Marriage & Union

How different cultures mark this milestone

The rites below are not exhaustive — every tradition has its own variations and every family makes its own choices — but they cover the most widely observed forms across the world's living religious and cultural traditions.

• Hindu wedding — seven steps around the sacred fire (saptapadi), the tying of the mangalsutra, multi-day rituals from haldi through reception.
• Jewish wedding — the chuppah, the seven blessings (sheva brachot), the breaking of the glass.
• Nikah (Muslim) — the contract ceremony, the mahr, the recitation of Surah Ar-Rahman.
• Catholic wedding Mass — the exchange of vows, rings, and the nuptial blessing.
• Chinese tea ceremony — the couple serves tea to elders, who reply with a red envelope and advice.
• Handfasting (Celtic / neopagan) — the binding of the couple's hands with a cord.
• Yoruba wedding — the engagement, the prayer of the elders, the symbolic foods.
• Korean Pyebaek — bowing to the groom's parents, who throw chestnuts and dates symbolising children.

How to send the right card

Wedding cards are kept for decades. Use a heavy uncoated stock, leave the front quiet (a single botanical or geometric motif), and let the inside carry the warmth. Cross-cultural weddings often have two ceremonies — your card may arrive between them; be careful not to centre one tradition over the other unless you know the couple's preference.

For more practical notes, see the CardVerse card etiquette guide and the printing guide.

Related cultural holidays

Several of the world cultural holidays in the CardVerse directory carry the same milestone weight. Browse the regional pages to find them in their full traditional context: