Czech Republic Wedding Traditions & Ceremonies
A researched guide to 18 traditional wedding ceremonies from 3 cultural traditions in Czech Republic.
Czech
Pre-wedding
Myrtle as a corsage
Guests wear a myrtle corsage with a white bow, pinned to their jacket or dress upon arrival.
Key elements
- Myrtle, white bow
Ax or bottle choice
The groom is presented with an ax and a bottle; choosing the ax signifies a hardworking partner, the bottle a lazy one.
Key elements
- Ax, bottle
Broom test
The bride is asked to clean a room with a broom; quick and proper cleaning signifies a suitable wife.
Key elements
- Broom
Plant a prosperous tree
Family and friends plant a tree and decorate it with painted eggshells to bring good luck to the couple.
Key elements
- Tree, painted eggshells
Wedding day
Flower petals (aisle)
Little bridesmaids sprinkle the aisle to the altar with flower petals as the wedding procession walks.
Key elements
- Flower petals
Rice throwing
Guests throw grains of rice at the newlyweds as they walk into their new life together after the ceremony.
Key elements
- Rice (or petals/bubbles)
Reception
Wedding toast
The father of the bride opens the wedding dinner with a festive toast, followed by the groom's father and witnesses.
Key elements
- Speeches, drinks
Breaking the plate
Upon arrival at the reception, a plate is broken, and the newlyweds sweep up the shards together.
Key elements
- Broken plate shards
Cutting the cake together
Newlyweds cut the wedding cake together with one knife (or sword) and share the first piece.
Key elements
- Wedding cake, knife/sword
Newlyweds' first dance
The first dance at a wedding belongs to the newlyweds (traditionally waltz, now other songs). Followed by dances with new parents and own parents.
Key elements
- Music, dance (waltz or other)
Dance with the bride
Each gentleman can dance with the bride for a short time for a financial contribution.
Key elements
- Music, money
Pinning the bride
Married women remove the bride's green wreath (symbolizing virginity) and replace it with a cap for married women, often with singing and candles.
Key elements
- Green wreath, cap, candles, singing
Wedding quiz (shoe lifting)
The bride and groom sit back to back, each holding their shoe and their partner's shoe. Questions are asked, and they pick up the chosen shoe as an answer.
Key elements
- Shoes, questions
Wedding raffle
Guests buy raffle tickets (contributing to newlyweds) for small gifts, often hidden behind funny names.
Key elements
- Raffle tickets, small gifts
Post-wedding
Horse's collar and “ball and chain”
Groom's friends put a horse's collar and an iron ball and chain on his leg, symbolizing marriage challenges. The bride can free him or he can pay his way out.
Key elements
- Horse's collar, iron ball and chain, saw/money
Paying for sins of youth
Friends of the groom place a rope with flower petals and empty bottles at the church exit; the groom pays to pass, starting a new life on a fresh foot.
Key elements
- Rope, flower petals, empty bottles, money
Czech (Catholic)
Wedding day
Church Ceremony (Catholic)
A religious marriage ceremony conducted in a church, often with Holy Mass. Can be combined with a civil ceremony.
Key elements
- Religious vows, rings, blessings, Mass (optional)
Czech (Secular)
Wedding day
Civil Ceremony
A legal marriage ceremony conducted by a civil authority, often chosen as an alternative to religious ceremonies.
Key elements
- Official documents, rings
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