Wedding Customs Chinese to Dutch

Chinese wedding customs involve sending wedding invitations to each guest. These are most commonly wrapped with the colors of happiness – red and gold, traditionally. When money is sent as a gift, it is also sent in the same color format. The Bride is usually given a purse or side-bag of jewelry – rings, necklaces and bracelets made of gold – by relatives and friends at the wedding party. She also traditionally wears up to three dresses- a tradition for Chinese brides. The ceremony involves the bride and groom paying respect to their elders. Firecrackers are lit in an explosive finale to ward off demons and evil spirits when the ceremony is complete.

Cuban

Cuban lifestyle is a ‘narrative’ which always involves music and dancing, and their wedding ceremony and reception is no different. The Cuban wedding is a festive, night-long event involving music entertainers churning out traditional Cuban beats and rhythms. Part of this ceremony involves the guests bringing gifts that are displayed openly on a large table. The modern custom of giving a gift or wedding favor to each guest is also something shared with the Cuban people – both the bride and groom offer a gift and a ‘thank-you’ to each guest personally.
Czech

A long-time Czech wedding tradition involves the bride and groom being ‘blessed’. This is done by laying a baby on the bed, which promotes fertility. Each couple is allocated a starosta, who is a mentor. This person guides the bride and groom in learning about their responsibilities as husband and wife. As opposed to the Cuban tradition of giving each guest a gift, the Czech custom is to pin pieces of rosemary on each guest, symbolizing fertility. The guests sing a Czech wedding song, and the bridal veil is replaced by a matrons bonnet to cap off the ceremony.

Dutch

One custom the Dutch have concerning weddings is to sow a particular a plant a flower – the ‘lily-of-the-valley’ in their garden. Every year the plant blooms again, and this signifies a renewal of that love for each other long after the ceremony.