Sneaky, Sneaky

In Venezuela, brides and grooms to sneak out of the reception unnoticed before the party ends. This is considered to bring good luck to their marriage. So don’t be alarmed when the people you’re there to celebrate disappear on you. Just keep eating and drinking on their dime

White and Yellow Corn

To symbolize their bonding, American Indian couples will share a meal of corn mush during their ceremony. Two types of corn are used: white and yellow. White represents male and yellow female, joined together.

A French wedding guest tradition

After the wedding reception, some of the friends of the couple will “interrupt” their wedding-night by banging pots and pans and singing loudly outside their bedroom window.

The groom is then suppose to invite the pranksters in for refreshments.

Baraats

If you’ve ever been to an Indian wedding, you probably noticed that the groom rode up to the ceremony on a decorated horse or perhaps in a decorated car. This ceremony is called a Baraat, and symbolizes the acceptance of the groom’s family into the bride’s family (and vice versa). Traditionally the groom will ride an intricately decorated horse, wearing a headpiece that masks his face. He is followed by his family and close friends, who sing, dance, and play music. This group of people are called the Barati. Sometimes there are even fireworks involved! Once the two families are introduced, the groom is able to marry the bride and officially join the two families together.

To find a company that rents horses for baraats, check the searchable vendor database at WeddingWire.

German wedding celebrations

A wedding in Germany could be a three day celebration!!!

On Thursday, the couple gathers with family and close friends to go to the city hall to have a civil ceremony. Afterwards they all go out to dinner.

On friday, the couple is visited for the Polterabend, or wedding-eve party, by friends and neighbors. The celebration entails the smashing of plates and other breakables as a sign of good luck (may nothing ever be broken in your home again). The couple then must sweep up the bits of glass and pottery together.

 

On Saturday, the newlyweds religious ceremony takes place, followed by the reception of traditional fare. Before the couple can sneak out of the party, friends place garlands of flowers, greenery and ribbons at the exits. The groom must “ransom” the couple out with promises of money or a party.

What’s a Chuppah?

 

Jewish weddings traditionally involve a chuppah, which covers the couple during the ceremony. This canopy symbolizes the home the couple will build. It’s important to note that all chuppahs have open sides, to represent how Sarah and Abraham welcomed their friends and family into their open-air tented home.

 

If portable, the chuppah can play a part in the processional. Groomsmen or close family members may carry it down the aisle and hold it up during the ceremony. Alternatively, you may choose to place the poles in containers of sand to stand the poles in. These containers can be decorative or hidden by a floral arrangement.

Another integral use of the chuppah happens during the ceremony when the bride circles the groom seven times. This represents how the world was created in seven days and figuratively illustrates the building of the couples home. Sometimes the bride and groom both walk around each other, but this will be determined by your rabbi.

To find a florist or decorator that can create a chuppah for you, check out the national vendor catalogue search on WeddingWire.