1) Norwegian Tradition | Brides Wear Crowns to Deflect Evil Spirits

One Norwegian wedding tradition states that the bride will wear an ornate silver and gold crown that has small charms dangling all around it. When she moves, the tinkling sound is supposed to deflect evil spirits.

2) Mexican Wedding Tradition | Wedding Lasso

During the ceremony, as a Mexican couple is exchanging their vows, a “lazo,” or lasso, made of rosary beads and flowers is draped around their shoulders in the shape of a figure eight. Not only does “el lazo” represent the union of the couple, but its shape also resembles the infinity symbol, signifying just how long they’re hoping the marriage will last.

3) Armenian Tradition | Balance Bread

Want to keep evil spirits far away from your marriage? Balance lavash flatbread on your shoulders. That’s what newlywed Armenian couples traditionally do. According to the custom, when the bride and groom enter their wedding reception—typically at the groom’s house—they break a plate for good luck, then are given lavash and honey by the groom’s mother. They balance the bread on their shoulders to ward off evil and eat spoonfuls of honey to symbolise happiness, and then the party really starts.

4) Congolese Wedding Tradition | No Smiling on the Wedding Day

While most about-to-be marrieds brim with excitement and anticipation, Congolese couples must keep their happiness in check. During their entire wedding day, from ceremony to reception, the two are not allowed to smile. If they do, it would mean they aren’t serious about marriage.

5) Chinese Tradition | Bow and Arrow

Let’s hope the groom remembers to remove the arrowheads. In China, a prospective husband will shoot his bride with a bow and (head-less) arrow several times, then collects the arrows and breaks them during the ceremony, to ensure their love lasts forever.

6) Fijian Wedding Tradition | Presenting a Whale’s Tooth

In Fiji, when a man asks a woman’s father for her hand in marriage, he must present his future father-in-law with a whale’s tooth.

7) Chinese Tradition | Carrying the Bride

In China, a bride’s family will hire a “good luck” woman to take care of her as she travels from her home to her groom’s in an elaborately decorated sedan chair. Even more, attendants are busy shielding the bride with parasols and tossing rice (a symbol of health and prosperity) at the chair.

8) Scottish Tradition | Eloping

Centuries ago, England restricted marriage to couples who were 21 and over. But that didn’t stop young lovers from finding a loophole—in this case, a nearby Scottish town without such limitations. Today, that village, Gretna Green, is still popular for couples who want to elope.

9) Greek Wedding Tradition | Shaving the Groom

Taking the term “groomsman” literally, on his wedding day, a Greek groom’s best man, or “koumparos,” becomes his barber when he pulls out a razor and shaves his pal’s face. But the groom’s day also has a sweet side. After he’s been freshly shaved, his new mother-in-law will feed him honey and almonds.

10) Guatemalan Ritual | Breaking a Bell

As wedding reception hosts, the parents of Guatemalan grooms can do whatever they want, including smashing things. When the newlyweds arrive, it’s a tradition that the groom’s mom breaks a white ceramic bell filled with grains like rice and flour to bring prosperity to the couple.

11) Japanese Wedding Tradition | A White Tsunokakushi

On her wedding day, a Japanese bride celebrating a traditional Shinto ceremony wears white from head to toe, including makeup, kimono, and a hood called a “tsunokakushi.” White denotes her maiden status, and the hood hides the so-called “horns of jealousy” she feels towards her mother-in-law.