Many of these marriage customs are still practiced today. Some will surely draw the ire of the more liberated among us. They are illuminating, charming and puzzling and all offer a glimpse into this global institution we call marriage.

Victorian brides wore gloves, symbols of modesty and romance. They were also significant because spelled without the ‘g', they were a pair of loves.

In the United States, in the days of slavery, African Americans were not allowed to marry. Instead they would jump over a broom in a ceremony whereby publicly declaring their commitment to each other.

A Swedish bride traditionally places a silver coin from her father in her left shoe and a gold coin from her mother in her right shoe so that she will never go without. Her shoes are left unfastened symbolizing easy childbirth in the future.

Swedish brides wear three rings, one for betrothal, another for marriage and the third for motherhood.

In Bermuda, the wedding cake may be topped with a small sapling. This tree is planted by the newlyweds who will watch it grow and flourish as their marriage grows and flourishes.

English brides sew a good luck charm to the hem of their wedding gown. This follows the tradition of royal brides who wear a silver horseshoe on the hem of their gowns.

At an Irish wedding, the newlyweds are given a lucky horseshoe for their home.

In Greece, brides carry a lump of sugar in their glove to ensure a "sweet life".

An Italian groom's tie is cut into pieces and sold to guests at the wedding reception. The money is supposed to be used for the honeymoon.

Italian wedding guests tossed sugared almonds at the newlyweds. These symbolized the sweet and bitter in life. Today these are known as Jordan almonds and are used at many weddings as wedding favours.

In Italy, a ribbon signifying the tying together of two lives, is tied across the front door of the church.

In Italy, the flowers adorning the hood of the bridal car signify happy travels for the bride and groom throughout their married life.

A Polish weddings, guests buy a dance with the bride by pinning money to her veil or tucking it into a special bridal purse.

In Armenia, setting two white doves free on the wedding day symbolizes love and happiness.

Japanese brides change their clothing several times throughout the wedding day.

On her wedding day, a Japanese bride and her family visits the groom's home. She wears a traditional triangular band on her head which covers the horns of jealousy that all women are said to have.

In Mexico, a large rosary is wound around the wedding couple's shoulders and hands signifying the union and protection of marriage.

Guests at Malaysian weddings are given beautifully decorated hard-boiled eggs symbolizing fertility.

In Japan, ducks and geese were included in the wedding procession because they mate for life and are considered a symbol of fertility.

More couples should adopt this Russian custom. In a Russian Orthodox ceremony, after the newlyweds are crowned, they race to see who will step on a white rug first. The one that does so, will be the master of the household.

In Switzerland, after the vows, the bride's floral wreath that represents her maidenhood is removed and set afire. It is considered lucky if it burns quickly.

Friends of Czech brides slip into her yard, plant a tree and decorate it with painted eggshells and ribbons. It is thought that she will live as long as the tree grows.

In Egypt where many marriages are still arranged, the family of the groom proposes marriage to the bride.

Chinese brides are showered with gold jewelry, denoting status. Red is the colour of love and joy and thus is favoured by brides for their wedding attire, candles, gift boxes and money envelopes that are given to the bride and the guests.

In Holland, there is much feasting after the ceremony. Traditional items include a sweetmeat called ‘bridal sugar' and a spiced wine known as bride's tears."

In India, the bride's mother showers the couple with flower petals after the wedding ceremony to ward off evil spirits.

In Indonesia, engagements may last for many years. During that time, many ceremonies involving the exchange of gifts take place with the purpose is to strengthen familial ties.

To mark their engagement, German couples give each other gold bands, which they wear on their left hands and until the marriage they are referred to as bride and groom. During the wedding ceremony, the groom may kneel on the hem of the bride's dress to signify that he will keep her in line. She in turn, on rising, may step on his foot reasserting herself.

In Croatia, the bride's female relatives replace her bridal veil with a kerchief and apron to denote her married status.

Fijian grooms traditionally present the father of the bride with a ‘tabua', a whale's tooth, which denotes status and wealth.

Many wedding couples in France continue an old tradition of drinking the wedding toast from a two-handled cup, the coupe de marriage, which will be passed on to their descendants.

In the Caribbean, the bride's mother makes a pound cake and passes the recipe on to her daughter. The pound cake is made with a pound each of flour, dark brown sugar, butter, cherries, raisins, prunes, currants, and a dozen eggs and flavourings. The fruit is soaked in rum for anywhere from two weeks to six months.

Early American brides pinned a small pouch to their underskirts. In the pouch was a small piece each of bread, cloth and wood and a single dollar. This ensured that there would be enough food, clothing, shelter and money for the bridal couple.

In Finland, brides wear gold crowns. After the wedding ceremony, unmarried women dance around the blindfolded bride who places the crown on someone's head. This woman will be the next to marry.

English brides-to-be thought it was bad luck to use their married names before marriage.

In Belgium, a bride will embroider her name on a handkerchief, carry it on her wedding day and then frame and give it to the next bride-to-be in her family.