Canada
Aside from the French-Canadians, Canadian weddings are quite similar to American weddings, depending upon the religious and ethnic backgrounds of the bride and groom.
Caribbean
Invitations to weddings in the past were often given via word of mouth throughout Caribbean villages, although invitees outside the immediate circle sometimes received formal invitations. In the Virgin Islands, couples usually post the banns, or announce their intention to marry, in church weeks before the wedding. "Cookup" rice, fried plantains and conch fritters might be found at a Caribbean wedding feast, and on many of the islands, it is customary for the bride's mother to pass down her recipe for the rich dark fruit and rum cake that has become the classic Caribbean wedding cake.
China
Among the myriad of Chinese wedding traditions are: choosing an auspicious wedding date; tea ceremonies for the parents; the beautiful, symbolic hair combing ceremony for the bride; and equally meaningful capping ritual for the groom. Other traditions have included setting off fireworks, either during the ceremony or in the going-to-get-the-bride procession, the goal being to scare away evil spirits.
During the ceremony, the bride and groom share goblets of honey and wine tied together with red ribbon, signifying their coming together in the joy of love and the courage that marriage requires. An elaborate wedding banquet is a popular tradition, and during the reception, the newlyweds are given small red envelopes filled with money. A Chinese bride may wear either the traditional red silk dress, or white gown; however, she usually changes frequently during the reception. Once a status symbol for the family, this is now done mainly for fun. And lastly, it is said that a couple should marry on the half-hour, so that they will begin their new life together on an upswing of the hands.
Croatia
The Croatian bride traditionally wears a string of pearls, rather than a wreath, around her head, and it is usually her father who has the honor of placing it there. Another old custom is that of the bride's mother receiving the bridal party in her home, holding a cup of honey and good will. Coins are thrown into the cup, and after the mother, bride and groom drink its contents, the coins are given to the groom. When the bride goes to her new home, she throws an apple over her house, and once she enters, she is led three times around a warm hearth.
Cyprus
Once a couple becomes engaged, their two mothers visit the homes of family and friends to personally invite them to the wedding, blessing the couple over wine at each house. Other traditions include the spreading of the mattress, in which women take the nuptial bedding to the ceremony and dance around it; a ceremonial "last shave" by the groom's friends; folk songs and dances; and the crowning of the bride and groom during the ceremony, usually by a priest. Roasted pig, wine and sweetmeats are typical reception fare, and the newlyweds are given two white doves, symbolic of the wish that they will have a peaceful life together.
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