Future brides and grooms might be surprise to learn about some of the traditional wedding customs across the globe. Some traditions have long since faded or changed. Others have been completely forgotten or transformed.

Yet,you may decide to incorporate some of the old and some of the new in your own custom-built wedding ceremony. If not, then just enjoy learning more about some of the different, but beloved, wedding traditions that have been part of the past, and maybe future, wedding ceremonies.

African- Brooms, a symbol of the home, are waved over the heads of a wedding couple to ward off evil spirits. The wedding couple often also jumps over the handle of a broom at the end of the wedding ceremony for the same reason, hence the term "jumping the broom".

New Zealander - in New Zealand, the native Maori people and their traditions are often made an important part of the ceremonies, including the Powhiri welcome, the warrior challenge, a Maori tribal elder as an officiant, and the last blessing given in the maori language.

Cambodian - Khmer, a combination of Hindu and Indian religions, has a wedding tradition that the groom carries the bride's scarf, representing that the groom is marrying into the bride's family.

Chinese - Red, which is the color of luck, is the traditional color of the wedding gown and carries images of the golden Phoenix, chrysantemums and peonies, which symbolize wealth and good luck. The groom wears a black silk coat embroidered with the image of a dragon.

Fijan - It is the custom for the groom to give the father of the bride the tooth of a whale, which is a sign of wealth.

French - The tradition of a wedding toast started in France when an actual piece of toast was dropped into the wine from which the bride and groom were drinking. It was a wish for a long and happy life together.

Greek - For good luck, the bride carries a sugar cube in her glove.

Hawaiian - Each flower lei worn by the bride and groom consists of up to 50 fresh flowers. both wear white outfits, with the groom adding a red sash.

Hispanic - To promote an abundance of food, money, and love, the bride will sew yellow, blue, and red ribbons into her lingerie that she wears under her wedding dress.

Indian - The traditional dress is the sari, which is white and red, symbolizing the purity and fertility, and also embroidered with gold thread. The groom wears a long white tunic, also embroidered with gold thread.

Irish - The bride often puts a penny in her shue for good luck. Carrying a horseshoe, open end up, to the church is another custom. The coupe then hangs this same horseshoe over their front door, again with the open end up, to keep in the luck.

Japanese - The kimono is the traditional dress of this island nation, with purple irises decorating many wedding dresses. The mother of the bride is the one who removed her daughter's veil during the rehearsal ceremony.

Traditional gifts, wrapped in rice paper, include dried cuttlefish for male virility, kelp for female fertility, a linen thread for a long marriage, and an opened fan representing riches and a big family.

Jewish - In a Jewish wedding ceremony, the couple stands beneath the chuppa or bridal canopy, which represents the home. Toward the end of the ceremony, a glass is shattered by the groom, signifying a reminder of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.

Korean - Before a wedding, a Kung-hap or fortune teller is often consulted to learn about the couple's future together.

Malaysian - Weddings last for two days, during which, one of the ceremonies includes the couple's hands being dyed with henna during a ceremony known as berinai besar.

Native American - In traditional Hopi weddings, the couple's hair is washed together in the same basin and then braided together to represent their lifelong commitment to each other.

Filippino - An ancient ritual had the groom throwing a spear onto the front steps of his bride-to-be's house, indicating that she belonged to him. Men often wear a formal embroidered garment called barong tagalog at the ceremony itself, which traditionally lasts three days. each day, the couple declares their love for each other. The last ceremony end with the couple's hands being bound together and the priest declaring they are finally married.

Polish - Right after the wedding ceremony, guests throw rice for good luck and coins for prosperity, which the couple collect as they make their way to the reception. At the reception, the parents of the happy couple give them bread and salt to symbolize both the wish for prosperity and the strength to deal with the difficulties life may bring.

Scandinavian - In Sweden, the mother of the bride gives her daughtera gold coin to wear in her right shoe and her father gives her a silver coin to be worn in her left shoe to give blessing of riches to the couple. In Norway, two small pine trees are planted on either side of the couple's front door as a symbol of fertility.

Scottish - The kilt is the customary dress for men in this part of United Kingdom. White feather is often worn by the both bride and groom for good luck. The wedding couple is usually accompanied by badpipes as they leave the church after the wedding ceremony.

Sources - www.your wedding101.com, www.worldweddingtraditions.com.

Why we do the things we do

The Best Man-Many centuries ago a groom used to kidnap the woman he wanted as his wife. The best man was there to help fight off other suitors, as well as the woman's family.

The Boutonniere-A knight used to wear his lady's colors in the form of flowers as a visual tribute of his love for her.

The Bridal Party-It was common practice for the bridal party to walk the bride and groom to the church on the wedding day. The bride and the bridesmaids all dressed in a similar fashion, adn so did he groom and the groomsmen, trying to confuse anyone who wish bad luck on the wedding couple.

The Bridal Shower-Legen states that the very first bridal shower was given for a poor Dutch couple who didn't receive a dowry. The couple's friends gave them all the items they needed.

Giving gifts at bridal showers didn't start until the late 1800s. The story goes that a friend of one bride placed small gifts inside a parasol and opened it over the bride's head, allowing presents to cascade down on he bride in a shower. The custom quickly caught on.

The Cake-The Romans would break or sprinkle the wedding cake, made of wheat or barley, over the bride's head to ensure fertility.

The couple should also take the top layer of the cake home with them, and put it in the freezer until they eat it together on their first anniversary.

Carrying The Bride Over The Threshold-In earlier days, it was believed that familiy demons would follow the bride to her new husband's home after the wedding ceremony. In order to prevent the demons from entereing the new house the first time she entered her new husban's house, the bride was carried over the threshold.

The Flowers-During ancient weddings, the bride carried herbs under her veil to symbolize fidelity. Ivy was carried by Greek brides to symbolize ever-lasting love.

Garter And/Or Bouquet Toss-In the 1300s, the bride used to toss her garter to the single men, but it caused a lot of havoc. So, over the years, the tradition changed the bride throwing her bouquet instead.

It is also said that the single lady who catches the bouquet and the single man who catches the garter will be the next to get married-but not necessarily to each other.

The Rings-Although the origins are not certain, rings usually are a symbol of never-ending love. Brides centuries ago wore rings made of hemp or rushes, which needed to be replaced a lot, so the Romans started using iron to fashion the wedding rings.

Egyptians believed that the vein of love ran directly from the heart to the third finger of the left hand.

Not until around 1500, when King Maximilian gave his bride a diamond engagement ring, did the custom change from just a band of gold.

Throwing Rice-Although many wedding locations now forbid the throwing of rice because of the detrimental effects uncooked rice can have if birds eat it, rice was originally thrown at the wedding couple, thinkin git blessed them with presperity, good luck, fertility and many children.

Sharing The First Pieve Of Wedding Cake-Romans believed that sharing the wedding cake created special bond between a couple. The wheat symbolized fertility and the sugar symbolized a sweet life.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue-Something old, usually lace or jewlery, represents the bond between the bride and her family and the life she is leaving behind. Something new, even the wedding band itself, represents the couple's new life together. The somehing borrowed is fro a happily married woman, similar to a good luck charm, hoping it will bring the same happiness into the new marriage as exists in the established marriage. And, something blue represents fidelity and a long, happy marriage. All four items are to be either worn or carried during the actual wedding.

Tying Shoes To The Bumper Of The Wedding Vehicle-Egyptians used to exchange sandals when they exchanged goods, so the father of the bride would give the groom his daughter's sandals as a sign that she then belonged to him.

White Bridal Dresses-Brides used to wear their best gowns, no matter the color, for their weddings. Anne of Brittany made the white wedding dress popular around 1500. But during the Victorean era, it is said that Queen Victoria decided to forgo the wearing of the traditional royal silver gown in favor of one that was white. Also, the color white was thought to ward off evil spirits. It eventually became associated with the ideas of purity and virginity.

Sources: www.yourwedding101.com; www.aomdj.com; www.lifescript.com; http://ourmarriage.com; www.worldweddingtraditions.com