15 Crazy Wedding Traditions Around the World – Unique Ideas for Your Next Wedding

Maybe it’s because weddings are a mainstay of every human culture, but the world is full of some really unique and amazing wedding traditions. From ritual sacrifices to seemingly impossible scavenger hunts, there are an incredible variety of wedding traditions around the world.

From the dance floor to the wedding cake and from the white wedding dress to the participation of wedding guests, these customs highlight the diversity and creativity of how we celebrate love.

Here are 15 crazy wedding traditions that may not be great for a Miami Wedding but could possibly give you inspiration to think outside of the box for any other wedding you may attend—even your own.

15. Burning the Effigy in Ukraine

With the anticipation of a terrible future divorce, Ukrainian couples precipitately retaliate by burning an effigy of their partner during the wedding ceremony, possibly even in front of their wedding guests.

14. Smothered in Sour Milk in Scotland

In Scotland, prior to the wedding, the bride is smothered in sour milk, spoiled food, and dead fish (anything from the trash). Afterward, she is taken out that night to drink as part of the wedding celebrations. This practice, known as ‘blackening the bride,’ is a wedding tradition that prepares her for any embarrassment later in married life. It’s definitely not a time for the white wedding dress or thoughts of a pristine wedding cake.

13. Walk Over Your Friends in Marquesas Islands

In the region of Tahiti, brides are allowed to walk all over the wedding reception guests, so leave your stilettos at home. Each guest lies down and forms a human carpet while the couple walks over them to go on their honeymoon, right after they’ve taken their turn on the dance floor during the wedding reception.

12. Hostile in South Africa

During the ceremony of a South African wedding, the bride’s and groom’s families shout insults at each other. The more hurtful the insults, the better it is for everyone, often creating a tense atmosphere even while cutting the wedding cake.

11. Cry Festivity in China

In China, the bride is expected to begin crying a month before the wedding—every day. In fact, the bride’s mother, aunts, grandmothers, and sisters have to join in and help the bride. On the wedding day, she has to sing a ‘crying wedding song’ in front of the wedding guests.

10. Marriage to a Goat in India

In India, if a girl is born with a tooth coming out of the gum, she is considered to be cursed. To break the curse, the girl has to prevent further bad luck by marrying some kind of animal like a goat or dog. This will fend off the bad omen and is a part of the unique wedding traditions in the region.

9. Rolls and Rolls of Fat in Mauritania

Many brides in America try to hit the gym to lose those pounds to fit in their wedding dress, but not the women in Northwest Africa. In fact, the men want their wives to be as fat as possible on their wedding day. The men love rolls and rolls of fat, stretch marks, and overlapped thighs. This preference is seen as a sign of a prosperous and harmonious life for the married couple, and it’s a beauty standard that the bridal party and wedding guests celebrate during the wedding party, regardless of whether the bride’s dress is traditional or more modern. The bridal bouquet, a symbol of fertility and abundance, might even be more cherished in this context.

8. Kidnapping the Bride in Romania

Although this may sound illegal, in Romania, there’s a wedding tradition for kidnapping the bride and holding her for ransom. It’s all in good fun, of course; the kidnappers are friends of the family, and the act is a game to make the party more exciting. This playful twist engages both the bridal party and the wedding party and symbolizes the challenges the married couple may face on their journey to a harmonious life together. The bridal bouquet might even be part of the ransom negotiations, adding yet another layer of fun to the wedding celebrations.

7. Kill the Chicken in Inner Mongolia

The Daur group lives in Inner Mongolia, and there is a wedding tradition where the bride and groom hold a knife and slay a baby chicken. They gut the chicken and examine its liver.

If the baby chicken’s liver looks satisfactory, then the couple can set their wedding date, ensuring a good start to their harmonious life as a married couple.

6. House Prisoners in the Tidong Region

This Northern Borneo tradition is weird and possibly unhealthy. The couple, immediately after marriage, has to stay in their house for three days and three nights to bond. But, on top of that, they have to refrain completely from using the bathroom within the same timeframe.

This challenging tradition is meant to ensure a strong and harmonious life together.

5. Get the Fiji Whale Tooth

In Fiji, the groom has to ask for the daughter’s hand in marriage, but he also has to bring home a whale tooth to the expected bride’s father. Other than the black -<market, the only other place that he can get this is from the largest sea creature on earth—at the bottom of the sea.

This daunting task is symbolic of the groom’s commitment to providing for his future married life.

4. Spitting Tradition in Massai, Kenya

In Kenya, the father of the bride will bless the marriage by spitting directly on her head and breast before she goes away with her husband. This unique blessing is meant to bring the newly married couple prosperity and a harmonious life.

3. Kiss the Bride in Sweden

During the wedding ceremony, if the groom leaves the room and goes to the bathroom, every male in the ceremony gets the opportunity to kiss the bride.

If the bride goes to the bathroom, every female gets to kiss the groom. This tradition adds a playful element to the wedding party and involves the entire bridal party in the fun.

2. A Beautiful Bride for the Fairies in Ireland

The bride and groom’s feet are not allowed to touch the floor while dancing during the wedding ceremony. If they do, then the bride could be swept away by an evil fairy. The fairy takes the bride away because of loving beautiful things, a superstition that adds a mystical element to the wedding celebrations and the bridal bouquet toss.

1. Grab the Shoes

In some regions of India, the groom must take his shoes off before he approaches the wedding altar. When he does, the bride’s family tries to steal the shoes, and the groom’s family makes attempts to protect the shoes. If the bride’s family wins, the groom’s family has to pay a ransom. This fun tradition involves the entire wedding party and adds a lively dynamic to the wedding celebrations.

Celebrate Your Love in Unforgettable Style!

At Grand Salon Reception Hall, we understand that your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life.

Whether you’re inspired by unique traditions from around the world or have your own vision of a perfect celebration, our venue provides the perfect backdrop for creating memories that will last a lifetime. Let us help you craft a wedding experience as unique as your love story.

Contact us today to schedule a tour and discover why we are Miami’s top choice for elegant, affordable, and unforgettable weddings. Your dream wedding starts here!