Love is universal, which is why virtually every country and culture in the world recognizes marriage as a sacred union. As a wedding guest, you honor the marriage bond with a wedding gift. In most cultures, money is both a practical and acceptable wedding present but if the act of giving money seems impersonal to you, why not replace your envelope of cash in favor of a gift that is rich in tradition? These 10 wedding gift traditions from across the globe feature unique gifting traditions that center around marriage, such as the Sudanese perfume mixing ceremony or the French tradition of gifting vintage soft, vintage linens.
In America, you’re most likely to select your gift through an online registry, but in Holland, a bouquet of lily of the valley bulbs symbolizes joy and good fortune. If you attend an Indian weddings, which are notoriously rich in bright colors and ornate decorations, you can swap your cash out for gold jewelry such as “his and hers” chains or necklaces and earrings.
To discover more wedding gift traditions from countries across the globe, check out our animated visual from Zola below.
