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1. First of all, be sure to go hungry! Most ceremonies consist of 8 or 10 course meals.

2. Ask the people around you or the newlywed about the food. Each dish represents something or has meaning about them.

3. It is common to lift your bowl and push the food into your mouth. Don't be shy!

4. DRESS CODE!!! Do not wear white as it symbolizes death.

5. It is perfectly fine to give the gift of money to the couple. Just be sure to put it in a red envelope!

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GUEST CODE: Thanks to our multicultural society, you may find yourself at a wedding this summer that celebrates in ways you aren't familiar with - and we're here to help. Each week, the HuffPost Canada Living team will take a look at a different culture's wedding and tell you about the customs, traditions and rules that go along with celebrating your friends' big day.

Like most wedding ceremonies, traditional Chinese weddings are marked with customs and seen as a rite of passage. While the ceremony portion is something usually shared with close family members and friends, couples (and their parents) tend to treat that party that follows as giant celebration.

"Chinese people are very superstitious, thus impacting many wedding day decisions and traditions," says Toronto-based wedding planner Rebecca Chan. "A traditional Chinese wedding carries its own traditions unlike any other ethnic wedding. One large difference is the importance of the colours red and gold, colours that symbolize love, prosperity and happiness."

Although no two weddings are alike, Chan says customs and traditions vary depending on the couple. While some couples choose to host their weddings at Chinese restaurants with a multiple-course meal and red and gold decorations, other couples go for a more "Western feel" at banquet halls with only three to four courses.

"Chinese families are usually large and, when it comes to the wedding, everyone is invited. Parents will invite many of their friends to take part in the celebration as well, adding to the overall guest count," Chan says, noting that on average, guests lists go up to 200 to 350 guests.

The ceremony portion typically includes the ring exchange, a tea ceremony, the bride's dress change into a red outfit and the couple bowing down to show respect to the families' elders and God. The wedding date itself is selected based on "lucky days" in feng shui and the Chinese lunar calender, Chan says, along with looking at the couples' Chinese zodiac signs.

While themes of good fortune and luck are sprinkled throughout the events and games, Chan says the main focus comes down to the feast, with hundreds of family members and friends.
Here are Chan's 8 etiquette tips for attending a Chinese wedding, and what to do at the dinner table:

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GUEST CODE: Thanks to our multicultural society, you may find yourself at a wedding this summer that celebrates in ways you aren't familiar with - and we're here to help. Each week, the HuffPost Canada Living team will take a look at a different culture's wedding and tell you about the customs, traditions and rules that go along with celebrating your friends' big day.

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In a Chinese wedding, there are 6 steps before becoming husband & wife.

The first step is Proposing. The man visits the woman's home to give gifts.

The second step is Birthday Matching. The couple would visit a fortune teller who used the Chinese Zodiac to see if their marriage is happy.

The third step is Presenting Betrothal Gifts. If the match was a success, then more presents were to come.

The fourth step is Presenting Wedding Gifts. This step is the most important one. Gifts were given to the woman's family and it showed respect and kindness.

The fifth step is Selecting the Wedding Date. A date was chosen based on the astrological book.

The sixth step is the Wedding Ceremony. Wedding ceremonies differ from regions in different parts of China.

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Ancient Chinese Marriage Customs, Traditional Wedding Ceremony, Groom & Bride

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From the Qin (221 BC - 206 BC) to Qing (1644 - 1911) Dynasties, the feudal system dominated over two thousands years. It set strict process on marriage custom.

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Some of the unusual traditions that you'll find at a Nigerian wedding ceremony are the outfits and the money dance. The wedding won't be your typical tuxedo and white dress. You'll see some colorful and unique Nigerian cloths. Then there is the money dance that you sometimes get to see. The Money Dance is when the bride gets showered with money from some guests, family members and friends. It is optional for guests to give money to the bride; blessing her marriage.

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After the ceremony is over, everyone starts to have fun and enjoy their time at the wedding. The food at most parties are focused more on the tradition Nigerian food, but it is very hard to find Nigerian chefs in America. The food that you would mostly see being offered at the wedding are bite size food, rice, soup, and other spicy food. While you can be enjoying the delicious Nigerian food, you can also be on the dance floor with the partying guest. Most of the songs are not going to be American music, but Nigerian music with some American pop, depending on the DJ.

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Are you going to a Nigerian wedding this summer or just interested in learning about their wedding traditions? We have the scoop on what to expect thanks to Gee, Editor of Knotsvilla!
Photography by Jonathan Ivy Photography

So you're attending a Nigerian wedding and wondering what it will be like? Well get ready for an eye catching and mind racing experience!

As Nigerians, we are known to a be a little bit "over the top", and trust me, that is putting it very moderately. When it comes to style, fashion and tradition we seem to go the extra mile to make a statement. Bottom line, you can't attend a Nigerian wedding and leave the same way.

Here are 6 things you can expect when you attend a Nigerian Wedding:
1. Double Outfits
Photo by Alakija Studios via Aisle Perfect

Do not be shocked when the reception begins and you can't find the big white wedding dress or the tuxedo. It's all gone! In many Nigerian weddings, the couples attempt to enjoy both the "Western" culture as well as their own culture by wearing the white dress for the ceremony and traditional Nigerian attire for the reception.

Sometimes Nigerians might also opt for 2 different weddings, the traditional Nigerian wedding and the western one, which is referred to as the "White" wedding. These two celebrations could be days or even weeks apart. In the traditional Nigerian wedding, the bride only wears traditional attire, either from her tribe, her new husband's tribe or sometimes both.

You will also probably notice a drastic change in makeup and accessories when the bride wears the traditional Nigerian attire. Because we are avid lovers of color, the makeup and accessories with the traditional attire would most likely be far from subtle, especially when the outfit is a very rich color.
2. Aso-Ebi
Photo by Alakija Studios

Aso-Ebi means "Family Clothes" in Yoruba, a Nigerian language. This is when family members of the couple, decide to wear identical colors and fabrics at an event to identify themselves. So at a Nigerian wedding you could differentiate the bride's family from the groom's family based on the colors and fabrics they're wearing. However it is also very common to see friends of the bride show up in aso-ebi too.

Usually the bride decides what aso-ebi people will wear to her wedding and announces it months before so the guests can purchase their outfits. Some prominent guests and close family members may not have to purchase it, as the bride's family may give them out as gifts.
3. Music
As a guest new to a Nigerian Wedding, you may not know any of the songs played during the reception. The DJ might throw in a few pop songs, but you will definitely hear the likes of P-square, Flavour, Tiwa Savage and more. Hopefully, you're not like me and have a hard time dancing to unfamiliar songs. The good news though, Nigerian songs are pretty easy to pick up and will always almost get you on your feet.

Nigerians also love to have "group" dances where everyone participates. So don't freak out when you see a group of people dancing to what seems to be choreographed steps like they'd practiced at home before they came. They didn't, there are just those songs that have "their dances", think Cupid Shuffle. A few common dances would be Azonto (originally a Ghanaian dance), Chop My Money, Kukere and Skelewu just in case you want to YouTube and study ahead of time. No pressure though!
4. Spraying Money
So the dancing begins and you start seeing dollar bills all over the place. Fear not! Unlike the American "Dollar Dance" spraying money is not mandatory or meant to put pressure on the guests. At Nigerian weddings, the guests spray money of their own free will to show their happiness for the couple. Many times it is the older guests that do this, like the couple's uncles, aunties and other older family friends.

There is no particular time on the program allocated for family and friends to spray money, whenever the couple gets on the dance floor it's almost guaranteed that the couple will be sprayed - those rich uncles and aunts always like to show themselves!
5. Food
Do you like spicy food? I really hope so. You see, we Nigerians are very particular when it comes to our food and this is one of the major reasons we would rather not chose wedding venues that refuse outside food - we feel only Nigerians can do the job right. Seriously though, how many Nigerian chefs do you see here in North America?

Our foods vary from swallow (food that you don't chew, but swallow like Eba, Pounded Yam, Amala), soups (what you mix the "swallow" food with before eating) and rice (e.g Fried Rice, Jollof Rice, Coconut Rice or Plain White Rice which we eat with stew).

At most Nigerian weddings, you can also expect what we call "small chops", which are the closest things we have to what you know as "appetizers". Major ones include Pepper Soup, Suya, Puff Puff, Meat Pie and Chin Chin.

Remember to ask how spicy the food is before you fill up your plate!
6. Guest list? What's that?
Photo by Kele Akaniro Photography

Haha! Okay maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but I will be totally honest with you, the struggle to handle a guest list at a Nigerian wedding is just too real. We come in numbers, large numbers! When I was younger, I remember my mum asking any and everyone to "accompany" her to a wedding; in most cases they were not on the guest list and didn't even know the couple.

Keeping this in mind, the wedding hosts usually prepare for what is estimated to be the "maximum possible number" in regards to favors, food, chairs and other aspects. It's common to hear that a couple confirms a guest list of 250, but about 1000 guests were actually present.

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I hope you enjoyed learning a bit about Nigerian weddings. Of course every wedding is different and unique in its own way, these are just a few things I have noticed from attending some and planning mine.

Thanks to Jasmine for inviting me to talk about Nigerian weddings on My Hotel Wedding, it has definitely been a pleasure!

About the author: I am a Nigerian blogger based in Canada and editor of the Wedding blog, KnotsVilla. My passion for weddings came after I planned my own and since blogging had always been of interest to me, a wedding blog seemed like the right direction. KnotsVilla is all about helping, inspiring and educating brides about their wedding planning. In my free time she loves to tweet and instagram wedding pretties.

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6 Things to Expect in a Nigerian Wedding - My Hotel Wedding

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Are you going to a Nigerian wedding this summer or just interested in learning about their wedding traditions? We have the scoop on what to expect thanks to Gee, Editor of Knotsvilla! Photography by Jonathan Ivy Photography So you're attending a Nigerian wedding and wondering what it will be like?

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Weddings in Nigeria were often traditional back then; but now there are two other form of wedding. Civil Weddings and Religious weddings are now a part of the possible wedding that could be made the soon-to-be-wed or their family. Different types of weddings aren't the only difference towards a Nigerian wedding, it's the family of the bride and groom. In Nigeria, there are three tribal clans that celebrate weddings differently from each other. Out of the Igbo, Yuroba, and Hausa tribe, the wedding that would be the most entertaining and fun would most like go to the Yuroba, who are known as the party clan.

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In the Nigerian culture, marriages are usually arranged by the bride's family or groom's family. In the process of a traditional Nigerian wedding, there are two ceremony that is held before the possible wedding: they;re called the Introduction ceremony and the Engagement ceremony.

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Nigerian Wedding Customs (Photo: )

Nigeria is a populous country with hundreds of ethnicities, each with its own wedding customs. The largest groups are the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Ijaw, but there are many more distinct communities of people who make Nigeria their home. No matter what your ancestral identity might be, a Nigerian wedding is traditionally an extravaganza that honors both the loving couple and their proud families, where all and sundry can enjoy the festivities with lots of music, dancing and food. Should your journeying take you to a wedding in Nigeria, you are lucky indeed.

Before the Wedding

There are a few traditional hurdles for Igbo couples to get over before their wedding date. Theoretically, they can't even set that date until older siblings have married (no pressure, big brother!). An Igbo bride provides her prospective groom with a dowry list of gifts he is obliged to present to her family; if he fails to come up with the goods, he risks losing his bride.

Hausa and Fulani grooms have traditionally proven their worth by subjecting themselves to a lashing before they can claim a bride. This custom has its roots in the historical importance of endurance, courage and discipline to these nomadic tribes.

Dressing Up

Aso Ebi is a Yoruba term roughly meaning "family cloth." It refers to the colorful attire worn as a signifier of group identity, especially at weddings where the bride's family, groom's family, guests and others may have their own distinct Aso Ebi to wear. This usage has spread from the Yoruba people to folks all over Africa. Anyone close to the wedding families may be expected to follow this tradition.

It has become fashionable in some quarters to hold a more western-style marriage ceremony. However, even a westernized bride will often change from her wedding dress to exquisite African attire for the reception. While many Yoruba brides wear their Aso Ebi threads, Igbo brides may prefer their own traditional lace blouse, colorful skirt, coral beads and headpiece.

Matters of Ceremony

Yoruba traditions are largely based on mutual respect. In a ritual still practiced at many weddings, the groom demonstrates his high regard for his bride's family by prostrating himself before them. Friends of the groom are also expected to prostrate themselves.

Igbo traditions include presenting the groom with three ladies, their faces covered. He must pick out his bride and woe unto him should he fail. In a case of "turnabout is fair play," the Igbo bride must find her groom amongst the crowd and present him with a cup of palm wine.

Ijaw custom calls for the bride to maintain a stoic, unsmiling demeanor - at least until the groom offers her a gift of money. Then, covered in cash, she is allowed to smile.

After the Vows

When newlyweds step onto the dance floor for the first time, tradition calls for guests to throw cash at the bride. This is a longstanding, wide-spread Nigerian wedding custom and continues to be very popular with bridal couples. Although it's not mandatory for guests to take part in the "spraying" of bills, it does add to the fun. The bridesmaids retrieve the cash for safekeeping, and the entire assembly then takes to the dance floor. Nigerian wedding dances are lively, sometimes involving playful competitions amongst attending families. To get the hang of such dances as the Azonto, Kukere and Skelewu, you can check out the moves via a simple internet search.

Tradition Adapts to the 21st Century

As happens in any forward-looking society, cultural norms in Nigeria have changed over the years. Centuries-old traditions evolve and develop. Some are incorporated into modern life, others are abandoned. For example, the protocols surrounding the formal introduction of the prospective groom to the bride's parents have given away to a more relaxed approach. The bride-price these days might be only a token settlement, which - while technically adhering to the venerable custom of paying dowry - avoids putting undue pressure on the young man. Other traditions are accomplished with tongue in cheek, such as the Yoruba groom having to carry his bride in order to prove he can support her physically as well as well as romantically.

The ancient Yoruba ritual of displaying a blood-stained sheet after the wedding night in order to display the bride's virginal state - and sending the bride's family a boiled yam should the red stain fail to appear - has fallen into disuse. Chastity may still be prized for both partners during the engagement period, but this is more of a personal choice than a cultural command.

The Biggest Party in the World

Nigeria has always been a culture of celebration, and famously so. In the case of weddings, this has meant huge, extravagant parties lasting till the wee hours, with open invitations and over-the-top decor. Modern young couples often opt for both a more traditional cultural wedding on top of a separate religious ceremony - and when the bride and groom come from two different tribes, even more layers of rejoicing (and complications) are added.

This convergence of customs is evidenced in the recent blockbuster film, "The Wedding Party." A record-breaking smash hit in Nigeria, it's a charming romantic comedy about a sweet Igbo bride and her stalwart Yoruba groom as they navigate the tricky proceedings of their wedding day amid obstacles, accidents and combative parents. If you want an idea of how contemporary Nigerian weddings both use and adapt traditional culture, this movie is tailor-made for you. For instance, there are hilarious scenes in which the bride's mother insists on keeping her traditional role of feeding the crowd, leading to a heated competition between her and the harried hired caterer. To see who wins, you must watch the movie; it's widely available on streaming services. It might also help prepare you for the real thing, should you be fortunate enough to include a Nigerian wedding in your travel itinerary.

About the Author

Judith loves cats, books, and road trips with her husband. She was born in rural Indiana, studied English Literature at the University of Chicago, and has lived in Chicago, Boston, Deerfield, MA and now Louisville, KY. She owned a bookstore for several years and is a past-president of the Mass. & RI Antiquarian Booksellers. She edits novels and stories, and makes pictures which have been shown in galleries and juried shows. She loves to write, and her motto is "stay curious."

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Nigeria's population is made up of many ethnic groups, the largest of which are the Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and Ijaw peoples. Each group has its own wedding traditions, but in general Nigerian weddings are big, festive affairs regardless of whether they follow African or more westernized customs.

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We've all seen images of the brightly coloured Nigerian weddings and it's widely recognised that if you're after an event filled with dancing and music, this culture does it best. But, we bet you didn't know these other, lesser know Nigerian traditions!

1. Double the Fun

Nigerian brides get double the fun, often having two weddings - a cultural wedding and a religious wedding.

2. Open Invitation

Nigerian weddings generally aren't regulated, so everyone's invited! This means that weddings can turn into events with hundreds and thousands of guests.

3. Get Your Shopping List Ready

In the Igbo tribes, the bride's family give the groom a list of different items as a dowry and if he cannot get every single item, he's no permitted to marry. This list can include some big ticket purchases like a new car, or some hard to find trinkets like the tooth of an alligator.

4. The Brighter, the Better

Nowadays, some Nigerian brides are choosing to have a western wedding with a white dress, but many girls opt instead for the traditional Igbo wedding attire which features a lace blouse, brightly patterned wrapper (a kaftan like skirts that wraps around the body), coral beads and head tie.

5. Money Everywhere

Nigerians spray money onto the bride as a gift at the wedding. As the bride dances, the guests throw large bills at her; however this custom is only performed on the female, never the groom.

6. Wait in Line

Traditionally, Nigerian men are not allowed to get married until their older brothers are, making it tough for the younger siblings if their big brother has decided to be a bachelor for life...

7. No Pain, No Gain

In the Hausa tribe, the groom has to prove his love for the bride by enduring a hundred lashes. If he takes the beating without complaint, the wedding can go ahead.

8. Drink Up

In Nigerian village weddings, there is a ritual in which the bride and groom must drink from the same cup of palm wine. The bride is given the cup and then must go from guest to guest until she finds her husband to offer him a drink as well.

9. Matching Outfits

It's common in Nigerian weddings for the bride and grooms extended family to wear the same colour or fabric as the bridal party.

10. Mum's Cooking

Nigerian weddings are often catered for by the bride's mother and her friends.

Images sourced from The Nigerian Wedding Blog

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10 NIGERIAN WEDDING CUSTOMS THAT PROVE THESE BRIDES KNOW HOW TO PARTY

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We've all seen images of the brightly coloured Nigerian weddings and it's widely recognised that if you're after an event filled with dancing and music, this culture does it best. But, we bet you didn't know these other, lesser know Nigerian traditions! 1.

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The wedding invitations to Nigerian wedding aren't regulated, making the party open to guests.