Top 7 Australian Wedding Traditions and Customs
Did you know that for a long time, couples in Australia threw stones into the water instead of exchanging wedding rings? This is a classic example of how Australian wedding traditions and customs have always been unique. There are many other Australian wedding traditions that can be traced down to the settlers and the aborigines, below are some of them.
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1. A Classic White Wedding Dress.
Whenever people imagine Australian dream weddings, this comes to mind. The white wedding dress tradition has been there for many years. It symbolizes hope and future joy in the marriage. Now brides opt for many different colors, but this remains a well-loved tradition.
2. Something Old and Something New
As the old rhyme goes, for marital bliss a bride must have something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Australians have a tradition of being gifted something old such as a piece of jewelry from a parent to commemorate the day.
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3. Waiting to Unveil the Bride
This old tradition is well-loved and is still followed by many couples even now. The groom does not get to see the bride on their wedding day until she walks down the aisle. He only sees her face as he unveils her. This gives an exciting element for the couple on their wedding day.
4. Parents Walk Down the Aisle
When it comes to accompanying the bride down the aisle, both parents get to do this. In many other cultures, this was traditionally done by the father but that’s not the same in Australia. The mother’s role in the wedding is respected by allowing both parents to walk their daughter down the aisle.
5. The Wedding Smoking Ceremony
It is well known that aborigines and settlers shared the land for a long time. This tradition is a miscegenation of their two cultures. The couple gets fanned with the smoke of burning plants or herbs. This was supposed to ward off ill spirits and bring healing and blessing to the relationship.
6. Lamingtons Instead of Wedding Cake
We all love wedding dessert and for many European cultures, traditional wedding cake takes pride of place. Australian wedding receptions have a tradition of having lamingtons. This is a traditional vanilla cake that is cut into squares, covered in chocolate, and then sprinkled with coconut flakes.
7. Having a Wedding Unity Bowl
This heart-warming tradition has been passed down for many generations. Family members and close friends put stones in a bowl, and this represents their support for the couple’s union. The stones have the names of whoever has put them in the bowl, and they can also have different colors to represent the different families.
At Clarence House, we have a long-standing tradition of hosting beautiful and unique weddings. Contact us today and we can help you have a uniquely Australian wedding.
