Welsh Wedding Traditions

The Welsh Love Spoon

A courting tradition in Wales, that has been in practice for years, is the carving of a wooden love spoon. A man who wished to marry a particular girl carves various symbols, such as hearts, keys or bells, into a wood spoon, showing his intentions for engagement and marriage.

Traditional Kidnapping of the Bride

It is a marriage custom, in Wales, for the bride's family to kidnap her just before the wedding ceremony. The groom and his family follow in pursuit and whoever rescues the bride-to-be will marry within a year.

The Customary Bridal Bouquet and Wedding Dress Pin

A Welsh bridal bouquet usually contains myrtle, and the bride gives to her bridesmaids a cutting of myrtle -- a symbol of love -- to carry in their bouquets. Welsh tradition holds that if the bridesmaid plants her myrtle and it blooms, she will soon marry.

A bride in Wales may wear a pin in her wedding gown, that she will remove and throw over her shoulder for good luck.