With interracial marriages becoming commonplace and cultures intertwining, who says you have got to stick by the rules? Adopt these fun wedding traditions that add more flair and make your special day.
Africa
For Sudanese Neur tribe, the groom only gets married if he pays for 20-40 herds of cattle – a bit tough to execute in a cosmopolitan city! Instead, adapt from a Yoruba tradition where the bride and groom taste four flavours that represent different emotions within a relationship. The flavours typically used are sour, bitter, spicy, and sweet. Kinda like a Chinese gate crashing!
Asia
South Koreans wrap wedding ducks in cloth, leaving only the heads and neck exposed (don't worry, they aren't real) before carrying them into the ceremony. After the ceremony, the groom's mother throws the ducks at the bride. If she catches it she'll have a boy, if she doesn't, then it's a girl! This may be jumping the gun a little, but it's still fun to see what happens.
Australia
Australian wedding ceremonies often feature the tradition of a unity bowl. Guests are given stones and asked to hold them during the ceremony. At the end, guests place the stones in a decorative bowl that the couple will keep to remind them of their loved ones. Also practiced in some parts of Europe and Asia.
Europe
Prepare to work hard for this one! Newlyweds put their bond to test by sawing a log in half together. You get this done, and you'll be able to face the obstacles in your marriage, as the Germans believe. If you have a sweet tooth and want a twist in your wedding cake, why not serve croquembouche? This French wedding favourite is a pyramid of crème-filled pastry puffs, drizzled with a caramel glaze.
South America
At a Guatemalan wedding reception, the groom's mother breaks a white bell to welcome the newlyweds to the party. The bell filled with flour, rice, and grains, is meant to bring luck and prosperity. The Mexicans have their own spin on this with the breaking of a piñata. Best of all the candy inside double up as wedding favours! In Argentina, the groom removes a garter from the bride's leg and a single male puts it back on a single female. If this is too risqué for you, why not get single females to pull strings out of the wedding cake? This Chilean tradition believes that the bachelorette who pulls the one with the string out, will be the next to marry. Hey, at least they'll get the cake cut too!
