12) Lebanese Tradition: Music and Dancing Before the Ceremony

In Lebanon, the wedding celebration, known as the Zaffe, gets off to a rowdy start with music, belly dancing, and shouting at both the groom’s and bride’s homes courtesy of the couple’s friends, family, and, occasionally, professional dancers and musicians. Eventually, everyone ends up at the bride’s house, where the couple is showered with blessings and flower petals as they leave for the ceremony.

13) German Wedding Tradition: Polterabend

In their first bit of housekeeping together, German couples traditionally clean up piles of porcelain dishes that their guests have thrown on the ground to ward off any evil spirits. The lesson of this “Polterabend”: While working together, the two partners can face any challenge thrown their way.

14) Norwegen Tradition: Kransekake

Ditch the white wedding cake and switch things up. It’s typical at Norwegian weddings to serve a towering special-occasion cake called a “kransekake.” It’s made with iced almond cake rings to form a cone shape, and a wine bottle is often placed in its hollow centre.

15) Czech Republic Wedding Ritual: Placing a Baby on the Couple’s Bed

Before a Czech bride and groom tie the knot, an infant is placed on the couple’s bed to bless and enhance their fertility. Once they’ve wed, guests shower them with rice, peas, or lentils—also to promote fertility.

16) Ukrainian Tradition: Karavay

Now this is a sweet tradition. Newly married Ukrainian couples share a wedding sweetbread called “karavay,” decorated with wheat for prosperity and interlocking rings for faithfulness. Whoever takes the biggest bite—husband or wife—without using their hands is considered the head of the family.