Buzz
Not too long ago, we published a post where non-Americans shared the quirkiest things they find about American weddings, and to be honest, it sparked quite a debate. But whether you're American or not, you might just find yourself agreeing with some of their views.
So, are these American customs truly odd? It's time for YOU to weigh in!
1. "Americans seem to have engagement parties, bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, etc. before the big day. That’s a lot of celebrations for the same event."
—annih4a3742bc4
2. "American weddings often come off as — for lack of a better word — simple? I’ve never actually attended one, but from what I’ve observed, everything looks very neat, pristine, and heavily dominated by white and monochrome tones."
"I'm South Asian, so when it comes to weddings, there's an explosion of colors everywhere!!! The bride’s dress, the groom’s outfit, and, of course, the guests too!"
—laraziz_15
3. "I’ve never really understood why bridesmaids are expected to cover the cost of their dresses when it’s the bride who dictates how they should look."
"I get wanting your bridal party to look cohesive and match your vision for the day, but to me, that means the bride should cover the cost of their attire. If I'm paying for it, I get to choose, and there’s a good chance I’d wear it again — especially since, on TV, those bridesmaids' dresses always seem ridiculously overpriced for no reason; there’s nothing extraordinary about them, yet they cost $200 just because they’re made for bridesmaids?"
—m4d4e02be6
4. "Cash bars. Drinks should definitely be complimentary. It’s a strange concept. Why should guests have to bring a gift and then pay for a glass of wine??? In my family, a cash bar is considered embarrassing."
—jancharn6
5. "One thing I’ve never understood is why they always hire live bands for weddings? Here in Uruguay, I’ve never come across anyone doing that. We always have DJs, and the party lasts until 7 a.m. too."
—guadapozzo
6. "The garter toss is a bit strange. At a wedding I attended last month, they did one. Not many guys volunteered for that, because she just got married, and now we’re supposed to catch her undergarments?"
—vcox0498
"I attended a wedding where the groom removed the garter with his teeth and actually stuck his head up the bride's dress to retrieve it 🤮. It was awful, especially since the bride and groom were only 19. Eleven-year-old me definitely didn’t need to witness that."
—ricebearr
7. "American weddings wrap up so early! I’m from Ireland, and it’s unheard of for the party to end before 6 or 7 a.m."
—parkerlove
8. "What I really don’t get is spending money on fancy save-the-date cards when you’re just going to send an invitation later. Seems like an unnecessary cost."
—alexp42f9f3419
9. "Personally, I’ve never understood the whole rehearsal dinner tradition. It feels like a lot of extra effort and time; is it really necessary? Things can always go wrong on the wedding day anyway."
—b47c87955c
10. "The strangest part about weddings is how much they cost. I can’t fathom spending so much on just one day. It seems ridiculous to spend more than $1K."
—forkliftjones
11. "The never-ending cocktail hour. I attended a wedding where, after the ceremony, we had to wait for hours before entering the reception. During that time, they served only small appetizers on toothpicks, intended for a few, not for the hundreds of guests. We were left standing for three hours, well past dinner time."
"We didn’t know anyone except the bride and groom. My partner and I nearly left, but we kept hoping they’d start the reception soon. It ended up being the worst wedding experience ever!"
—christinas44c616c07
12. "The size of the bridal party! It’s lovely to have your closest people involved in your special day, but I’ve heard numerous accounts of how chaotic the bridesmaids and groomsmen can make it."
"The tales I’ve heard about friendships being ruined during the planning leave me questioning why anyone would want to fill their big day with so many people."
—20pesos
13. "The whole idea of matching the bridesmaids' dresses to a specific color. Why does it even matter? Sure, the venue can be color-coordinated, but making sure everyone looks the same for the sake of photos seems a bit questionable."
—demux
14. "The wedding date dilemma!!! I could never invite someone I've only recently met to a close friend's or family's wedding. I've seen this happen in American movies where weddings are seen as opportunities for people to find dates?"
"I don't get why someone would attend a wedding to celebrate a loved one, but spend the entire time trying to meet people to hook up with. But then again, maybe this is something that only happens in movies or TV shows, so who knows."
—b47c87955c
15. "To be honest, I just don’t get the whole idea of bridal showers and gift registries. If you can't afford a wedding, then just go to a courthouse. If someone offers to buy you a gift, that's fine. But actually making a list of things you want people to buy for you? That always seemed kind of greedy and uncomfortable to me."
—laureng46bdace5f
16. "The. First. Dance. Especially when it's been choreographed."
—kvmarch
17. "When the bridal party and groomsmen are introduced to the dining hall, and they perform a little comedic skit. My sister married an American man in a castle in England, and the groomsman I walked in with wanted me to dance and then knight him. It wasn’t my thing!"
—laurenclark2805
18. "The bride being escorted down the aisle by a male relative. It’s a bit annoying but somehow it’s becoming a trend among younger brides in my country. When my parents got married, my dad and mom walked down the aisle together."
—t4fcb51f94
19. "What I notice about American weddings is how chaotic they are and how they often miss the true meaning of marriage — which is family, respect, and love. It seems more about showcasing than anything else."
—obiass001
20. "I find it strange that some weddings offer food service like you're dining at a restaurant. I mean, non-buffet weddings — it’s hard to describe! I live in Greece, and every wedding I’ve been to has always had a buffet."
—artemis010408
21. "The absence of any pre-wedding rituals. (No, a rehearsal dinner doesn’t count!) Many cultures have ceremonies involving blessings and preparations by both families with the couple, which helps create a special atmosphere in the week leading up to the wedding day."
—diaxaparry
22. "The oddest thing for me is how in films, newlyweds often leave their own party early to go on their honeymoon. Not only do you miss out on your own celebration that you spent so much on, but you also lose the chance to spend more time with loved ones who want to share these precious moments with you."
—silke130783
And finally...
23. "I will never get the appeal of cake smashing."
—happydays7saddays
"I'm from America, and the whole cake-in-the-face tradition still baffles me. I despise it. Do people realize how much effort goes into wedding makeup? Then, you're going to mess it all up by smashing cake into someone's face?"
—l4b8a7d01f
