8 strange wedding customs in the world

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Saturday, April 29, 2023 14:33 (GMT+7)
14:33 April 29, 2023

Almost every country and culture has its own wedding customs, and some places have some pretty strange rituals.

Cuba: The "Money Dance" is considered the most unique cultural feature of Cuban wedding ceremonies. According to Cuban customs, guests dancing with the bride and groom will pin money to the bride's dress. This wedding gift is meant to wish the couple happiness and good luck. The couple can also use the money to pay for the wedding and honeymoon. Photo: Kassidy Marie.

Venezuela: It is a common practice in Venezuelan weddings for the bride and groom to sneak away before the reception ends. So a tip for first-time wedding guests in Venezuela is not to wait until the reception is over 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 take scissors to cut off his tie, then sell the pieces to guests to give the newlyweds extra money. The same practice is sometimes used for the bride's outfit. Photo: tie-cravatta.

Mexico: During a Mexican wedding ceremony, as the bride and groom exchange vows, a "lazo" (or lasso) made of beads and flowers is placed around their shoulders in the shape of a figure 8. "El lazo" is shaped like the infinity symbol, representing the wish for the marriage to last forever. Photo: Blackvanillaphotography.

Scotland: Scottish brides and grooms are captured by their friends the day before the ceremony and doused with things like eggs, duck feathers, molasses, spoiled milk, etc. Afterwards, the couple are not allowed to bathe and are paraded around their neighborhood. This custom is called the "Blackening of the Bride", which originated as a ritual to ward off evil spirits. Photo: Steading Holidays.

France: A French custom that takes place on the bride and groom's wedding night is called Charivari. This ritual involves people coming to the windows of the bridal chamber and blowing whistles, banging on pots and pans, singing, dancing, and making all kinds of noise until the bride comes downstairs and invites them up. Then everyone continues to party until morning. It is believed that the louder the noise, the happier the newlyweds will be. Photo: Freepik.

India: Saat Phere or Saptapadi is an important part of a traditional Hindu wedding. The bride and groom circle the holy fire, usually seven times, symbolizing the seven vows that bind the couple together as husband and wife, with a prayer to Lord Ganesh to give them the strength to fight the obstacles in life. Photo: WhatKnot Wedding Photography.

Congo: While most couples are filled with excitement and anticipation, Congolese couples must contain their happiness. Throughout the entire wedding day, from the ceremony to the reception, neither of them is allowed to smile. If they smile, it means they are not serious about the marriage. Photo: Onedio.

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