Fun wedding customs seen in the UK

Weddings are steeped in tradition, ritual and customs, and I love learning about them. This article celebrates cultural differences in the universal message of love and marriage. I hope you’ll have a few smiles reading these sweet and romantic, to bizarre, customs. Enjoy!

British - Something old, new, borrowed and blue..

We’ve heard about? it, but do we understand our own tradition and did you know there’s actually a bit missing. The original rhyme originated in the Victorian era and actually read “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in her shoe.” Each ‘something’ was given to the bride to bring luck.?

• An ‘old’ item represents her past and her family,?
• the ‘new’ represents her new beginnings and future with her spouse (usually the wedding rings),?
• ‘Borrowed’ should come from a bride happily married, so that the good fortune she has had will transfer to the bride to be?
• ‘Blue’ is the colour of love, purity and modesty - usually this is a blue piece of jewelry but more modern brides often have a blue garter which seems quite rebellious for what the colour is meant to represent
• ‘Sixpence in her shoe’ symbolises walking into your future with wealth. Sixpence was a Victorian coin. Wedding shops will often sell this for traditions sake.?

Indian - Joota Chupia

A playful and mischievous custom here, where the bride's sisters and cousins steal the groom’s shoes on his wedding day. He takes them off as part of the ceremony but he’ll need them back to leave the venue so the groom is left demanding, negotiating and even paying ransom money in order to get his shoes back. The Groom’s side don’t miss out on the fun though as they attempt to search for the hidden shoes throughout the ceremony and there's lots of poking fun all round.???

Irish - The Child of Prague?

I can’t quite remember how I found this out, but the Child of Prague is something of a mascot for us here at WeddingDates. As an English lass working for an Irish company this was a fun one for me to learn. The Child of Prague is an elaborate and ornately dressed statue of the baby Jesus. For many Irish mammies it’s tradition to put the statue under a bush in the garden to ward off bad weather for the day of the wedding. It’s said that to knock the head off, accidentally mind, brings you even greater luck.?

Jewish - The Mezinka

When the last child in the family marries the parents (and Grandparents) will sit in the middle of the dancefloor where the newly weds, their children, will dance around them. The parents will often have brooms in a symbolic way of sweeping their children out of the home and celebrate that their children are all now settled with families of their own.?

Scottish - The Blackening?

In the days or weeks running up to the wedding, friends and family of the couple will capture them and cover them in all types of yuck. Including: tar, fish guts, flour, treacle, custard, rotten eggs, cow dung, feathers, etc. Once covered, the couple are paraded down the streets with a lot of rawkus shouting. The antics of this tradition usually coincides with the Batch (Stag / Hen) parties in some way. This actually started out as a cleansing ritual, but now the ceremony is meant to prepare the couple for their life ahead, so they can face anything together no matter what is thrown at them. It’s becoming an increasingly popular tradition, mostly popular in rural communities but the city folk are wanting in on the fun now too.?

Jamaican - Tun T’anks Sunday?

Being such a fun and vibrant culture, you might not be surprised that a Jamaican wedding doesn’t end on the day itself. Attendees will be invited to the bride’s home on the Sunday following the wedding for another party called Tun T’anks Sunday. This can often be bigger than the first reception and involves a lot of dancing, cake and rum.?

Nigerian - Money spraying?

Guests at a Nigerian wedding will throw money, notes not coins, at the newly-weds whilst they dance. The money is usually given instead of presents and it is to support the couple set up for their new life together. Spraying the money is a way of showing the affection held for the couple and symbolises happiness and good fortune.?

Welsh - Lovespoon

Welshmen give their betrothed decorative, carved, wooden spoons symbolising that they will never let them go hungry. Sailors would often carve them on their long journeys. Other common engravings include horseshoes for luck, the cross for faith, hearts for love and locks for security. More elaborate lovespoons will include carved chains to show off the craftsmanship and the symbolic meaning that they can provide. Often they’d add beads as well, one for each child they hoped to have together.??

Polish - Bread, salt and Vodka?

At the reception the newly-weds are presented by the parents with bread and salt. The bread is often decorated with their names. The bread is symbolic that the couple may never know hunger, whilst the salt is a reminder of life’s difficulties that they must face together. After the bread and salt is presented it’s time for the couples first toast. The father of the bride or groom presents them with two glasses - one of vodka and one of water. Whomever gets the vodka is said to be the dominant partner in the relationship. After drinking they throw their glasses and if they break, it’s a sign of good luck.?

West African - Asoebi?

West African families aren’t worried about someone turning up in the same outfit. Asoebi is a uniform dress or dress code to symbolise unity, solidarity and community. The bride’s and groom's families will each have their own ceremonial fabric that all the family and close friends will wear. You can see exactly who’s side of the family the guests are with.?