11 American Wedding Traditions That Are Bizarre to Europeans

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11 American Wedding Traditions That Are Bizarre to Europeans

When it comes to weddings, American customs often seem quite unique to Europeans. From pre-wedding festivities to specific rituals during the ceremony, many traditions cherished in the U.S. are met with surprise across the Atlantic. Let’s explore some of these American wedding traditions that might seem a bit odd to someone from Europe.

1. Rehearsal Dinner

Before the actual wedding day, Americans host a rehearsal dinner. This meal is commonly held after a run-through of the wedding ceremony, typically the night before the big day. It’s a chance for both families and close friends to meet, mingle, and relax before the formalities. In contrast, this isn’t a common practice in Europe, where rehearsals are usually more low-key or non-existent.

2. Bridesmaids and Groomsmen in Matching Outfits

In American weddings, it’s standard for bridesmaids and groomsmen to wear coordinated outfits. Typically, all bridesmaids will wear the same dress in a specific color, and groomsmen wear matching suits or tuxedos. This uniformity is intended to create a cohesive look in wedding photos and during the ceremony. However, in Europe, while there might be a color scheme, exact matching is less common.

3. Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

The bachelor and bachelorette parties are a staple in American wedding culture. These celebrations involve the bride or groom enjoying a night out or a weekend getaway with their friends, marking the end of their single life. European equivalents are usually less extravagant and often closer to the wedding date.

4. The Bouquet Toss

This tradition involves the bride tossing her bouquet over her shoulder to a group of unmarried women. It is said that the person who catches it will be the next to marry. While this is a fun and competitive moment in American weddings, it’s less common at European weddings, where the focus might be on different customs.

5. Having a Wedding Registry

A wedding registry is essentially a wish list of items that the couple would like to receive as gifts. Very typical in American weddings, this concept is often seen as overly direct in many European cultures, where guests are expected to choose their gifts without explicit suggestions.

6. Sand or Candle Unity Ceremony

During some American weddings, couples may choose to have a sand ceremony or light a unity candle together. This symbolizes their coming together as one. In contrast, European weddings, particularly those in churches or scenic outdoor locations, don’t typically include these rituals.

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7. The Money Dance

The money dance is an opportunity for guests to dance with the bride or groom in exchange for a small cash donation. This American custom is intended to provide the newlyweds with some extra spending money for their honeymoon or to start their lives together. It’s a tradition rarely seen in European celebrations.

8. Bridal Party Entrance Songs

In the U.S., it’s common for the bridal party to be introduced at the reception with a specific song playing for each pair or group as they enter. This creates a lively, party atmosphere. European weddings typically have more subdued entrances without individualized fanfare.

9. Cake Smashing in the Face

While traditionally the bride and groom in America might smash a piece of wedding cake on each other’s faces as a playful gesture, in France, for example, couples might drink champagne from glasses held in interlocking arms instead. This highlights different cultural approaches to celebrating new unions.

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10. Multiple Bridal Showers

American brides often have more than one bridal shower, hosted by different groups such as coworkers, friends, and family. Each of these events can have its own theme and activities centered around showering the bride-to-be with gifts and advice. In contrast, European brides typically celebrate with only one, more modest gathering.

11. Wearing “Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue”

This rhyme outlines a wedding tradition where a bride incorporates these four elements into her wedding outfit as good luck charms. While this tradition is also known in Europe, the adherence to it is not as strong as in the American context, where each item is often chosen with great care.

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