Ethiopian couple avaIn Ethiopia, there are some rather strict rules regarding marriage, and they are followed even these days. For example, a bride should be a virgin and the couple has to consummate their marriage within three days after the wedding. Ethiopians take marriage very seriously. They pay special attention to avoiding incest – specific research is made as far as 5 generations back to make sure the potential bride and groom have no blood relation. Not many countries take so serious measures to protect the healthiness of future generations.

Ethiopian wedding avaEthiopian weddings are cheerful occasions that leave no one out and show respect between people. This culture values family connections, which we can see in the local wedding rituals that involve the eldest family members. Also, it’s impressive that the last day of the wedding celebration is dedicated to those relatives and friends who couldn’t attend the actual marriage ceremony, so they’re invited to have dinner with the newlyweds and bless the couple for happily ever after.

kholkhal avaTunisian grooms traditionally gave their brides-to-be a very beautiful, valuable, and clever wedding present – it was a pair of gold or silver anklets. By this gift, grooms not only showed off their wealth and status but also invented some cunning tricks to find out more about the appearance of their future wife – remember that marriages were often arranged at the time and women covered their body with baggy clothes that hid their body curves, so men had very little chance to know what their bride looked like before the wedding.

Maasai avaMaasai are people with old and curious wedding traditions that are still widely in use. Some of them are adorable and typically African, others may look a bit strange for an outsider. But these wedding rituals and customs are a large part of Maasai culture. So, let’s take a closer look and find out more about these particular Kenyan wedding traditions. For example, why Maasai newlyweds don’t spend their first night after the wedding together?

Sudan avaThe wedding traditions in Sudan are curious and fun. Some of them are pretty unusual for the rest of the world. Like the bride and groom spraying milk in each other’s faces. Or the special spa treatments that the bride gets before the wedding. This country has a ton of really interesting wedding customs and rituals. We will introduce you to some of them here. Sometimes, you might even have an urge to envy Sudanese women and the number of gifts they get from their future husbands. So, enjoy!

vintage clothing2 avaTunisian brides traditionally aren’t shy to display their wealth. More than that, the more gold she had on, the more respect and envy her groom got because a lot of her jewelry pieces were his gifts to her. In the past, all this gold was her personal fund – she could buy, sell, exchange, or present her jewels however she liked, without her husband’s permission. It was her way of being independent and her insurance. Tunisians treasured gold highly, that’s why you’ll see so much gold embroidery on the bride’s costume below.

Edo avaThe Western tradition dictates that you need a delicate white gown for your wedding ceremony. But in Africa, for instance, wedding traditions are often opposite. Let’s see how Edo brides in Nigeria look on their big day, what they wear, and how they bejewel themselves. It’s something very different from what we’re used to. But nevertheless, these women look awesome and festive and original. Even today, many Nigerians prefer such a wedding outfit to any Western-style white dresses.

Algeria avaA wedding in Algeria is one of the most spectacular events in the world. Nevertheless, for centuries, the traditional wedding ceremony was concealed from the eyes of foreigners and was sort of a sacred occasion. But today, we already know how the celebration is held, what wedding traditions does Algeria have, and what do locals wear, eat, and do during the Algerian folk wedding. This is a story about two different weddings, and they differ in region, social class, clothing, some of the rituals, etc. Though, in general, the ceremony is similar and shows the beauty of Algerian wedding tradition.

African wedding traditions avaMost of the African traditions, in general, are very unique and different from anything people on other continents practice. And African wedding traditions and rituals are special as well. They are not only cheerful, bright, and eye-catching but also meaningful. A lot of African traditions honor the ancestors – such rituals are even more common than the ones honoring gods and nature. Here you are 5 exquisite wedding traditions practiced by Africans inside their countries and in the diaspora. If you have African roots, you might think about incorporating these customs into your own wedding ceremony.

Herero avaVery special and very touching wedding was held in Namibia, Africa. And what makes this celebration so adorable is that the groom was 85 and the bride was 54. It was a traditional wedding ceremony and festivities of the Herero people, an outstanding local ethnic group. Their wedding traditions reflect their lifestyle that they have been keeping for centuries. Let’s take a peek at the traditional Herero wedding and find out how much it differs from a usual European or American wedding.