A Guide to Wedding Traditions Around the World

Explore 8 unique and fascinating wedding traditions from around the world.

South Korea -- Pyebaek

After the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom receive dates and chestnuts from the groom's family in a ritual meant to wish the couple many descendants. The bride catching the tossed dates and chestnuts in her skirt is the central moment of the tradition.

India -- Mehndi (henna)

Before the wedding, intricate henna patterns are painted onto the bride's hands and feet, with tradition holding that the darker the stain turns out, the happier the marriage will be.

China -- Red wedding attire

Traditional Chinese weddings feature red clothing, a color symbolizing luck and joy, and firecrackers are set off to drive away bad fortune.

United States -- Bouquet toss

The bride throws her bouquet to a crowd of unmarried guests, with folklore holding that whoever catches it will be the next to marry.

Scotland -- Wearing a kilt

The tradition of a groom wearing a kilt patterned with his family or clan's tartan for the ceremony continues to this day.

France -- Croquembouche

A traditional French wedding cake made of cream puffs stacked into a pyramid and drizzled with caramelized sugar, its towering layers symbolizing prosperity.

Nigeria -- Money spraying

Guests shower the dancing bride and groom with cash as a form of blessing and celebration, a custom widely practiced across several West African countries.

Japan -- San-san-kudo

A Shinto ritual in which the bride and groom each take three sips from three cups of sake, symbolizing the union of the couple and the joining of their two families.

What wedding traditions reveal about a culture

A wedding is an important life milestone everywhere in the world, yet the way it's celebrated varies enormously by country and culture. Looking at a country's wedding traditions offers a window into how that society views family, luck, and community.

A note on variation

Wedding customs vary widely even within a single country depending on region, religion, and generation -- this page introduces one representative tradition from each country listed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is pyebaek still practiced in Korea today?

Traditional pyebaek is still carried on at many weddings today, though it's increasingly common for couples to simplify or skip it.

Are there other cultural traditions worth learning about?

Wedding customs are just one window into a country's culture -- festivals and holidays around the world hold just as much variety and are worth exploring too.