Wedding Traditions Around the World: Inspiration for Event Professionals

Written by: Monea Swain, Director of DEI for ILEA Seattle

As the greater Seattle area wedding season comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate and congratulate all of our incredible event professionals. You’ve powered through another season filled with long hours, beautiful celebrations, and the kind of magic that makes weddings across our region truly unforgettable.

To honor the close of this busy time, we thought it would be fun to explore and highlight some wedding traditions from around the world. These customs not only showcase the beauty of diverse cultures but also offer new sources of inspiration for our work here at home.

Here’s a look at fascinating wedding traditions across the globe:

Africa

Nigeria (Yoruba Tribe): During the engagement ceremony, the groom’s family presents gifts to the bride’s family, and both sides dance together. The bride “accepts” the groom by placing a cap on his head.

South Africa: Couples often “jump the broom” together, symbolizing sweeping away the past and beginning a new life.

Asia

India: Weddings can span several days, with the saptapadi ritual (seven steps around a sacred fire) where the couple makes vows for their marriage. Brides also showcase intricate henna designs.

Japan: In Shinto weddings, couples perform san-san-kudo—taking three sips from three cups of sake—to symbolize unity.

China: Brides traditionally wear red for luck, and grooms must often complete playful “door games” to prove their devotion before seeing their bride.

Europe

Scotland: Couples may endure a “blackening” ritual, where friends cover them in flour, soot, or feathers to test resilience and bring good fortune.

Greece: Guests pin money to the bride’s gown during the reception, while the koumbaros (best man) might shave the groom as a sign of trust.

Norway: A traditional almond cake called kransekake—stacked in towering rings—is a centerpiece at the reception.

Middle East

Iran: A Persian wedding ceremony (Sofreh Aghd) features a table of symbolic items like mirrors, honey, and herbs. The couple feeds each other honey to sweeten their union.

Lebanon: A vibrant zaffe parade with drummers, dancers, and music escorts the couple into their celebration.

North America

Mexico: The wedding lasso—often a rosary or floral garland—is draped around the couple in a figure-eight to symbolize eternal unity.

Canada (French Canadian): Traditionally, brothers of the bride would don funny hats and dance, collecting money from guests to support the newlyweds.

South America

Peru: Wedding cakes may include charms attached to ribbons; one holds a fake ring, and whoever pulls it is predicted to be the next to marry.

Brazil: Guests cut and buy pieces of the groom’s tie to raise money for the couple’s future.

Oceania

Australia: Couples invite guests to participate in a “unity bowl,” placing stones or shells inside as a symbol of community support.

Fiji: The groom’s family may present a whale’s tooth (tabua) to the bride’s family as a gesture of respect and honor.

Why This Matters for Event Professionals:

Exploring global wedding traditions is more than cultural curiosity—it’s a way to expand your creative toolkit. Incorporating symbolic rituals, meaningful décor, or cross-cultural elements into modern events can make them more personal and memorable. Whether you’re designing a multicultural wedding or seeking fresh ideas for corporate celebrations, looking to traditions from around the world offers endless inspiration.

At ILEA Seattle, we honor the dedication and creativity of our event community across the greater Seattle area. Congratulations again on making it through another wedding season—we can’t wait to see how you bring fresh inspiration into your next events!