The heritage and culture of Poland is very rich. Polish weddings are marked by rich traditions and customs. Weddings in Poland are considered as cherished occasions. Special arrangements are made many days before the occasion. From food to décor, music and wedding dress, everything is arranged with special care. There are many unique traditions practiced at polish weddings which you will not find in any other culture.

In Poland, getting married at young age is common. Wedding celebrations are not held in the holy months of lent and advent. The marriage season is considered from September to the fall and winter as by that time all the field work is completed.

Like many other cultures, in polish culture, engagement celebrations are held before wedding. The engagement period is known as Zareczyy or Zrekowiny.  The engagement celebration is marked with one major event held in front of family and friends. An intermediary person also known as Starosta ties the hands of the bride and bride-groom together in a white scarf above a whole loaf of bread and make a cross sign. This symbolizes the combined undertaking of bride and groom to prepare the bread.

Then there are certain etiquettes of inviting people to the wedding. In polish language, wedding invitations are known as Oprosiny or Zaprosiny. First of all, invitations are sent to the people asking them to act as bridesmaids of groomsmen. Then bride and groom specially go to invite their god parents. In some part of the Poland, it is obligatory to invite everybody in village to the wedding.

On the day of wedding, musicians are arranged specially. On seeing the guest arriving, they start playing music for which they are also given some money as a tip.

The bridesmaid starts dressing the bride when groom reached the bride’s home. Everybody gathers at the bride’s home to take the couple to the church. Before going to the church, the farewell of parents to the daughter is also considered important. All the people stands in a circle around the couple and the mother exalt them with the holy water. The blessings from parents are considered very important. If any of the parents are deceased, the couple is asked to stop by cemetery and ask for the blessings from deceased parents.

The trip to the church is made either bride or groom in same wagon or in separate wagons. During the ceremony, it is considered good for bride to cry. Polish people believe that if the bride does not cry, she would cry throughout her life. At the end of the ceremony, the bride throws few straws. Whoever catches those straws is expected to be married soon.

On the day of wedding reception, the bride and groom are greeted by their parents with a loaf of bread sprinkled with salt and a goblet of wine. With the loaf of bread, the parents wish their children never be hungry. The salt symbolizes difficulties of life and suggests the couple to be courageous to face the life. The parents then kiss the couple and welcome them with love and unity.