Angelique's

Wedding Traditions: Asia

Many couples seek to personalize their wedding. Whether it’s writing their own vows, participating in different ceremonies at the altar, or showing off their combined interests at the reception — most couples want their wedding to stand out in the memories of their guests. If you’re looking for a great way to incorporate your personal heritage in your ceremony, look no further. Here is a list of different Asian traditions that you might consider including in your special day!

Asia:

• An old Korean wedding tradition involves the groom presenting a wild goose to his new mother-in-law, who then takes the bird into her house. In Korea, wild geese mate for life and are seen as a symbol of love. A modern take on this old tradition often sees the groom presenting a wooden goose to his mother-in-law, rather than a real bird. If your groom is looking to participate, this would be a fun gift to the mother of the bride. Otherwise, small wild geese center-pieces would be a unique nod to this part of your Korean heritage!

• In China, brides often wear a Qi Pao on their wedding day. This traditional garb incorporates the colors red, gold, and silver. In weddings, red represents happiness, vigor, and good fortune. Incorporating this color palette in your party is a great way to add a cultural influence to your big day! Sometimes brides will opt for a red reception dress as a nod to this traditional gown
• In Japan, a traditional Shinto sake sharing ceremony is common in weddings. This involves the bride, groom, and their parents taking three sips from three sake cups. This ritual symbolizes the bond made between the families through marriage. Even today, many Japanese weddings utilize this ritual, as seen in the recent royal wedding between Princess Ayako and Kei Moriya

• A favored custom in India is called Mangal Sphere. This traditional ritual involves the bride and groom walking around a fire seven times while reflecting on their aspirations for life. For the first three circles, the bride leads, and for the final four the groom takes the lead. After the seven circles are completed, the bride and groom race to sit down, whoever grabs a seat first is said to be destined to be head of the household. Including ceremony around a bonfire during a summer wedding would be a fun to incorporate this cultural ritual!

Naturally, there is an endless list of various traditions from this region. While some of these old traditions would be a fun addition to a modern wedding, there are plenty more ways to add a unique element of your heritage to your special day!