For example, in Nigeria it is considered good luck for the bride if her feet are washed before the wedding to wash away any evil. (The groom is probably grateful too!) The Chinese use lots of loud firecrackers at weddings to scare off evil spirits.

In England and in Hindu tradition, it is bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the ceremony. However, in other cultures there are customs that mark the collection of the bride by the groom to take her to the ceremony. In France, an old tradition is to have children tie white ribbons across the street that the couple have to cut together to be able to proceed to the church.

Spare a thought for the Russian groom who has to work even harder, making sure that he goes to his bride's apartment with plenty of time to spare before the ceremony. This is because the groom is challenged by members of the bride's family at each flight of steps with questions and tasks that he has to be successful in to be able to proceed. If he is unable to pass a challenge, he can either pay money to pass or entertain his way through with singing or dancing.

Do you have any customs to add? Let us know in the comments so we can all be inspired!

Whether they are given to the newlyweds to begin their new life, given to the guests or exchanged between the bride and groom, the giving of gifts is omnipresent in worldwide wedding customs.

In China, female relatives give brides pocketbooks filled with gold jewellery.

In the Philippines, the groom gives 13 pieces of gold or silver (called arrhae) as a gesture to demonstrate his dedication to his wife and future children.

Do you have any customs to add? Let us know in the comments so we can all be inspired!

The custom of giving a ring to signify a betrothal is ancient, believed to have been widespread in Ancient Greece where rings were also given as a token of affection and friendship.

Pliny wrote about iron rings being sent as pledges to the bride in 1st century Rome. Roman law considered betrothal to be an important contract of future marriage with the sending of the iron betrothal ring (called the annulus pronobus) being a significant gesture to mark the promise. The hardness of the iron demonstrated the intended length of the commitment whilst also representing strength and permanence.

A very dramatic engagement gesture, though no longer practised widely in the modern day, was for a Filipino man to throw a spear into the front steps of his betrothed's home, indicating to everyone that the young girl who lived there had been spoken for.

In China, a traditional engagement gift is a whole roast pig, presented by the groom's family to that of the bride.

Do you have any customs to add? Let us know in the comments so we can all be inspired!