George Boyle
Polish weddings are a fantastic celebration, full of unique customs and traditions. From the engagement ceremony to the poprawiny (extended after-party), there is so much to learn about Polish weddings.
The engagement ceremony is an intimate gathering at the home of the couple's parents, complete with delicious food and drinks. The wedding attire is also unique, with brides often opting for a white dress with a hint of blue, symbolising marital fidelity and purity. Some brides even choose to wear a hand-painted dress inspired by Polish folklore, along with braids and a flower crown.
On the wedding day, the couple, their parents, and loved ones gather at the bride's home for a family blessing, where the father of the bride sprinkles holy water on the soon-to-be spouses. The ceremony, or Ślub, usually takes place in a church, as most Poles are Catholic. After the ceremony, guests throw rice or coins at the newlyweds, and then it's time for the reception, or wesele.
Upon arriving at the reception, the couple is greeted by their parents with bread and salt. The bread symbolises an abundance of food, while the salt represents the challenges of life. This ritual is followed by the singing of Sto Lat, wishing the couple a hundred years of health and happiness.
Polish weddings are known for their abundance of food and drinks. From traditional Polish chicken soup to delicious desserts, guests are treated like royalty. And let's not forget the vodka, which plays a significant role in Polish wedding traditions.
The Polish wedding dance, or Oczepiny, is another highlight of the reception. It involves the removal of the bride's veil and braids, symbolising her transition from a single woman to a married one. The bridal party and guests form a circle around the couple as they dance in the centre, often performing traditional dances like the Polonaise or the Mazurka.
The poprawiny, or the second day of the wedding celebration, is a more relaxed affair, usually held the day after the wedding. It's a chance to continue the festivities, spend more time with loved ones, and enjoy even more food, drinks, and dancing!
What You'll Learn
The Engagement
In Poland, the engagement ring is worn on the right hand and is moved to the left hand after the wedding ceremony. It is customary for the groom to ask the bride's father for her hand in marriage. Couples usually throw an engagement party for their closest friends and family, which is a great opportunity for both families to meet.
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The Wedding Attire
Polish weddings are a time-honoured custom that brings family and friends together to celebrate the love and union of the newlyweds. The wedding attire is a reflection of the bride's cultural heritage and a celebration of love and tradition.
The Polish wedding dress is usually white or ivory, symbolising purity and innocence. It is often adorned with intricate lace, floral embroideries, and delicate beading. The dress is typically a ball gown style, with a full skirt and a fitted bodice, creating a romantic and elegant silhouette.
In addition to the beautiful dress, Polish brides often wear a traditional headpiece called a wianek, which is a wreath of flowers and greenery worn to symbolise fertility and prosperity. The bride may also wear a veil, often handcrafted and passed down through generations as a family heirloom.
Polish grooms typically wear a formal suit, with a hat that reflects Polish folklore. The wedding invitation usually includes details about the wedding attire, with guests expected to dress formally. For women, this may include elegant cocktail dresses or skirts, while men typically wear suits and ties or even tuxedos.
Polish weddings are a celebration of culture and tradition, and the wedding attire plays a significant role in honouring these customs. From the intricate details of the bride's dress to the formal elegance of the guests' attire, the wedding attire at a Polish wedding is a sight to behold.
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The Ceremony
After the ceremony, the guests will gather outside the church and wait for the couple to exit. They will then cheer and sing the Polish celebratory song, "Sto Lat", wishing the couple a happy 100 years. The guests will then line up to greet the couple, presenting them with kisses on the cheek, well wishes, and a gift. The gift usually consists of a card with money, and flowers or a bottle of wine.
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The Reception Traditions
The reception is known as the wesele. After the church ceremony, the wedding guests may throw rice or coins at the newlyweds. The newly married couple may then pick up the coins together to illustrate their partnership.
Upon arriving at the reception venue, the newly married couple will be greeted by their parents with bread sprinkled with salt. The bread is said to signify that the spouses will never experience hunger, while the salt represents the fact that life isn't always full of sweetness. Sometimes, the bread and salt ritual also includes two shot glasses: one with vodka, one with water. According to the custom, the person who receives the vodka shot is considered to be the more dominant person in the relationship. After taking the shot, each person then throws their shot glass behind their back. Broken glasses mean good luck. The ritual concludes with a toast to wish the couple luck and a long life together.
Following the bread and salt ceremony, the guests sing the "Sto Lat" song, wishing the couple 100 years of health and happiness. Some wedding receptions also have a Polish Apron Dance, in which all the guests dance with the couple to lively polka tunes. Typically, an apron is held out by the father of the bride for wedding guests to throw money into as they dance. The couple often uses the money on their honeymoon.
Perhaps the highlight of the wedding reception is the oczepiny ceremony, also known as "the unveiling." The ceremony occurs around midnight and marks the bride's first night as a married woman. As part of the ceremony, the bride throws her veil into a group of single women (similar to the more common bouquet toss). Whoever catches the bride's veil is allegedly the next in line to get married.
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The Post-Wedding Traditions
The day after the wedding reception, usually a Sunday, there is a second day of festivities, known as the poprawiny. Think of this as an extended after-party—albeit far less formal and much more intimate when compared to the actual wedding reception. The poprawiny is a traditional second wedding party, which dates back to when weddings in Poland were multi-day events. It is held to continue the festivities and allow the newlyweds to spend more time with their loved ones. It also gives guests who may have been unable to attend the wedding day the opportunity to celebrate with the couple. There is often a lot of singing and traditional Polish music playing, creating a lively and festive atmosphere, including more eating, drinking, and dancing.
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Frequently asked questions
Polish weddings are formal events, so guests should wear formal attire. For men, this means a suit and tie or even a tuxedo. For women, dresses or skirts are appropriate.
Polish weddings usually take place in a church, as most Poles are Catholic. The ceremony is called the Ślub and can last for about an hour and a half. After the ceremony, guests throw rice or coins at the newlyweds.
The wedding reception is known as the wesele. Upon arriving at the reception, the newlyweds are greeted by their parents with bread sprinkled with salt. This ritual symbolises the wish that the couple will never experience hunger, while the salt represents life's difficulties. There may also be two shot glasses: one with vodka and one with water. The person who receives the vodka shot is considered the more dominant partner. After the ritual, guests sing the "Sto Lat" song, wishing the couple 100 years of health and happiness.
Polish weddings feature traditional Polish food, such as rosół (chicken soup), zakąski (cold appetizers like herring), pierogi (dumplings), golabki (cabbage rolls), and kielbasa (sausage). The wedding cake, or tort weselny, is a grand, multi-tiered creation.
