When it comes to wedding traditions, we Brits still honour some of the oldest.
Grooms can’t see brides before the wedding because tradition says he might have the chance to change his mind. We throw rice or confetti at the end of the ceremony, to encourage fertility and then there’s the obligatory lift over the threshold, which protected the bride from demons lurking in the marital home.
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The list is endless and dated, but these are the time honoured wedding traditions most adhere to, for fear of jinxing their marriage before it’s even begun.
After contemplating the reasons behind our own country’s customs, we ventured out across the globe in search of some equally strange, yet time honoured, wedding traditions from other countries and cultures.
What we found will shock and amaze as some of these are wonderful wedding traditions we’d happily adopt, others are a bit too weird, even for us.
An interesting and fun wedding tradition from China, and one of our favourites; the hazing of the groom.
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Bridesmaids in China are said to set a series of challenges for the groom and his groomsmen to overcome before he is deemed worthy for the bride.
If the groom and his men are unsuccessful, the maids might be bought off with ransom money.
Kerching!
At a Swedish wedding reception, a wonderful wedding tradition involves wedding guests sneaking a kiss with the bride or groom whenever the other leaves the room.
This tradition was once reserved for just the groom, but in today’s society, the bride is also free to peck when her new hubby isn’t around.
Chinese grooms from the Yugar culture become Cupid on the day of their wedding, shooting the bride with three headless arrows before breaking them in two.
The breaking of the arrows is a symbol, showing their marital love will last forever.
Instead of dieting to fit into their wedding dresses, brides from certain cultures in Mauritania would be sent to fat camps.
The idea is that the plumper the bride was, the wealthier the husband would seem.
Bridesmaids at it again, raising money for their bride-to-be, an Indian wedding tradition involves the girls pilfering the groom’s elaborate shoes.
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They then hold the footwear to ransom until the groom pays up.
It’s well known that Scottish ladies are tough, it’s in their DNA. But, to be sure they can take whatever their new marriage might throw at them, friends and family put them through their paces.
The bride-to-be would first be pelted with rubbish, rotten fruit and veg, spoiled milk and fish then tarred and feathered.
After being tied to a tree her “friends” would then take her out for a night on the town.
Grooms in Korea don’t worry about getting cold feet, instead, their feet are whipped with rope or dead fish.
This is done for an entire hour, to test the strength and willingness of the groom-to-be.
According to wedding traditions in India, brides born as Manglik’s must first get married to a tree.
It is custom to believe that these women are cursed from birth and, without this weird tree marrying wedding tradition, an early death would befall their first husband.
The tree basically takes the fall of the curse, instead of the first husband.
It’s all up for grabs in the Russian household as, wedding traditions dictate, whoever takes the biggest bite out of the wedding sweetbread “Karavay” will wear the trousers in the relationship.
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The trick is you can’t use your hands.
Past French wedding traditions involved the leftovers from a wedding feast being eaten out of a toilet. This was to give the couple fuel for the wedding night ahead.
These days the custom has given a been given a chic makeover, with Champagne and chocolates now being served . . . still from a toilet bowl mind.
Before Mongolian brides and grooms can officially tie the knot, they must first butcher a few chickens.
Only when they find a healthy liver can they proceed to set a date. Macabre we know but this is the tradition.
At the altar of a Mexican wedding, the person performing the ceremony passes a lasso made of flowers in a figure of eight over the happy couple’s shoulders.
This is meant to signify an everlasting marriage and a love that will last for all eternity.
Bringing a new meaning to the phrase “Runaway Bride”, wedding guests at a Romanian wedding will kidnap the bride and stash her in a secret location. They then demand a ransom from the groom for her return.
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If he can’t pay with cash, or booze, as this strange wedding tradition demands, he must sing a sappy love song in front of the entire wedding party to get her back.
Ancient Spartan wedding culture would see the brides shave their heads and dress up as men.
They would then be left alone in a darkened room and ritually captured by their husbands to be.
This is Sparta.
After becoming husband and wife, happy couples in Germany are presented with a large log and dual-ended saw.
They are challenged to saw the log in half, proving their strength and resilience as a couple.
Ever a fanciful folk, Irish wedding tradition keeps the bride grounded throughout her wedding day. The rule even extends to her having both feet on the floor throughout the first dance.
Should either of her feet lift from the floor, fairies are said to swoop in and steal her away.
Back in Germany now, and these guys really want to make sure the bride and groom work hard on their wedding day.
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Not only will they be sawing large logs in half, but their entire wedding party will smash plates, pots and cups after the couple say ‘I do’, which the bride and groom must then clean up!
After weddings in Spain, groomsmen and bridesmaids will steal the groom’s tie and brides garter, chop them up and send them out to wedding guests.
A souvenir from the day to keep as long as the marriage lasts.
This interesting wedding tradition involves baking ribbons into the first layer of a wedding cake, one of which will have a ring attached.
All the single ladies at the wedding each grab a ribbon, and whichever gets the one with the ring will be the next to be married.
Going to new depths to impress the potential father in law, men in Fiji must swim into the ocean in search of a whale tooth to present for their loved one’s hand in marriage.
Now that’s dedication if you ask us.
A beautiful wedding tradition in Thailand asks that the groom passes through several gates on his way into the wedding ceremony.
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These can be anything as simple as breaking a chain of jasmine flowers, or belts made of gold, to performing embarrassing tricks, or singing songs.
Forget wedding gifts and or donations to honeymoons, this weird and wonderful wedding tradition dictates all guests lie face down, side-by-side for the bride and groom walk along out of the ceremony.
The gesture is meant to show your support of the new marriage.
Instead of oohing and aahing at the beautiful bride in her wedding day ensemble, Jamaican locals will instead come out to critique her look.
The bride will parade down her local high street, with passers-by shouting out their thoughts on how she could have improved her bridal attire.
Men who wish to dance with a newly wedded Cuban bride on her wedding day must pay for the privilege by pinning cash to her dress.
The money raised is to go towards the happy couple’s future home.
Handcrafted goods go further than diamonds with this Welsh wedding tradition.
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Grooms have been known to hand carve Love Spoons to win the hearts of their loved ones, adding keys to unlock each other’s love and beads as a symbol of how many children they’ll have.
The father of the bride has more responsibility in Kenya than simply paying for the wedding. Instead, it is his job to spit all over his daughter, immediately after the ceremony.
This is apparently custom so as not to jinx the new marriage by tempting fate and being overly happy for the newlyweds.
Something that will no doubt be part of the new couple’s life in the future, putting the baby to bed in the Czech Republic is a wedding tradition that encourages fertility.
The bridal party basically find an infant at the wedding and place it in the matrimonial bed, blessing the marriage with children in the future.
Older, unmarried siblings of brides and grooms in Canada, carry out a traditional sock dance where they don crazy, unmatched socks and perform silly dances.
The wedding party then throw cash at them which is collected and given to the newly married couple for their future.
Sometimes weddings can be so exhausting for the bride and groom and all they want to do is run away from it altogether.
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And in Venezuela, that’s exactly what they do. In fact, it’s a challenge for the bride and groom to escape their own wedding party unnoticed and its seen as good luck if they succeed.
To wed any Russian bride, its custom for the groom-to-be to pay up, literally, on the day of the wedding.
He must either come to the bride’s parents house armed with cash or gifts and if he has neither, must be prepared to be humiliated.
The bride’s parents will request that the groom sings and dances until they are satisfied he’s paid his dues.
This is without a doubt the most romantic on our list of weird and wonderful wedding traditions, and who’s surprised it’s from Italy.
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On the eve of the wedding, Italian grooms will appear outside their bride’s windows to serenade them, complete with backing singers, after which a full-blown street party takes place with all the family and plenty of food.
That’s how to sweep a girl off her feet, with music, pasta and pizza.
Congolese wedding ceremonies are no laughing matter. In fact, it’s a customary wedding tradition that both bride and groom must remain stony-faced throughout their entire wedding day.
Should they crack a smile at any point, it is seen as a warning that they aren’t serious about their marriage?
When looking forward to planning your own wedding day, why not incorporate any of these weird and wonderful wedding traditions from around the world or, better still create some of your own.
Our blog archive has some great ideas on how to host the most magnificent wedding ceremonies and receptions, from sensational seasonal styling, theme inspiration and how to guides.
Check out some of the stunning historic wedding venues in Liverpool available at Signature Living Weddings, each one a unique and breathtaking backdrop that is perfect for hosting your special day.
Rainhill Hall
Go outdoors at Rainhill Hall or opt for elegance in The White Star Grand Hall, bring the heat at Alma de Cuba or visit paradise in The Garden of Eden. whatever your tastes, Signature Living Weddings have a venue and wedding package to suit.
Call 0151 305 3753 to speak with our team or email weddings@signatureliving.co.uk, to start planning your special day with Signature Living Weddings.
When it comes to hosting the perfect outdoor wedding, we have two very different yet equally stunning options for happy couples to choose from.
One which radiates natural beauty, elegance and charm, the other a chic and glamourous venue that boasts majestic views across Liverpool’s city skyline.
Here we compare the two, hoping to help you make the decision about where you’ll host your dream outdoor wedding in Liverpool.
Perched atop the award-winning Shankly Hotel, sits an ethereal outdoor wedding venue that overlooks the impressive and iconic skyline of Liverpool: The Garden of Eden.
This outdoor wedding venue is chic and glamourous, boasting unparalleled views from an expansive terrace garden and an exquisite backdrop offering striking photo opportunities.
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The flexible space gives happy couples a blank canvas to work with, and a variety of layout options for aisle and seating arrangements.
You could host an unforgettable outside wedding ceremony, beneath a blossom-strewn gazebo while your guests look on from sun-drenched seating.
And what could be better than spending your entire wedding day soaking up the sun? Sipping champagne and bespoke cocktails at your outside wedding reception, before watching a glorious Liverpool sunset from an unspoiled vantage point.
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Should the weather hold up, your evening outdoor wedding reception could be the stuff of dreams.
Sharing your first dance as a married couple under a clear night sky, filled with twinkling stars. Then, go on to spend the evening celebrating with loved ones, enjoying al fresco dining and gazing out across the glistening rooftops below.
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The Garden of Eden has all the elements to host a flawless outdoor wedding and reception, from day to night, and is by far the most heavenly rooftop wedding venue in Liverpool, bar none.
There’s no artist quite as talented as Mother Nature.
At Rainhill Hall, we’ve made it possible for couples to make the most of her work, by booking Liverpool’s newest, and most enchanting outdoor wedding venue.
An otherworldly romance awaits in the sprawling grounds of a respectfully restored grand country manor. Rainhill Hall is an outdoor wedding venue that exudes classic elegance and charm, designed for hosting an idyllic dream wedding.
All the rage in current trends, woodland weddings are a magnificent way to harness the beauty of nature, tying it all in to the theme of your nuptial celebrations.
At Rainhill Hall, we can help you tailor the surrounding wild splendour of lush greenery to suit your perfect day.
Picture yourself strolling down an effortlessly beautiful woodland walkway, flanked either side by wedding guests. Your seating placed beneath a gossamer canopy of romantic lighting and floral artistry.
What’s more, our whimsical wedding woodland will cater to both outside wedding ceremonies and receptions. Happy couples can take advantage of the stunning secret garden to host a wedding toast and we can even help you organise a spectacular fireworks display.
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There’s no end to the limits of an outdoor wedding venue and at Rainhill Hall, the added beauty of heritage grounds provide a timeless setting to make magical memories of your most special day.
We’ve continued the rustic theme of Rainhill Hall’s outdoor wedding space through to the most spellbinding lakeside accommodation. Here you ‘ll find a collection of charming cabins for your wedding guests, sat glowing in the evening light, nestled in the tree lines.
Your own spellbinding bridal suite can be found, floating in the treetops. A fairy tale escape, complete with private hot tub and beautifully bespoke natural décor.
Rainhill Hall provides the perfect balance between the wonders of the wilderness and the comfort on an established outdoor wedding venue.
‘A Flower Does Not Compete with the Flower Next to it. It Just Blooms’
After comparing two of the most breath-taking outdoor wedding venues in Liverpool, we hope to have helped you decide which one will be the setting for your dream day.
Each of the venues has their own unique character and charm that will guarantee couples a day they’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Our gifted wedding co-ordinators are on hand for viewings and inspiration, and our tailored wedding packages have been crafted to suit weddings of all budgets and sizes.
To arrange your visit with Signature Living Weddings, call 0151 305 3753 or get in touch with us via our social media channels.
You can also register your interest on our contact page or sign up for news of our up and coming wedding fayres.
Start planning the outdoor wedding of your dreams with Signature Living Weddings, and we’ll make sure you cherish every moment of your special day.
