I’ve found a few more international wedding customs that are quite interesting and may even make a wonderful addition to your heritage theme wedding.

Australia
It is traditional to give the bride and groom a marriage Bible as a wedding gift.  These Bibles are treasured family heirlooms and are often passed down from generation to generation.

Finland
Long ago, during the wedding ceremony, a crown of gold was placed upon the bride’s head.  Once the ceremony was over, the bride was blindfolded and all the unmarried females would gather around her.  The bride would then move around blindly until she chose someone to pass the gold crown to.  This person was believed to be the next to be married.

Ireland
New Year’ Day is considered to be the luckiest day to be married on.  The couple may receive a horseshoe to hand in their new home for good luck.  The horseshoe should always be hung with the open side up so none of the luck spills out.  The Claddagh ring is the traditional wedding ring.  It bears a symbol containing a heart, crown and hands which stand for love, loyalty and friendship.

Japan
Japanese weddings are known to be some of the most extravagant wedding ceremonies.  During the ceremony, the bride and groom take nine sips of sake (a traditional rice wine).  The couple is considered to be married after the first sip.  It is common for the bride to change clothing three to four times during the ceremony.  Guests not only enjoy delicious food and wonderful entertainment, they are also given extravagant wedding favors that may be valued up to half of the price of the wedding gifts given to the couple.

Romania
A common tradition here is for the guests to shower nuts and candy on the bride and groom as a symbol of prosperity.

Sweden
The bride will carry a bouquet of fragrant herbs in hopes of keeping away trolls.  Even the groom would have thyme sewn into his wedding attire.

United States
Long ago, the newlyweds would receive a drink consisting of hot spiced milk and brew instead of wedding gifts.  It was believed to provide the couple with stamina for the wedding night.  A common pre-Civil War belief among African-American brides was that Tuesdays and Wednesdays were the best days on which to marry.  It was thought to ensure a long and happy married life together.

Here’s a few more wedding customs from around the world that you may like to work into your heritage theme wedding celebration.

Bermuda
After the wedding, the newlyweds plant a tree to symbolize their marriage and growing love.

England
On their way to the church, the bride and her maids of honor travel on a path of strewn flower petals to symbolize a smooth and happy journey through life.  Bells chime as the couple enters the church and again as they leave.  Bells were believed to ward off evil spirits.

Germany
Here both the bride and the groom wear engagement bands before the wedding.  During the ceremony, the groom kneels on the hem of the bride’s wedding gown to signify his authority over her.  The bride then steps on the groom’s foot in order to set him straight.

India
Puffed rice, a symbol of fertility and luck, is prepared by the families of both the bride and the groom.  The brother of the groom showers the couple with flower petals after the ceremony.  Another unique tradition is to use henna dye to paint designs on the hands of the bride and groom.  Then the newlyweds leave their handprints on the outside door of their home for good luck.

Philippines
The couple is joined together by a white silk cord during the ceremony.  The bride’s family is not expected to pay for the wedding, however, they do provide the couple with a cash dowry.  The groom’s family customarily pays for all wedding expenses including giving the bride a gift of old coins which symbolize prosperity.

Spain
The groom wears a hand-embroidered shirt on his wedding day that has been made for him by the bride.  The bride adorns herself in orange blossoms and a mantilla, a lace veil covering.  Unlike in America, both the bride and groom wear their wedding rings on their right hands.

If you’ve chosen a heritage theme for your wedding, here are some more international wedding customs you may want to incorporate into your ceremony or reception.

Africa
Wedding customs can vary with each tribe, but a some African wedding ceremonies can include joining the couple together by the wrists with plaited grass. 

China
Red is the color of love in China and therefore is used a great deal in wedding ceremonies.  A red ribbon, which symbolizes unity, is used to tie together a goblet of honey and a goblet of wine.  The bride and groom take a sip from each goblet.  This gesture denotes their union of love.  The wedding reception may include unique food items such as bear nose.

France
A two-handled cup made of silver called the ‘coupe de marriage’ is used by the bride and groom for the first toast.  The cup is then passed through the family to future couples.

Holland
The bride and groom will attend a prewedding party given by their families.  They sit under an awning made of evergreen, which symbolizes everlasting love, and ‘hold court’.  Guests are to approach the couple while in their ‘court’ and extend their wishes for happiness.

Lithuania
Gifts that have a special meaning regarding the elements of marriage are given to the bride and groom by their parents.  These gifts include bread, which stands for work, salt, which stands for tears, and wine, which stands for joy.

Russia
Here’s a custom not too many couples will opt for.  It seems that there are parts of Russia where the wedding guest is not required to bring a gift to the wedding.  Instead, all non-family guests receive a gift! 

Wales
The bride gives all of her attendants a gift of myrtle, an evergreen plant with white or pink flowers and dark berries.  It is said that the blooming of the flowers predicts another wedding.

There are many ways to incorporate a theme into your wedding.  One of the most popular ways is to celebrate your heritage with unique wedding customs from your country of family origin.  Below are listed a few customs you may want to include in your heritage theme wedding.

Belgium
A family tradition is created when the bride carries a handkerchief, on which her name has been embroidered, down the aisle with her.  This handkerchief is then framed and displayed in their new home after the wedding.  When a daughter gets married, she will have her name embroidered on the same handkerchief and carry it during the ceremony.

Czech Republic
A wreath is made of rosemary and given to the bride to wear.  This wreath symbolizes love, wisdom and loyalty.

Egypt
A procession of belly dancers, sword-carrying men, and people creating great noise on horns travel down the street with the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception.  The bride normally will wear a traditional white wedding gown, however, the guests may choose to wear Egyptian garments.

Greece
Crowns made from flowers are placed on the heads of the bride and groom by the koumbaros (the groom’s Godfather or other honored male family member).  During the ceremony, both the bride and groom will take 3 sips of wine and travel  around the wedding altar 3 times with the officiating priest.  This symbolizes the Trinity.

Italy
The bride and groom pass out cakes and other baked items to the villagers as they travel through the streets.  The getaway car is decorated with flowers on the front grill to symbolize the ‘road to a happy marriage’.

Mexico
A white cord or string of rosary beads is wrapped around the shoulders joining the bride and groom during the wedding ceremony, symbolizing their marriage union.  During the reception, the guests will form a heart-shaped circle in which the newly married couple will dance.

Poland
During the wedding reception, the bride wears an apron over her wedding dress.  Guests place money in the pockets of this apron for the privilege of dancing with the bride.  This money is put toward the cost of the couple’s honeymoon.

Switzerland
The wedding procession starts with the junior bridesmaids throwing colored handkerchiefs to the wedding guests.  Any guest who catches a handkerchief is then obligated to give money to the bride and groom to help them start their married life together.