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Wedding Traditions & Customs

Understand wedding traditions and shed light on all that’s old, new, borrowed and blue. Learn the appropriate way to navigate the first dance, cut the cake and toss the bouquet. Need culture-specific advice? Research everything from Italian wedding traditions to the customs of a Mexican ceremony. Ever wonder why it’s bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the big event? eHow offers the scoop on this and many other superstitions. You’ll even find suggestions for honoring parents and grandparents.

Categories in Wedding Traditions & Customs

Articles in Wedding Traditions & Customs

How to Buy a Jewish Wedding Ring

By eHow Weddings Editor

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As with any wedding ceremony, the ring itself must be symbolic. Traditional Jewish wedding rings should be made of pure yellow gold without accents of jewels or stones. Many times you can inscribe Hebrew Scriptures in the rings, which are ... more »

How to Choose a Song for a First Dance

By eHow Weddings Editor

1 comments

The bride and groom's first dance together as husband and wife is always a big moment in the reception. All eyes will be on you as you take to the dance floor. Here's how you can make that memory one that you and your family will cherish forever... more »

How to Choose Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue for the Bride

By emily1724

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It’s a tradition for every bride; finding something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Deriving from an English rhyme, you can help the bride to be, choose a modern or traditional touch to the customary ritual. It doesn’t ... more »

How to Choose Your Wedding Cake

By Diane Cuesta

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Are you ready to sink your teeth into a wedding day confection? Not many guests leave the reception before the cake is cut! Your delicious and decorative wedding cake is a tradition that will be featured in your many photographs for years to ... more »

How to Exchange Yui-No Gifts Before a Japanese Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

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Prior to your wedding, prepare a yui-no ceremony, in which the bride and groom and their families exchange a series of gifts that signify happiness and fortune... more »

How to Find German Wedding Music

By eHow Weddings Editor

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A wedding is a time to join together not only two people, but also their cultures and backgrounds. One way to do this is with native music. If you are of German descent, adding German music to your wedding can be a meaningful celebration of your ... more »

How to Honor Mothers and Grandmothers during the Wedding

By CCrock

4 comments

This is a beautiful way to honor mothers and grandmothers during your wedding ceremony... more »

How to Let People Know You've Kept Your Last Name

By NaomiRG

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All things considered, it's easier to keep your last name when you get married than to change it. You don't have to worry about changing official documents or other bureaucratic hassles. However, since most women take their husband's names, many ... more »

How to Makeup tips for the Indian Bride!

By AskaMakeupGuru

1 comments

Here are couple of tips for the Indian bride when considering makeup for her wedding day!.. more »

How to Pick a Rice Alternative for a Wedding

By April Hall

1 comments

Rice is out when it comes to wedding celebrations. It’s hard to clean up in addition to being bad for the environment, including birds and other foraging wildlife. Many venues no longer allow it in favor of a more organic solution... more »

How to Select a Wedding Reception Location

By Cougar1002

2 comments

After making main wedding location arrangements, finding a reception location usually becomes the next priority on the list for engaged couples. This does not have to be a stressful or complicated process, especially if you're willing to take the ... more »

How to Stay Calm the Night Before the Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

6 comments

Relax with loved ones, but don't forget to take some time out for yourself - you've planned the perfect wedding and you owe it to yourself to indulge yourself before the big day... more »

How to Have a Feminist Wedding

By NaomiRG

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What does it mean to have a "feminist wedding"? Different couples may define this in many ways, just as different people define feminism in many ways. Most would agree, however, that a feminist wedding includes alternatives to some of the more ... more »

How to Pick a Wedding Dress Style

By Jennifer K

1 comments

One of the most important things for every bride on her wedding day is how she looks in her wedding dress. If you want to look your best on your wedding day, you must pick the right wedding dress style. From the type of skirt to the design of the ... more »

How to Add Italian Traditions to a Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

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If that dream wedding in Tuscany isn't possible, then add some Italian traditions to your wedding to bring a touch of Italy to your special day. There are many Italian customs you can use in your wedding ceremony and the reception as well... more »

How to Aim a Bridal Bouquet Toss

By eHow Weddings Editor

0 comments

The bridal bouquet toss is believed to be derived from a 14th century French tradition in which female guests took a piece of the bride’s wedding gown. To avoid ruining the dress, the bride offered the bouquet as a substitute. If you plan to ... more »

How to Be a the Perfect Wedding Guest

By April

1 comments

I've been to many weddings and have learned what to do and what not to do at a wedding. These tips will give you the tools to be a perfect wedding guest... more »

How to Buy the Right Ketubah

By AriMax

2 comments

This article explains what you need according to Jewish Law to know to purchase a ketubah for Reform, Conservative or Orthodox weddings... more »

How to Check Your Astrology Charts for a Hindu Wedding

By eHow Culture & Society Editor

3 comments

Many Eastern Indians rely on astrologers, or "learned ones," to make marital and family decisions, such as the date and time a marriage should take place. With a lot of patience and hard work, you can learn some of the basics... more »

How to Do a Circle Dance in a Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

2 comments

Jewish tradition calls on guests to entertain the bride and groom by dancing at their wedding. The circle dance, or hora, is a traditional and favorite selection for brides and grooms around the globe... more »

How to Have a Dollar Dance at a Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

4 comments

It is your wedding day and even though the ceremony went off without a hitch, the reception is another matter. Will everybody get enough to eat? Will some people have too much to drink? Will the carved ice sculpture melt? Should we have a dollar ... more »

How to Honor Parents With Wedding Dances

By eHow Weddings Editor

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Wedding dances are one of the most sentimental and beautiful part of the wedding reception. When the bride dances with her father and when the groom dances with his mother, these should be very special moments in the lives of the new couple. It ... more »

How to Make Rice to Throw at Weddings

By MelanieF

2 comments

Throwing rice at the newly married couple at the end of their wedding is a time-honored tradition. Wedding guests stand and wait at the point where the newlyweds will exit and toss a handful of rice in celebration of the new life the couple are ... more »

How to Plan a Traditional Italian Wedding

By eHow Weddings Editor

8 comments

In the past, many marriages were arranged by the families of the bride and groom. In the spirit of such a union, traditional Italian weddings are lengthy and elaborate feasts that celebrate the coming together of the bride's and groom's families... more »

How to Plan the Perfect Wedding Kiss

By abbeyroad920

0 comments

Every couple wants to have the perfect wedding kiss. After all, it’s the first kiss as husband and wife. Couples want a classy yet loving kiss. Here is how you can plan the perfect wedding kiss... more »