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Why couples marry more than once, from France's civil-first law to traditional and white weddings in Ghana and Nigeria, Indian multi-day events and Korean pyebaek.
Couples hold more than one wedding ceremony for three main reasons: the law recognises one ceremony and faith or family asks for another; families have customs that sit alongside a religious service; or a wedding is a series of rituals spread over several days. France requires a civil marriage before any religious one, many Ghanaian and Nigerian couples hold a traditional ceremony and a church "white wedding", and Indian and Korean weddings often include several events. For guests, it mostly means reading each invitation carefully.
In some countries only a civil ceremony makes a marriage legal, so couples who also want a religious wedding hold two.
In much of West Africa, a marriage joins two families as much as two people, and the families' customary rites come alongside, not instead of, a church or mosque wedding.
Some traditions were never a single event. Rituals that belong to different stages, families or groups of guests are spread over days.
Why couples hold more than one ceremony: Civil then religious, France, The civil ceremony at the town hall, Often family and witnesses at the mairie; wider guests at the religious ceremony and reception; Customary plus church, Ghana, Nigeria, Depends on country and registration; customary marriage is legal in Ghana, Customary rites often family-focused; white wedding often larger; Multi-day rituals, Many Indian weddings, Depends on local law and registration, Varies by event; some are close family only; Main ceremony plus family ritual, Korean pyebaek, The registered marriage, Pyebaek is usually close family only.
Read each invitation. Being invited to one event doesn't mean you're invited to all of them. A civil ceremony or a pyebaek may be family-only by design, not a snub.
Yes, for the marriage to be legal. Only a civil marriage performed by a civil officer is recognised, and it must come before any religious ceremony.
Customary marriage is one of the forms of marriage recognised by Ghanaian law. Many couples still also hold a church wedding, which is registered as an ordinance marriage.
Usually not. One gift for the marriage is standard. If a specific custom involves giving at a particular event, such as cash at a tea ceremony, the family will usually tell you.
Many of these ceremonies are small by tradition, such as a town hall wedding, a family rite or a pyebaek. Being invited to the main celebration is the usual invitation for friends.
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