“Asian Wedding Traditions: Exploring Cultural Celebrations of Love”

Throughout history, the cultural rites and customs of different societies have played a significant role in marriage ceremonies. These traditions not only uphold the values of the couple but also provide an opportunity to celebrate their faith and culture. Some of these traditions have been passed down for thousands of years and continue to be incorporated into ceremonies today.
For instance, the ancient Egyptians believed that rings symbolized holiness, unity, and peace, a belief that still holds true in modern times. Similarly, ancient Europeans used to weave a lover’s knot out of their hair, which represented love, faith, and friendship, and wore it as a ring. Even our distant ancestors, the cavemen, bound themselves to their partners with a cord of woven rushes, symbolizing the oneness of their spirits.
Remarkably, this practice still exists in some African countries today. However, some of the most fascinating and enduring wedding traditions come from the mysterious and romantic Asian cultures. From India to Indonesia, and China to Japan, the Far East is home to a rich diversity of cultures, religions, and traditions. Our wedding explores some of the prominent wedding traditions and rituals still practiced in Asia.

China

The color red plays a significant role in Chinese wedding festivities as it is considered a symbol of love, prosperity, and happiness. Everything associated with the wedding, from the bride’s dress and accessories to the invitations, presents, and decorations, is adorned in red. 

Chinese bridal gowns, known as qipao or cheongsam, are traditionally embellished with elaborate golden phoenixes, chrysanthemums, and peonies, symbolizing wealth and good fortune. The groom typically wears a black silk coat over a robe embroidered with a dragon, and firecrackers are often set off to scare away evil spirits. Wedding presents are given by older guests, while tea is served by younger family members. In many Chinese weddings, the bride price is determined by the groom’s economic status and is often given in the form of gold jewelry, money, or even a roast pig, symbolizing the bride’s virginity. 

Japan 
Japanese marriages are traditionally categorized into two types based on how the couple finds each other: Miai, which refers to arranged introductions, and Ren’ai, where the couple meets and decides to marry on their own.

A Japanese bride-to-be may be painted pure white from head to toe, symbolizing her maiden status to the Gods. She may also wear a watabōshi, a white hood, or a tsunokakushi, another type of headgear meant to hide the “horns of jealousy.” Traditional Japanese wedding customs, known as shinzen shiki, involve an elaborate ceremony held at a Shinto shrine. The bride may choose to wear a silk kimono embroidered with purple iris-flowers, as purple is considered the color of love in Japan.

Traditional ceremonies are often held at a Shinto shrine, the native Japanese religion, and are officiated by a priest in a ceremony called shinzenshiki, or “marriage before the gods.” Nowadays, many young couples prefer to hold a wedding at a hotel or dedicated wedding venue. 

India

Indian weddings can take anywhere from a few minutes to several days, depending on the region and religious factors involved. However, one thing that remains consistent is the vibrancy and colorfulness of these celebrations, this trend is now spreading to Western weddings. Before an Indian bride gets married, she and her female friends and family decorate their hands and feet with beautiful designs called “menhdi.” These designs, made from henna paste, take hours to apply and only last for a few weeks. 

In Hindu culture, it is considered bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other for several days before the wedding. As part of the marriage ceremony, the bride’s parents wash the couple’s feet with milk and water, symbolizing their purification for their new life together. During the ceremony, the couple holds grains of rice, oats, and green leaves in their hands, representing wealth, good health, and happiness.

In certain regions, an important ritual called the “Haldi” ceremony takes place, where the bride and groom are anointed with turmeric paste, believed to bring luck and wealth. On the wedding day, the groom arrives at the venue accompanied by his friends and relatives in a procession known as the “baraat.” Following this, religious rituals are performed to solemnize the marriage according to the couple’s religious beliefs.The couple then exchange flower garlands and toe rings, symbolizing their union. Before entering the temple, they perform a sacred ritual of circling a fire seven times, seeking the blessings of the gods for a blissful life together. The groom marks his wife’s forehead with a red dot called “poddu,” which she will only remove after his passing. In many regions, the bride, regardless of being Hindu or Muslim, wears red clothing as white is associated with widowhood in Indian culture.