The Polish Wedding - What is it Like?

From my collection of old post cards, this is Polish wedding 1920 by Wodzinoski 1866-1940. Carol

l920_wedding_l920_wo.jpg

This seems like something for me to write on.


Ussualy Polish wedding is for about 100 or over guests. Popular months june-czerwiec, sierpien-august, wrzesien-september. The months have common thing letter R in the name of the mounth. Notice taht the july-lipiec is less popular cos of lack of R in the name. It is not common to get married in may. Planning the wedding is big thing nowdays. In my city there no avilable receptions, photographers, videofilming companies for the next two years during summer times weekends. To buy a dress it is neccessery to have appoinment, there is a que. I am surrprise but that seem to be still common that very young people get married (19, 20 years old, next age is 25, before 30). It is not appropriate for a couple to live toghether without being married, but it can be stearotyp for others, I reffer only to my knowledge, expecillay cos I have been reading some polish wedding forum in order to plan my own.

Like a party that never ends. Countless stories are told and made at Polish weddings.

slub-wedding

rozwód - divorce
ooops, wrong thread, heh heh heh

Some Polish weddings can go on for days

If you want to view more movies under you can see morel clips

Yeah, it's long. I went to one in Chorżów in Aug and it lasted for 12 hours whereas my brother's in Scotland (Oct) lasted for only 6. The ceremony was much quicker in Scotland. Still, there was vodka and food aplenty and a great atmosphere. The band played well and you can hear some classic Slavic songs. It can also be a cultural event as some Ukrainians were there and sang some of their own national songs. A good time was had by all

i come from Polish and Slovak ancestors. i live in the US. my wife is polish and italian. when we inquired about a outdoor ceremony the priest told us it had to be indoors " in the presense of God". i said i thought god is everywhere and he snubbed his nose. since then we joined a luthern church and left the catholic church. after hearing all kinds of outdoor wedding stories i belive it all comes down to the priest and or the parish. as with everything else everyone has a different opinion.

In Scotland, consummation of marriage is much more of a flexible process. Provided the relevant witnesses and competent people are in attendance then, in the absence of procedural defects, the marriage goes ahead. We are keen to identify what constitutes a sham marriage and throw it out but this doesn't happen often. In today's current global climate, there has to be increasing understanding of practices and cultural sensitivities. U should have countered him/her by saying that God is all around us, in our souls even, and tested his reaction, well ,ok, u said everywhere but u should've laboured the point. Nose snubbing is an instinctive and often defensive reaction to comments. Why did u not opt 4 an indoor ceremony, any legitimate objections? Just curious fella

im going to a polish wedding in may for a friend of mine, we are engligh and speak little polih (very little) any ideas for gifts etc. i use a wheelchair and will be with my wife and chidlren. can anybody help with useful info

Gifts could be good vodka. A traditionally English gift would be appreciated. The Poles quite like tea so roll with that. Or a nice cutlery set straight from Sheffield

I'm going to a traditional polish wedding this coming May. I was wonder are the guest allow to wear a "simple" white dress to the wedding. It looks nothing like a wedding dress, but my friends in the states are saying I shouldn't wear it. I want some feedback from those who have attend Polish wedding before and seen what the guests have worn. PLease any suggestion will help. Thank you!

Does anyone know if I can find the song anywhere?

google fro "Góralu, czy ci nie żal" (I'm assmuing that's the song you mean, I'm not going to read aPole's whole post now)

Dzięki Krzysztof. I found the lyrics and boy , made me cry!

I agree with your friends. I think it's a worldwide tradition that only the bride should wear white. Even if nobody at the wedding believes in this, it's better to play it safe and let the bride be the one in white.

Hi,

I have recently had a Polish wedding - my wedding. If you have any questions about it, just ask. I can answer all your doubts.

I would say it was very beautiful and unforgetable. Two days of dacing and having fun.

Anna

Congratulations Anna.

Congratulations too, Anna. :) All the best!

As to ImAbElIeVeR's question, I agree with Shewolf. There are two colours a girl is not supposed to wear to another girl's wedding. White - as it's reserved for the bride, and black - as it's reserved for the dead. :)

As to Polish weddings. They're special in a way that most of the times, they're a beautiful occasion for the whole family to meet, drink, dance, exchange gossip and news..
There are dozens of supperstintions and customs, but it's also XXI century, and you can decide to have it any style. :)

In 2001 I was honoured to be one of the only two English guests at the wedding of my wife's cousin's daughter. It was a traditional countryfolk wedding which began with the convoy of vehicles leaving from the bride's home and then being halted by neighbours wielding various implements thus blockading the road. This 'gate' (bram) is a countryfolk tradition whereby the groom must barter with the neighbours in order to be allowed to take her for himself. And again, traditionally, the payment/bribe is primarilly made by handing over spirytus, vodka etc. The convoy then proceeds to church.
Service seems to last forever, then the usual photo session and proceed to what I would only describe as a wonderful banquet. Eating, drinking, folk-dancing and more eating,etc on into the early hours of the following day.(expect to be dragged up to dance, it's the tradition). Oh, and there are some unusual games to play ;)
When you do arise the following day, expect to continue the feastivity until you beg for mercy. An experience, the memory of which I will always treasure.
Get the picture?
I

What about the bread...
No one mentioned it...
after the ceremony in church couple is welcomed in front of the ballroom by their parents with a specially baked bread (usually round and decorated), and a salt.
Married couple have to eat a piece of bread with salt, after that they can enter the ballroom. Another custom is throwing the glass. After they enter the ballroom there is a toast, couple must drink up the champagne and throw the glass behind - it's a good omen if they broke the glass.

P.S. Sorry for my English.

Lol, that's true. And I know all of it! Nah, I am braggin but I know a lot. Been a guest on few weddings, best man on two. Most of them they were weddings in my family (which can be found in every part of Poland), and my closest family, from my hometown and surroundings always, ALWAYS sing during the Wesele.


I guess that depends. I never paid a penny for the songs I, or someone else requested. More: I sang meself! :^) along with the band (which was of course horrible for anybody's ears, but hey! that was fun :))))


Never happened at any wedding I attended to: the staff is there whole night, bringing food, coffee, tea, wódka bottles, and cleaning quickly all mess at the same time


On Saturday night?!?!
Quite important thing: Polish wedding always, ALWAYS takes place on Saturday. Why? Because following Sunday is a 'poprawiny' day which the article forgot to mention about (not sure how to translate it, it's something like 'repeat') when the party starts all over again and lasts until late afternoon or evening, sometimes even late night.

I am invited to attend another wedding in my family this summer, geeeezzz... I hope I will be able to make it :)

Hey Seanus, you may like this one, I was married in Poland and brought a Scottish Piper over with me and a load of Irishmen, have a look at the clip.




Best Party I ever had, went on for two days... pitty the video on the forum jumps a lot better viewing from youtube

That would've been kickass. That's the ideal wedding right there. A momentous occasion!!

I am curious however... these weddings go on for days, but do people go home and then come back and party some more or does it last continually for 2 days? Sounds like a lot of fun.

now that looks like one beautiful wedding Marcus. Watching your short video was really pleasing. Thanks

Hi ( Learning), Generally people go home for a few hours if they are not living too far away or stay with friends and relatives in the area, however I had people from Ireland, Scotland, England and Holland as well as people from all over Poland so we rented the hotel where the reception was held for four nights. It sounds expensive but If I had had a similar wedding in Ireland, well I would have been paying it off for a number of years. If you are ever invited to a Polish wedding, you must go, you are guaranteed a fantastic few days and a hell of a hangover afterwards. BTW everything is paid for by the Bride and Groom or the parents depending on each persons situation, therefore drinks, food and accommodation are FREE.. sound good?

congrats anna. I am going to a polish wedding in early may and am wondering what sort of dresses women wear? its not black tie and im very lost as to whats appropriate and what the weather in poland will be like at that time of year