If you think the typical white-dress, big party kind of wedding is the standard around the world, you are in for a surprise. Wedding traditions vary enormously around the world, and what we consider standard can be unusual not too far away. Here are some examples of unusual wedding traditions around the world.
Chinese wedding traditions date back thousands of years. While other parts of Asia have seen Western influence, China has remained more traditional and still follows some strict wedding traditions and etiquette. The marriage proposal itself is a big affair, and it is often conducted in writing. There is also an old tradition of setting the marriage bed the day before the wedding ceremony. The bed is placed in a particular augural position by a chosen men and woman; preferably people who already have children, as this would be a good omen for the new couple.
Wedding traditions in India are even more closely followed. The formal engagement of a couple is finalized by the parents, who then take an important part on the actual wedding ceremony too. Groom and bride exchange wedding bands as a sign of commitment long before the actual wedding takes place. Other wedding traditions include the painting of hands and feet with henna and a special religious ceremony held the night before the actual wedding, in which a small stalk is planted in the garden as a celebration of the new life for the couple.
Wedding traditions in Europe include wearing green the night before the wedding for good luck (Italy), bachelor and bachelorette drives around town (Scotland), long wedding meals that can last until next-day's breakfast (Portugal), and garlands and baskets of flowers delivered to the bride and groom's homes days before the ceremony (Netherlands). Bridal showers originated in the Netherlands, and are still one of the most respected wedding traditions.
In Morocco, wedding traditions include parties that can last up to seven days, "furnishing parties" to prepare the couple's future home, and henna parties, where women decorate each other's hand and feet before helping the bride with a purifying bath.
