ceremony: Unity in Sacred Symbols

Filipino weddings feature the beautiful cord and veil ceremony, where sponsors place a decorative cord around the couple in a figure-eight pattern, symbolizing their eternal bond. 

Simultaneously, a veil is draped over the bride's head and the groom's shoulders, representing their unity as one family under God's protection.

The figure-eight pattern of the cord is particularly meaningful - it represents infinity, suggesting that the couple's love will have no end.

The veil ceremony emphasizes how the couple will face life's challenges together, with the husband protecting and providing for his wife while she supports and nurtures their family.

These symbolic elements can be beautifully incorporated into virtual ceremonies, with family members participating remotely or the couple performing the ritual themselves while explaining its significance to their online guests.

3. Greek Stefana Crown Exchange: Crowning the New Rulers

Greek Orthodox weddings feature the stefana ceremony, where ornate crowns connected by a ribbon are placed on the couple's heads.

These crowns, often made of orange blossoms, myrtle, or olive branches, symbolize the couple's new roles as king and queen of their household. The connecting ribbon represents their unity and the fact that one cannot be crowned without the other.

During the ceremony, the crowns are exchanged three times between the bride and groom, representing the Holy Trinity. The koumbaro (best man) or koumbara (maid of honor) performs this exchange, symbolizing their role as spiritual guides for the couple.

The Greek wedding tradition, Stefana, emphasizes the sacred nature of marriage and the couple's responsibility to rule their household with wisdom, love, and mutual respect.

4. Irish Handfasting: The Original "Tying the Knot"

The Irish wedding tradition of handfasting literally gave us the phrase "tying the knot."

During this ancient Celtic ritual, the couple's hands are bound together with rope, cord, or cloth while they recite their vows. This physical binding symbolizes their commitment to be united in marriage and their promise to support each other through all of life's challenges.

Traditionally, different colored cords represent different aspects of the marriage: red for passion, blue for tranquility, yellow for charm, green for fertility, and white for purity. Some couples choose colors that hold personal significance or represent their family heritage.

This tradition works beautifully in modern ceremonies, whether in-person or virtual, as couples can perform the handfasting themselves or have family members assist, making it a meaningful way to involve loved ones in the ceremony.

5. Italian Bomboniere: Sweet Blessings for Guests

Italian wedding tradition of bomboniere is basically small gifts given to guests as tokens of appreciation and good luck.

These typically contain five sugared almonds, each representing a different wish for the couple: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity. The bitter almond covered in sweet sugar symbolizes the bittersweet nature of life and marriage.

The number five is significant in Italian culture, representing the indivisible nature of the couple's bond. The bomboniere are often presented in beautiful boxes or bags, sometimes accompanied by a small card with the couple's names and wedding date.

This tradition reflects the Italian value of hospitality and the belief that sharing joy multiplies it. 

Modern couples often adapt this by sending small gifts to virtual wedding guests or creating digital versions of the tradition.

6. Jewish Chuppah and Glass Breaking: Sacred Space and Joyful Destruction

Jewish weddings feature two iconic traditions: the chuppah ceremony and the breaking of the glass.

The chuppah is a canopy under which the couple exchanges vows, symbolizing the home they will build together. Its open sides represent hospitality and the couple's commitment to welcome others into their lives.

The glass-breaking ceremony concludes the wedding, with the groom traditionally stomping on a wrapped glass while guests shout "Mazel tov!" This act has multiple interpretations: it represents the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the fragility of human relationships, or the idea that marriage will change the couple forever.

Both traditions emphasize the sacred nature of marriage while acknowledging its challenges. 

They can be beautifully adapted for online ceremonies, with the chuppah created in the couple's home and family members participating virtually.

7. Korean Paebaek Ceremony: Respect and Family Blessings

The Korean paebaek ceremony is a private family ritual where the newlyweds pay respects to the groom's parents.

The bride wears a traditional hanbok and performs deep bows while offering dates and chestnuts, symbols of fertility and children. The parents then throw the dates and chestnuts back to the couple, with the number caught supposedly indicating how many children they'll have.

This ceremony emphasizes the importance of family hierarchy and respect in Korean culture. The bride's formal introduction to her new family represents her acceptance into their lineage and her commitment to honoring their traditions.

Modern couples often include elements of this ceremony in their celebrations, whether by wearing traditional clothing, performing the bows, or simply explaining the tradition's significance to their guests.

8. Nigerian Yoruba Tasting Ceremony: Embracing the Flavors of Life

In traditional Yoruba weddings in Nigeria, one of the most symbolic rituals is the tasting of the four elements; a ceremony where the bride and groom taste four different flavors: sweet (honey), sour (lemon), bitter (aloe or kola nut), and spicy (cayenne or pepper).

Each element represents the different emotions and experiences they may encounter in married life.

This tasting ritual is part of the larger Yoruba engagement ceremony known as the traditional wedding or introduction.

The ceremony brings both families together in a joyful display of music, dance, and cultural pride. The symbolic tasting emphasizes that love isn’t always easy, but enduring it all together makes the bond stronger.

Modern Nigerian couples often blend this meaningful tradition into contemporary or diaspora weddings to honor their heritage, reminding guests that true partnership means embracing every flavor life brings, together.

9. Indian Saptapadi: Seven Sacred Steps

‍Hindu weddings feature the saptapadi, where couples take seven steps around a sacred fire while making seven vows to each other.

Each step represents a different aspect of married life: nourishment, strength, prosperity, happiness, progeny, longevity, and friendship. With each step, the couple promises to support each other in that particular area of life.

The sacred fire, or agni, serves as a witness to their vows and represents purity, knowledge, and the light that will guide their marriage. The circular movement around the fire symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the couple's commitment to face all seasons together.

This tradition can be adapted for modern ceremonies by creating a symbolic fire and having the couple recite the seven vows while taking steps together, whether in person or virtually.

10. Scottish Blackening: Strength Through Adversity

In some Scottish communities, friends and family "blacken" the bride and groom before the wedding by covering them with various messy substances like flour, eggs, treacle, and feathers. 

This unusual tradition is meant to prepare the couple for the challenges of married life - if they can endure this together with good humor, they can handle anything marriage throws at them.

The blackening is followed by a parade through the community, where the couple's resilience and commitment are publicly displayed.

This tradition emphasizes the importance of facing difficulties together and maintaining a sense of humor through life's challenges.

While modern couples might not embrace the full messiness of this tradition, they often incorporate its spirit by including challenges or games that test their teamwork and communication skills.

11. Mexican Las Arras: Thirteen Coins of Prosperity

Mexican weddings feature the tradition of las arras, where the groom gives the bride thirteen gold coins as a symbol of his commitment to provide for their family.

The bride accepts the coins and returns them to the groom, symbolizing her trust in his ability to care for their household and her promise to be a good steward of their shared resources.

The thirteen coins represent Jesus and his twelve apostles, adding a spiritual dimension to the economic symbolism. This tradition emphasizes the practical aspects of marriage - the need for financial cooperation and mutual trust in managing household resources.

Modern couples often use family heirloom coins or specially minted wedding coins for this ceremony, making it a meaningful way to honor Mexican heritage while discussing their financial partnership.

12. Russian Bread and Salt Ceremony: Sustenance and Preservation

Russian weddings traditionally include a bread and salt ceremony where the couple's parents greet them with a large round loaf of bread topped with salt.

The couple must take a bite without using their hands, and whoever takes the larger bite is said to be the head of the household.

The bread represents prosperity and fertility, while the salt symbolizes the preservation of their love through difficult times.

This tradition emphasizes the importance of sustenance, both physical and emotional, in marriage. The act of sharing food represents the couple's commitment to nourish each other and their future family.

The ceremony can be easily adapted for modern weddings, with couples sharing specially baked bread or incorporating the symbolism into their reception meal.

13. Moroccan Henna Night: Beauty and Protection

Moroccan weddings feature elaborate henna ceremonies where intricate designs are painted on the bride's hands and feet.

The henna night is typically a women-only celebration held before the wedding, where female relatives and friends gather to apply henna, sing traditional songs, and share wisdom about marriage.

The henna designs often include symbols of fertility, protection, and good luck. The deeper the henna stain, the more the bride is believed to be loved by her new mother-in-law and the stronger her marriage will be.

This Moroccan wedding tradition emphasizes the importance of female community support and the beauty of preparation rituals.

Modern brides often incorporate henna ceremonies into their pre-wedding celebrations, whether in person or virtually, creating beautiful art while bonding with female relatives and friends.

14. German Polterabend: Breaking for Good Luck

German couples participate in polterabend, a pre-wedding tradition where friends and family break porcelain dishes, flower pots, and other ceramic items outside the couple's home.

The couple must clean up the mess together, symbolizing their ability to work as a team and overcome obstacles in their marriage.

Only porcelain and ceramic items are broken, never glass or mirrors, which are considered bad luck. The loud noise is believed to drive away evil spirits and bring good fortune to the marriage. 

This German wedding tradition emphasizes the importance of community support and the couple's ability to handle challenges together.

While modern couples might not want broken dishes in their yard, they often adapt this tradition by incorporating symbolic breaking activities or teamwork challenges into their celebrations.

15. Peruvian Wedding Cake Tradition: Sweet Surprises

Peruvian weddings feature a unique cake tradition where ribbons are baked into the wedding cake, with one ribbon attached to a fake wedding ring.

Single women pull ribbons from the cake, and whoever gets the ring is said to be the next to marry. This Peruvian wedding tradition adds an element of fun and anticipation to the reception while honoring the hope for future marriages within the community.

The cake itself often incorporates traditional Peruvian flavors like lucuma or chirimoya, connecting the celebration to local culinary heritage. This tradition emphasizes the cyclical nature of love and the community's investment in each member's happiness.

Modern couples can adapt this tradition by incorporating ribbon-pulling into their virtual receptions or creating special cake moments that honor Peruvian heritage.

16. Kenyan Maasai Spitting Blessing: Unusual Good Wishes

In Maasai culture, the father of the bride spits on his daughter's head and breasts as a blessing before she leaves with her new husband.

While this might seem unusual to outsiders, spitting is considered a sacred act in Maasai culture, representing good luck and blessings. The father's saliva is believed to carry his protection and good wishes for his daughter's new life.

This tradition emphasizes the father's role in blessing his daughter's transition from his household to her husband's family. It represents the transfer of protection and the continuation of family bonds despite physical separation.

Modern couples often adapt this tradition by incorporating other forms of parental blessings or by explaining the cultural significance to help guests understand its sacred meaning.

17. Welsh Lovespoon Carving: Handcrafted Devotion

Welsh wedding tradition includes the custom of lovespoon carving, where suitors would hand-carve wooden spoons decorated with symbols of their love and intentions.

Different symbols carried different meanings: hearts for love, keys for security, wheels for hard work, and chains for togetherness. The more intricate the carving, the stronger the suitor's feelings and commitment.

This tradition emphasizes the importance of effort and creativity in courtship.

The handmade nature of the gift shows dedication and the time invested in creating something beautiful for the beloved. The spoon itself represents the suitor's promise to provide and care for his future wife.

Modern couples often incorporate lovespoon symbolism into their weddings by exchanging handmade gifts or including Welsh symbols in their ceremony decorations.

18. Japanese San-san-kudo: Three Sips, Three Bonds

Japanese Shinto weddings feature the san-san-kudo ceremony, where the bride and groom take three sips each from three different-sized sake cups.

This ritual creates a bond between the couple and their families, with the three cups representing the three couples: the bride and groom, their parents, and their grandparents.

The number three is significant in Japanese culture, representing harmony and good fortune. 

The shared drinking symbolizes the joining of two families and the couple's commitment to honor their ancestors while building their own legacy.

This tradition can be beautifully adapted for modern ceremonies by using special cups or incorporating the three-sip ritual with other beverages, making it accessible for couples celebrating virtually or in different locations.

19. Guatemalan Breaking of a White Bell: Releasing Abundance

Guatemalan weddings feature the tradition of breaking a white ceramic bell filled with rice, flour, and other grains.

The mother of the groom breaks the bell during the ceremony, releasing the contents as symbols of abundance, fertility, and prosperity for the new couple.

The white color of the bell represents purity and new beginnings, while the grains symbolize the hope that the couple will never lack for sustenance.

This tradition emphasizes the role of the extended family in supporting the new marriage and the community's investment in the couple's success.

Modern couples can adapt this tradition by creating their own abundance ceremony or incorporating symbolic elements that represent prosperity and community support.

20. Swedish Crown Tradition: Royal Treatment for Brides

In Swedish tradition, unmarried female relatives place a crown on the bride's head, and unmarried male relatives place coins in the groom's shoes.

The crown, often a family heirloom passed down through generations, symbolizes the bride's purity and her new status as a married woman. The coins in the groom's shoes represent his ability to provide for his new family.

This tradition emphasizes the community's role in celebrating and supporting the marriage. The involvement of unmarried relatives creates a connection between generations and reinforces the hope for future marriages within the family.

Modern Swedish couples often incorporate crown ceremonies into their weddings, whether using family heirlooms or creating new traditions that honor their heritage while fitting their contemporary celebration style.

Bringing Old Wedding Traditions into Modern Ceremonies

Wedding traditions across cultures may look different, but they all speak the same language: love, family, and shared celebration.

Whether it’s a sacred fire in India, a crown ceremony in Greece, or a tea ritual in China, each one adds meaning to the moment two lives come together.

Many couples today are blending backgrounds, bridging distances, or honoring generations of heritage, sometimes all at once. The best ceremonies reflect this richness. They’re not about following rules; they’re about creating something that feels true to who you are.

Traditions don’t have to be tied to location. A chuppah can stand in your living room. A Korean bow can happen over a video call. What matters is the intention behind it and how it brings loved ones closer, even from afar.

Courtly helps make that possible.

From legally recognized online weddings to fully customizable ceremonies that reflect your roots, values, and vision, Courtly gives you the freedom to celebrate your love your way, wherever you are in the world.

Because meaningful rituals should never be limited by distance.

FAQs

Can I combine wedding traditions from different cultures in one ceremony?

Absolutely. Many couples today blend customs from multiple cultures to reflect their shared backgrounds. The key is to understand each tradition’s meaning and integrate them thoughtfully. With a well-structured script and the right officiant, it’s entirely possible to honor both families while creating a cohesive, personal ceremony that feels seamless—not disjointed.

How can I explain cultural wedding rituals to guests who may not be familiar with them?

Consider including short explanations during the ceremony or adding a printed or digital program that outlines each tradition. This helps guests appreciate the symbolism behind the rituals. If you’re celebrating online, your officiant or a family member can provide context live or via chat, turning each moment into something educational and inclusive.

Are there legal restrictions when incorporating cultural rituals into online weddings?

Cultural rituals are allowed as long as the legal components of the marriage, such as signing the license and saying your vows, are completed according to state or country laws. With platforms like Courtly, you can blend legal requirements with meaningful traditions, ensuring your wedding is both valid and culturally rich.