Multi-Cultural Weddings
The world is made up of many cultures and different ethic backgrounds and marrying between all has become very common. However, traditions are still used in all cultures when getting married even in England.
Bringing different nationalities together can be a tribute to traditional family groups. Introducing different delicacies and meal options has become a favourite in England as has the use of different beverages.
Below is a small list of nationalities and how they may go about celebrating a marriage. Please note this list is not exhaustible; however please feel free to mail us at
info@fussywedding.co.uk if you know of any other culture you would like us to put on this site. The list is for informational purposes and is a suggestive source.
African Wedding Traditions: As a symbol for the start of making a home as a married couple, the individuals would jump over a broom whilst an abundance of shells known as cowrie shells are used for decoration purposes. The shells are representational of beauty and purity.
Chinese Wedding Traditions: As a mark of respect the bride would serve her in laws to be and her own parents tea, but as times have become more modernised the groom can also serve her as well.
Chinese weddings are celebrated festively and the groom and his bride are required to toast individual tables and in some cases a member from the wedding party will drink in place of the bride and groom if either one of them is unable to hold alcohol well.
Dutch Wedding Traditions: A Dutch custom can be to create something called a ‘wish tree’’. This entails placing a branch from a tree next to the table of the bride and groom of which the guests place a paper leaf (attached to a piece of ribbon) with a wish on. The happy couple then attach these leaves to the branch once the wishes have been handed to them.
French Wedding Traditions: In France, it is custom that the groom walks his mother down the aisle first before he is to be married and concludes at the alter awaiting his bride.
German Wedding Traditions: In Germany it has been known for the couple to beak dishes and pots or anything they can find, and then clear the mess up after. This represents them facing life’s obstacles and trials through their marriage and is also said to bring them good luck. Sometimes it is custom for friends to join in and to bring over any matter of junk that the couple can clean up!!!!
Greek Wedding Traditions: The bride and groom are believed to be treated as a king and queen for the day and are presented with crowns of orange blossom or gold.
Indian Wedding Traditions: Indian weddings happen over a few days sometimes weeks and involve detailed ceremonies for example, henna painting on the hands and feet. Also Mehndi garlands are given to guests of honour rather than corsages and for good luck petals are thrown. It is also a tradition for the male who is closest to the couple to drop petals on the couple once they are married. This is to rid of any spirits which may be evil.
Irish Wedding Traditions: The bride, as an accessory may be given a horseshoe of which she will need to keep this facing upright as it is deemed to ‘’catch all the good luck’’. Also the Irish wedding ring is called a claddagh which shows 2 hands holding a heart wearing a crown. The ring as a whole represents faith love and honour.
Four leaf clovers are also lucky as each leaf represents something different. One is for hope, 2nd for faith, 3rd for love and 4th for luck. Shamrock can also be used in the decoration side of the wedding.
Also another Irish tradition is for the guests to sing a poem or song which contains the word ‘’LOVE’’ in it rather than toasting with glasses prompting the bride and groom to kiss one another.
Italian Wedding Traditions: Sugared coated Almonds are a huge tradition in the Italian weddings and are presented in small pouches usually in groups of 5 which is also deemed to be a lucky number
Japanese Wedding Traditions: San-San-Ku-do – this means 3 by 3 exchange. This belief is abundant with meaning where the bride and groom sip sake 3 times from 3 cups.
The first 3 are representational of the bride and her parents and that of the groom and his parents.
The second is representational of 3 flaws, passion, ignorance and hatred.
‘’Ku’’ means 9 which is lucky in Japanese and ‘do’ mean deliverance from the flaws previously mentioned.
Korean Wedding Traditions: In Korea their culture believes that as geese and ducks are animals that mate for life they make the ideal symbol for fidelity and are used symbolically in weddings
Mexican/Filipino/Spanish Wedding Traditions: All of these countries represent a Latin culture and a gift of 13 coins is given to the bride from her groom. The coins are a symbol of Jesus and the apostles and these are blessed by a priest. They are also a way of the groom promising to support love and care for his future wife.
Celebrating the wedding can sometimes be inclusive of a mariachi band which adds vitality and enjoyment to the party.
Scottish Wedding Traditions: Bagpipes are a traditional Scottish pride which can be incorporated into the wedding day. A man would wear a kilt and a sash which would welcome her into his family unit
Swedish Wedding Traditions: A sweet tradition from Sweden is for the bride to contain a silver coin in her left shoe and gold in her right. The silver would be from her mother and the god from her father, thus meaning she will never go without.
Have we Missed Any? Please let us know and we'll add them to our ever growing Fussy Website.