1. Unique cuisines around the world

2.  Bride and groom cut the cake together to symbolize working together during their marriage- It’s considered lucky  Top tier is saved for either first anniversary or christening of first child  People that could not attend the wedding are often sent a piece of cake as a memento  Old superstition: Unmarried people place a piece of the cake under their ENGLAND- TIERED FRUITCAKE

3. Italy:  Health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity  Party favors  Represents bitter and sweet part of life Greece  Called koufetta  Served on silver tray in bags with odd number of koufetta  Unmarried woman places under pillow and dreams of future husband JORDAN ALMONDS

4.  Food was the best way to flaunt wealth  As many as 8-12 courses  Delicacies: Shark fin soup, bird’s nest soup(swift eggs), and a whole fish  Tang yuan (sweet rice ball soup) for a sweet and smooth marriage CHINA

5.  Delicacies such as bibingka (a gooey coconut treat) or suman (a sticky rice cake wrapped in coconut leaves) symbolize that the couple will be forever "glued" together  Roasted whole pig (lechon ) symbolizes prosperity and abundance for the couple PHILIPPINES

6.  Igbo tribe of southern Nigeria- Kola nuts  Served to symbolize the couple's ability to heal differences in their marriage  Shared between bride, groom, and parents NIGERIA

7.  Madhupak- “offering”  Bride’s father offers to groom  Mixture of honey and yogurt  Symbolizes welcome and respect INDIA

8.  Milk- safety and happiness  Date- sweet and smooth life  Festivity is associated with generosity and affluence, therefore, wedding meals are very elaborate as a status symbol  Fish and chicken- symbols of fertility  Pastries like snake-inspired m'hanncha are considered worthy of nobility MOROCCO

9.  Herring roe (kazunoko)  Symbolizes fertility and family prosperity  fish eggs are dried in the sun and pickled in kosher salt to form one large piece JAPAN

10.  Croquembouche- cake that somewhat resembles Eiffle Tower  Made from cream puffs covered in carmalized sugar or sometimes chocolate FRANCE

11.  Bride and groom put a cedar sapling on top of their cake  They plant the sapling at their first home and watch it grow as a symbol of their union BERMUDA

12.  Kuk soo - long noodles representing a long life for the happy couple  Yak shik : sticky-rice ball confection with brown sugar and speckled with raisins, pine nuts, and chestnuts, symbolizes children  Chestnuts and dates are thrown at the bride, who tries to catch them in her dress. The number she catches indicates how big a family the happy couple will have KOREA

13. Casados!!! COSTA RICA

14.  Borja, Sahara. "Global Wedding Traditions." Delish. 2014 Hearst Communications, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014..  "British Culture, British Customs and British Traditions." Marriage and Weddings in the UK. 2014 Learn English Network, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.  Gekas, Alexandra. "9 Wedding Foods Around the World." Woman's Day. Hearst Communications, Inc., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.. www.womansday.com/food-recipes/9-wedding-foods-around-the-  "Hindu Wedding Traditions Wedding WebSite, Wedding Site & Invitation Card, Wedding Card Border, Wedding Site FREE." Hindu Wedding Traditions Wedding WebSite, Wedding Site & Invitation Card, Wedding Card Border, Wedding Site FREE. Our Wedding, n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.  Miller, Josey. "Wedding Foods Around the World - Weddings | Epicurious.com." Epicurious. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014.  "Wedding Favors: All About Jordan Almonds." Theknot.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2014. BIBLIOGRAPHY