Every wedding is special and meaningful. Family and friends of the couple attend in spirit to support and celebrate the merging of two individuals’ lives, who have each grown up with their own family structure, traditions, religion, culture, geographic and economic backgrounds. Sometimes the couple come from similar backgrounds, and others very different. Keeping traditions alive is important for teaching the next generation about a particular or shared past. Traditions are beliefs or behaviors that are passed down from one generation to the next within a certain group or society.
We have hosted many different weddings and special events aboard our vessel, Royal Princess. While our venue may be unique, it is nice when brides and grooms maintain their individuality and identity by keeping their cultural traditions alive, even if they utilize just a few of their cultural rituals. Here are some examples:
SRI LANKAN WEDDING (explained by bride SONALI DILUSHIKA)
“SRI LANKAN weddings are filled with rituals and customs passed on from generations. Our wedding was a traditional wedding with a modern twist. All the auspicious events take place in order to bless the couple with eternal bliss.
Before the couple leaves the house, they drink a glass of water with white jasmine Flowers in it as a symbol of luck. 
Normally the couple and the group is escorted to the ceremonial hall by Sri Lankan traditional drummers and dancers. Since we are Catholic, we did not have the pooruwa ceremony. Instead we had the church ceremony and the reception aboard the yacht.
For our special day, we chose to forgo the traditional Sri Lankan pooruwa ceremony in favor of a more personalized celebration, which included a beautiful church ceremony followed by a reception aboard a luxurious yacht. In the church, Christian women often embrace an elegant simplicity in their attire, opting for dresses that are both modest and sophisticated. The focus is on understated elegance, reflecting the sacred nature of the ceremony.
As a guest attending such a refined event, it’s equally important to adhere to this theme of graceful simplicity. Christian attire for such occasions typically involves dresses or suits that respect the solemnity of the church setting while also being chic and tasteful. This balance ensures that every aspect of the celebration is harmonious, from the ceremonial vows to the elegant reception. For christians, this means embracing a style that honors both tradition and personal expression, enhancing the overall elegance of the event.
Next, the couple and the parents light the oil lamp which signify the start of a bright new future together.
Then the couple cut the wedding cake structure and distribute traditional Sri Lankan wedding cake in a specially box which is designed according to the wedding theme. We had a sea theme so our wedding cake box was a seashell. Two immediate family members from both sides give a speech and toast for a happy life for the couple.
Then the guests greet the couple and the party begins. We served traditional Sri Lankan dinner and desserts including Eggplant Moju, Milk Rice, Malay pickle, Symbol, Watalappan and more.
Baila dancing also accompanied by traditional drummers is well famous in a Sri Lankan wedding.
The bride and the groom change their clothes into colorful attire before they leave the wedding reception.
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Asian Tea Ceremony
In many Asian cultures, a formal tea ceremony plays an important role in celebrating an engagement and honoring the bride and groom’s families during the wedding festivities. These ancient traditions are steeped in elaborate rituals that are often accompanied by toasts, prayers and gifts.
The Chinese Wedding Tea Ceremony is a tradition in which couples getting married show respect to their parents. The bride usually prepares the tea and along with the groom, they serve it to their elders. People drinking the tea will sit and the bride and groom will kneel in front of them to serve tea. The couple will often receive gifts during the ceremony as well.
The ocha ceremony is also an important ritual in Japanese weddings. 
The elaborate preparation and presentation of the strong green tea is viewed as a transformative, spiritual ritual that binds the newlyweds for life.
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HINDU RITUALS
The groom offers the bride lifelong protection by placing a mangalsutra, or sacred necklace made of black and gold beads, around her neck and applying sindoor (red vermillion powder) on the crown of her forehead. These two offerings signify the bride’s status as a married woman and the grooms devotion to the bride. But one who loves contemporary style wedding and hate rituals they offer picture necklace as a token of love and to symbolize that they are meant for each other. And also, nowadays, by knowing the mood ring color meanings, they simply present a ring to each other and seal off their marriage.
As couples seek to personalize their wedding experience, the choice of rings has evolved to reflect individual tastes and values. Beyond traditional offerings, modern couples often explore unique options that resonate with their personalities. One popular trend is the engagement ring consultation, where couples can collaborate with designers to create a one-of-a-kind piece that captures their love story. This intimate process allows for the incorporation of meaningful gemstones and innovative designs, ensuring that the ring is not just a symbol of commitment but also a reflection of their journey together.
In the evolving landscape of personalized jewelry, men’s accessories are also gaining a distinctive edge with unique designs that reflect individual style and significance. Among these, snake rings for men have emerged as a striking choice, offering a blend of symbolism and sophistication. Snakes Store has embraced this trend by crafting rings that combine the ancient allure of serpentine motifs with contemporary elegance. These rings are not merely adornments but statements of personal identity and aesthetic preference, capturing the essence of modern masculinity through innovative design.
The use of incense is a traditional and ubiquitous practice in almost all pujas,
prayers, and other forms of worship. As part of the daily ritual worship within the Hindu tradition, incense is offered to God (usually by rotating the sticks thrice in a clockwise direction) in His deity forms, such as Krishna and Rama.
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The Jewish Wedding Canopy (chuppah)
A traditional Jewish wedding is full of meaningful rituals, symbolizing the beauty of the relationship between two individuals, as well as their obligations to each other and to the Jewish people.
A “Chuppa” in Hebrew literally means “canopy” or “covering”. A Jewish wedding ceremony typically occurs under a chuppah, which has four open sides.
The chuppah typically consists of a square cloth made of silk, wool, velvet or cotton, supported by four poles. The poles stand on the ground and are often held upright by friends of the couple. The chuppah symbolizes the new home that the couple will create. And just as a chuppah is open on all four sides, so was the tent of Abraham open for hospitality. Thus, the chuppah also represents hospitality to one’s guests
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Celtic Wedding Tradition
What you wear at your wedding can be very important. One of the most unique ways to bring the spirit of the Celts into your wedding is to have the men and boys in your wedding party dress in authentic kilts. To see your men dressed in full regalia of formal kilt attire is truly spectacular.
We enjoyed seeing one of our grooms in his traditional kilt aboard Royal Princess for one of our weddings.
So, what are your traditions? What is important to you and what is not so important? What is universal and what is unique?