Key Takeaways

For centuries, cultures all over the world have created their own wedding traditions that communities still practice today. From the bride wearing red to shaving the groom, these unique traditions are full of meaning, heritage, and fun.

While you may be familiar with American wedding traditions—the bride wearing white, a couple exchanging rings, and vows that end in “I do”—there are endless unique traditions around the world that symbolize the union of two people in love. While some special ceremonies are especially important to couples that follow a religion, others are traditions passed down through small regional communities over generations. No matter where an engaged couple lives in the world, they can incorporate traditions particular to their heritage as a way to honor their roots.

Today, many celebrants structure their wedding their own way—blending their two cultures to create a wedding experience that reflects who they are and where they’ve come from. Whether it’s going without bridesmaids, or even rethinking the classic white wedding dress, below, discover 17 of the most unique wedding traditions from around the world.

1. Porcelain Smashing – Germany

Photo: Getty Images

In Germany, on the night before the wedding day, the couple can host a polterabend, a celebration where guests smash porcelain—usually in front of the bride’s home—to ensure good luck for the couple’s marriage. Following the fête, the couple cleans up the broken shards to ward off evil spirits, symbolizing their ability to face hardships together in their married life. Following the wedding, the newlyweds tread over a trail of fir branches that epitomize their fortunate and fertile future, and complete baumstamm sägen, a ritual where they join forces to saw a log in half. Much like the polterabend cleanup, this wedding custom represents the couple’s strength in unity.

Today, polterabend celebrations are reasonably common in rural German communities. However, since this fête often comes with heavy drinking similar to a bachelor or bachelorette party, many opt to host this celebration days or weeks in advance of the wedding to prevent too much of a hangover on the big day.

2. Money Dance – International

Photo: Nicole Ivanov