Ten most unusual wedding customs ever

A wedding is a combination of many details, and tradition takes a big part in it. Some traditions are romantic and magical, while others are just plain weird. All aimed to wish the newlyweds good luck, fortune and happy marriage. Here are some of the strangest ones from around the world, as compiled by Mwangi Alberto. 

1. Saw through the log

Everyone knows that one of the secrets to a happy marriage is teamwork and the cutting of the log custom is the perfect example of that.

It is an old German wedding custom, and it represents the first challenge that the couple must overcome during their marriage.

The newlyweds must work together using a two-handle long saw to “overcome the obstacle” and saw through the log in half.

This usually takes place right after the ceremony, as this should be the first difficulty the couple will face in their life together.

2. Cry for a month 

Crying on the wedding day may seem a bit odd to some people, but in some regions in China, it’s mandatory.

Originating in the Warring States Period (475-221BC) and lasting until the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), this tradition is still alive in some parts of rural China.

Traditionally, when night falls the bride-to-be walks into a hall and cries for about an hour, 10 days later, her mum joins her to weep with her, pass another 10 days and they both get joined by the grandmother that also takes part in the crying.

All the women of the family are obligated to join in as well, and this goes on for a month before the wedding.

Even though this custom sounds terribly sad, this is actually how the Tujian people welcome a good marriage.

3. Marry a tree first 

It may sound a bit hippie and taken right out of the 1960s, but this Indian tradition is carried out till this day.

According to some Hindu traditions, it is believed that if a woman is born under an astrological combination when Mars and Saturn are both under the seventh house, she is cursed.

This creates many obstacles in their life, and getting married is just one of them.

The custom states that if a man marries a Mangliks woman, her curse will hunt him to an early grave.

In order to prevent this to take place, she first must marry a peepal or banana tree, which is then cut down to lift the curse.

The same effect can also be achieved by marrying a clay pot and then breaking it.

4. Spit on the bride 

In Kenya, Massai girls are traditionally given to a man much older than the bride, a tradition that has gained a lot of criticism in the present era.

Among the members of this tribe who still follow strict traditional practices, the father or brother of the bride-to-be must spit on her head as a blessing.

Then she leaves the house with her new husband, walking to her new home, no matter how far away it is.

5. Bear two children

In the Nuer tribe of Sudan, the groom can get married if he pays with a certain number of cattle herds.

However, the wedding is termed incomplete until when the wife gives birth to two children.

If she has only one child, the husband can ask for a divorce, or if the husband dies before she gets the second child, his brother must become the new widow’s husband.

6. Beating the groom’s feet

In South Korea, it is customary that when the wedding celebrations are winding down and the newlyweds are just about to leave, the groomsmen and or some family members would tie the groom’s ankles together and beat his feet with a stick or dried fish.

Even though it is a painful ritual, it is over fast and meant to be more amusing than punishing. It is supposed to test the new husband-to-be’s character and insurance. 

7. The human rug 

In Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, when the wedding is about to come to an end, the newlyweds have a very odd custom.

The wedding guests must lay face down on the ground to create a human rug for them to walk on.

This custom is meant to wish the happy couple good luck on their new joined path of life.  You can just hope that the bride has chosen not to wear stilettos.

8. Bury the bourbon 

Even though in some cultures rain on a wedding day means good luck, the people of southern USA seem to differ.

To prevent it from happening, a bottle of bourbon (a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn) is buried on the location site where the wedding ceremony will take place.

This is done exactly one month before the wedding, preferably on a sunny day like the one you wish your big day would be like.

The bottle must be completely full and buried in the ground upside down and dug out after the ceremony is over to be shared with the guests. At least no good liquor goes to waste, right?  

9. Bathroom ban

On the island of Borneo, divided between Indonesia and Malaysia, the Tidong tribe follows an ancient tradition that prohibits couples from using the bathroom for three days and three nights after the wedding.

That’s why the bride and groom are given very small amounts of food and drink during a wedding ceremony.

They believe the custom will lead to a long, happy and ‘fertile’ marriage. Breaking this ritual is believed to cause bad luck to the newlyweds.

10. Breaking of the vase 

Breaking glass is considered good luck in many cultures, such as Jewish, Greek and as in this case, Italian.

After the ceremony or the reception is over, the happy couple breaks a glass or a vase and then stumps on it to make sure it is broken to as many pieces as possible.

The number of fragments that they end up with represents the amount of the happy years of marriage, so they have to take their time and make sure the pieces are really tiny.