My wonderful Smashing The Glass teammate, Sharon, found these incredible wedding images on National Geographic. They focus on wedding ceremonies from around the world (some Jewish, some not) and the fascinating cultural influences on generations, in both modern and traditional ways. Feast your eyes on these…
A YEMENITE WEDDING
[image: Stephanie Sinclair]
Friends and family fete the 21 year old yemenite bridegroom (in the centre wearing a floral head scarf) at his wedding in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen. In a country where nearly half the population lives on £1 a day, wedding expenses–which can exceed £3000–are prohibitive. Many couples pool resources and marry in groups.
A MORROCAN WEDDING
[image: Alexandra Boulat]
In the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, Berber brides dress for a traditional wedding that often includes four days of ceremonial rituals. In one of the rituals, brides purify themselves with water gathered from the local river.
A VENETIAN WEDDING
[image: Sam Abell]
Gondoliers often ferry Venetian newlyweds down the city’s Grand Canal.
AN AUSTRIAN WEDDING
[image: Volkmar Wentzel]
In Austria, for 500 years or more, mothers have handed down fan-shaped headdresses to the brides of eldest sons.
A YEMENITE BRIDE
[image: James Stanfield]
A Yemeni Jewish bride wears a wedding costume styled over centuries.
A KAZAKHSTANI WEDDING
[image: Gerd Ludwig]
Accompanied by traditional dancers, a bride awaits her formal unveiling at a her Kazakhstani wedding where she has just been married in a ceremony capped by the release of two white doves. The celebrations commence when the veil is lifted.
A KENYAN WEDDING
[image: Michael Nicholls]
In Kenya, several days of creative ceremonies, such as the warrior dance pictured above, are designed to counteract superstitions and bring the new couple good luck.
AN AFGHAN WEDDING
[image: Lynsey Addario]
This traditional Afghan bride wears green, a colour associated with prosperity and paradise in Islamic tradition. Her serious expression reflects the fact that marriage is an enormous milestone in an Afghan woman’s life, not just a celebratory event.
A CHINESE WEDDING
[image: Jodi Cobb]
A huge group of couples pose at a mass wedding in Taipei, Taiwan.
A SWAZI WEDDING
[image: Volkmar Wentzel]
Adorned in an elaborate costume, a Zulu king dances at his wedding to a Swazi princess in Nongoma, South Africa.
Just fascinating. I’d love to photograph some of these cultural traditions.
Extraordinary and fascinating images. I once took part in a Warrior Dance in Kenya during my honeymoon. I’m not sure I did that well (there is video evidence) but the daft grin on my face reminds me it was a heck lot of fun – “several days of creative ceremonies” sounds totally amazing!