Engaged couples are not the only ones excited for their big day—so are their loved ones! During the planning stage, your family and close friends will often offer suggestions on how to make the festivities more meaningful and memorable. While it is ultimately up to you and your partner how your event will go, many wedding traditions are worth exploring if they feel right for both of you.
If you want to learn more, this blog will round up some of the more interesting wedding customs you can consider for your celebration.
Without further ado, let’s jump right into some favorite wedding traditions!
Bouquet and Garter Toss
This is one of the most popular wedding traditions out there, but how does it work? For the bouquet toss, the single women in attendance attempt to catch the bouquet tossed by the bride. Whoever succeeds is believed to be the next to marry. For the garter toss, the groom goes under the bride’s gown to remove her leg garter, which he tosses to a group of eager bachelors. The person who caught the garter, in turn, places it on the leg of the one who caught the bouquet.
Door Games
If you’re looking for an exciting and lighthearted wedding tradition, door games are perfect for your celebration. For many Chinese couples, these games are a must on the morning of their wedding day. It revolves around the groom proving his worth and dedication to the bride by working hand-in-hand with his groomsmen to surpass a series of tests and challenges prepared by her bridesmaids. This activity will surely elicit lots of smiles and laughter from participants and spectators alike!
Releasing of Doves
Commonly practiced in Filipino weddings, a pair of male and female doves are released at the end of the ceremony to represent the couple’s desire for a harmonious relationship, as they symbolize unity and peace. Doves are also known to mate for life! It’s perfect for those who want to create a romantic, meaningful ending to their wedding.
The Sugar Cube
Greek brides typically tuck a sugar cube into their glove or bouquet on their wedding day, as it’s believed to bring the couple happiness in their new life together. So if you want to sweeten your marriage, it wouldn’t hurt to follow their lead!
Parent Dances
Looking for a special way to pay tribute to your parents on your wedding day? How about a traditional father-daughter and mother-son dance? Couples can also choose to share this sweet moment with other cherished family members, like grandparents, step-parents, godparents, siblings, aunts, or uncles.
Money Dances
The money dance is customary in many cultures. In exchange for a dance, guests pin bills onto the bride or groom’s clothing with good wishes. This long-standing wedding tradition serves to usher in wealth and prosperity in the couple’s marriage. Additionally, it’s a fun and interactive way for the couple to spend some time with their wedding guests!
Carrying the Bride Over the Threshold
In the Middle Ages, people believed that evil spirits lived on the threshold of new homes and would attack brides through the soles of their feet. Therefore, the groom carried his bride across the threshold to protect her. Today, it’s a romantic way to whisk the bride away from the party as they begin their new life together.
These are just a few of the wedding traditions you can incorporate into your special day. Of course, you can follow these old customs or start some of your own—feel free to mix it up! Ultimately, the most important thing is for your wedding to feel meaningful to you and your partner.