A wedding is filled with tons of wedding traditions that are so standard, it doesn’t feel quite like a wedding without them! From the bride wearing a white dress, to exchanging wedding vows in front of your family and friends, wedding traditions make the day so special and cherished.
Today, it’s common for couples getting married to want to do something unique, for example, Christine on Selling Sunset who wore a black wedding dress. A unique element we’re seeing more often is when couples incorporate traditional wedding rituals that represent their culture or heritage. Many of these wedding rituals haven’t been as prevalent either outside their couple’s community or their popularity has simply diminished in past years. But one of these might be the perfect addition to learn about for your big day. Here are 5 wedding traditions that you’ve probably never heard of (unless it is from your own heritage)!
1. Tinikling Dance
You’ve seen the Twist, Cupid Shuffle, and the Wobble, but what about traditional dances at a wedding? The Tinikling is the Philippine national dance which you’ll easily recognize if you see large sticks on the dance floor. The dance is meant to imitate the movement of a bird hopping between tree branches and is performed at special events or weddings to express the Filipino culture.
2. Jumping the Broom
This tradition occurs after the wedding ceremony when the couple jumps over a broom to seal the marriage deal! Jumping over a broom is a tradition in some African-American and Celtic communities and if you’ve never seen it at a wedding, you (or your parents) may have witnessed it on the TV show, “Roots” in the late 70s. The couple simply jumps over a broom together while holding hands.
There are varying theories of where the broomstick wedding originated, but some say it may have inspired the tradition of “carrying the bride over the threshold.” This is when you’ll see the groom carry his bride into their home for the first time after their wedding to avoid bad luck.
3. Log Cutting Ceremony
In German wedding tradition, the couple has to go through the log cutting ceremony. This tradition is supposed to represent the couple’s first obstacle together. By sawing through the log, the couple shows that they can get through any hard problem that life throws at them. Traditionally, it’s just supposed to be the wedded couple cutting the log. We’ve found that some families come in and move the process along. It’s symbolic in its own way because it can remind the couple that even though they have each other, they can always look to their family member for support with any obstacles they face.
4. Yugal
Another wedding tradition from the Filipino culture involves a cord. The cord is called the “yugal” which is draped around the couple in a figure eight. This represents the infinite bond that is created by the couple through the wedding ceremony. Who puts the cord on the couple, or even makes the cord, holds significance to both of them. One thing is certain, the bond can never be broken once placed upon the couple!
5. Hour-long “Planned Crying” Sessions
In some Chinese cultures, people insist that all brides “cry” for an hour every day for a month. For ten days prior to the wedding, the mother joins in to make sure the hour-long wailing is suitably overwrought. Five days into the ceremony, grandmothers join in. It all symbolizes just how happy the bride is to be getting married. Please note: In some cultures, happiness can also be symbolized by smiling and/or laughing.
Ready to bring your own wedding traditions to life? Contact us for details on planning the perfect wedding day!
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