Wedding Traditions from around the world
Wedding Tradition tossing the bouquet
Here in the United States, we have a unique wedding tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet to the bachelorette’s in attendance. While that is normal for us, in other countries this is not the case. Keep reading for some fun facts about traditions from around the world!
In the southern United States, there is a tradition called “bury the bourbon”. Now you may ask yourself, “why would anyone bury a bottle of bourbon?” Well, southern folklore says that if you bury a full bottle of bourbon (usually whatever the betrothed couple likes) upside down one month before the wedding day, it is to ensure ideal wedding weather. Old wives tales also say it ensures a happy marriage! Awe!
International Wedding Traditions
Canada
Meanwhile, wedding traditions from our neighbors to the north in Quebec, Canada, have a silly sock dance. That is right, a silly sock dance. What happens is the bachelors at a wedding wear silly socks and do the silliest, craziest dance they can think of—all to humor the newlyweds and their guests. The catch? The newlyweds decide who has the silliest pair of socks and believed to be the next to be wed. Obviously the French speaking Canadians have a sense of humor. Pretty funny huh? Yeah, we thought so too.
Spain
Buena suerte a los recién casados! Good luck to the newlyweds! In Spain, they have a wedding tradition where the groomsmen cut the groom’s tie. The Spanish call this tradition “cortar la corbata del novio” which literally translates to “to cut the groom’s tie”and what they do with the cut bits of tie, is hand them out as good luck charms. This symbolizes a happy marriage and luck to the groomsmen in their love lives. Makes you wonder what they do for good luck for the bride, huh?
Germany
We know your getting married because of the love you have for each other, but what about teamwork? In Germany, after the wedding ceremony, the newlyweds saw a log in half; The Germans call this tradition “Baumstamm Sagen”. This is to show strong teamwork, bring luck, and to set up a harmonious marriage. After the log is sawn in half, the guests cheer and carry on with the rest of the joyous festivities.
France
The friends and family of newlyweds in France believe that before the couple leaves for the evening, they must be really liquored up. What we mean is the French believe that it’s good luck to drink a mixture of various liquors from an old school chamber pot—a clean, unused one of course. The tradition states that the first to sip is the bride, followed by the groom, and then the rest of the wedding party and guests (usually the parents).
While this tradition is known all around France, it seems to be the most popular with rural communities more so than in the cities. The French call this tradition “le pot de chambre.” Brings new meaning to needing the potty.
Scotland
And our last tradition hails from Scotland. “Blackening of the Bride” as the Scottish call it, is when the bridal party (and sometimes the groom and groomsmen) literally blacken the bride. What this entails is the bride, or groom, is covered in dirt from head to toe, and then paraded through town by the bridesmaids—or groomsmen depending on who is being blackened. The humiliation is meant to symbolize the strength needed to have a successful marriage.
If you can handle being humiliated by your friends, then you should have no problem dealing with marriage woes.
Whether it’s the American wedding tradition of tossing the bridal bouquet, or Baumstamm Sagen in Germany, or even the Le Pot de Chambre from France, one thing remains the same: the newlyweds are surrounded by a room full of their family and friends who wish nothing but happiness and good luck.
Wee Kirk o’the Heather has had many, many, many weddings in our 77 years from all over the country and the world. We still get excited like it was our very first! We love our couples and wish them the very best.
Marriage is no easy decision, nor should it be. Marriage is saying that you want to be with that one special person forever, come hell or high water no matter the obstacle. And when the obstacles come? You’ll get through them together. When you say yes to the proposal, you’re saying you want to grow, and build, and be with that special someone forever. We think that the 1987 movie “The Princess Bride” said it best:
“Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday. Mawage that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam… And wuv, tru wuv, will fowow you foweva… So tweasure your wuv.”
(Marriage. Marriage is what brings us together today. Marriage that blessed arrangement, that dream within a dream. And love, true love, will follow you forever. So treasure your love.)
Come on now, we know you read it in the Impressive Priest’s voice! It is totally okay to admit that—we did too!
If you take anything from this, it is: no matter the wedding traditions, no matter the planning, you’re marring the love of your life today.
This is one of the happiest days of your life so go out there and celebrate! Shout from the rooftops. When you are lucky enough to have found that once in a lifetime type of love, the love where you cannot remember the kind of life you had before them, where you cannot think of going another day without them, be thankful.
Cherish that special bond that only you and they share. Be wise to them, be the person that they can come to for anything. Love and cherish them forever. And most importantly: never forget to keep dating them. Regardless of all the other wedding traditions, you can now create your own traditions as you start your new path together.
Happy Wedding Day and best of wishes to all our couples!
Joyeux jour du mariage et le meilleur des voeux à tous nos couples!
Feliz día de la boda y el mejor de los deseos a todas nuestras parejas!
Glücklicher Hochzeitstag und beste Wünsche zu allen unseren Paaren!
Happy latha na bainnse agus as fheàrr a dhùrachdan gu a h-uile ar càraidean!
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