Marriage traditions

Although I'm still sceptic about the concept of marriage, I've always been fascinated about marriage traditions from other countries.
Also, usually every region of a country has their own traditions or slightly altered traditions.

So what is it like in your area?


As for where I live (middle eastern part of Bavaria / south eastern federal state of Germany) and what I know:

The guy ask the girl's dad out for a drink and officially asks for the girl's hand in marriage.

The guy proposes to the girl with an engangement ring - just as you might have seen in movies.

A few days before the marriage date, there'd be a bachelor party for both the guy (with his male friends) and the girl (with her female friends).

Also a few days (traditionally the evening) before the wedding there's usually a Polterabend at the girl's or girl's parents' house when old porcelain is going to be broken in front of the house. It's a custom in order to scare away bad ghosts and demons through the noise.

On the marriage date itself - it depends if you want to hold two ceremonies (registry office and church) or just one (registry office) and if you want to have both on the same day. Usually it's split into two days.
On the first day is usually the appointment at the registry office. Nothing really fancy, just the closest family and friends. As for clothes usually a simple dress or pantsuit for the girl with a neat flower bouquet. The guy usually wears a tuxedo.
For celebration the group will go for lunch/dinner/coffee.

On the second day is usually the ceremony at church. There the girl will usually wear a fancy dress: a white dress or a traditional dress, flower bouquet, veil / headband / hair arrangement. Also there have to be several items for good luck which she has to wear on or close to her body: something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue. The guy - again a tuxedo or traditional clothes.
A limousine decorated with flowers or a horse carriage will pick up the girl and bridesmaid from her home and take her to church where the guy and the guests are waiting for her. Because the groom is not allowed to see her wedding dress before the actual ceremony. It would bring bad luck.
There the girl's father will walk her down the aisle and officially give her hand into the guy's hand. It's a symbol of putting the girl's fate in the guy's hands from now on.
After the ceremony the closest people to the couple will stand at the entrance of the church as the guard of honor - most of the time with roses instead of swords xD - guiding them to their car/carriage which is now decorated with flowers and connecting empty tin cans on strings behind the car.
Then it's party time for usually the rest of the day and night.

Party customs:
throwing the flower bouquet and who catches it will be the next to get married.
kidnapping the bride - usually his friends and he groom has to pay for their drinks when he finds them (mostly at bars known to all of them).
different games organized by the guests.
wood sawing - to have them work together.
the couple cutting the wedding cake.
the groom snatching her garter without others noticing it or him openly doing it.

I've got lots of coke can's ring,girls follow me.......
German Daddy, bring the girls out.

Ok, I recommend you ppl watch 唐伯虎点秋香

Really no one interested in such things?

LuckyTree wrote: Really no one interested in such things?

girls scares all the boys away.. Too cranky and costly.

Or is girls expecting us to seduce them ?

LuckyTree wrote: Really no one interested in such things?

I'm interested to know what problems you may have with the concept of marriage that made you skeptical about it though, if you can be so kind to expound on that.

As an American, I have multiple cultures in my family.
I have Jewish/German, Islander, and Native American ancestors. In my family its looked down upon to live together before marriage. We call it "shacking". Its like okay if you're at least engaged. Religion is a big part of our lifestyle as well.
And its important to ask the parents of the bride before proposing. Little things, but they are really important on how the bride's family will view the future husband.
I think the overall process is really similar for all cultures. Some just might keep it more sacred than others I guess?

China is a country thet involved with 56 nationalities. But deep down especially back to the history. It's important for each other to meet the family's requirements . We even have 比武招亲（ fight for marriage,winner take the girl) .
There's just so many rules to apply to the Modern marriage. I can't even tell which is more official, sometime it could be westernized . I guess finding the right partner is more important than how to organize the marriage at the end.

The tradition in my family is ask for the woman's hand in marriage, be engaged for a period of time, then get married in a church with both families present. I personally want to say screw this tradition and elope on a sunset cruise to a tropical island.

Depending on countries / traditions, not the same side will pay the dowry:
In France, the bride's family was bound to pay the dowry to her husband. Now, it' s outfashioned.
In Chinese tradition, the husband pays the dowry to the bride's family.

JunJun.fr wrote: Depending on countries / traditions, not the same side will pay the dowry:
In France, the bride's family was bound to pay the dowry to her husband. Now, it' s outfashioned.
In Chinese tradition, the husband pays the dowry to the bride's family.

And Franch girls call us love and darling , and is romantic. While Chinese women are cranky and constantly call us a-hole.