The 10 biggest differences between Australian and American weddings

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If you're planning a wedding, chances are you've done your fair share of research on US weddings.

You may have even outsourced your wedding research to some other countries, like England and France.

Australia, however, probably isn't on your radar.

But, as it turns out, right now is a pretty good time to start thinking about Australian weddings. Australia officially legalized same-sex marriage at the end of last year, and, for what it's worth, the country also offers some cool, unique wedding traditions.

It's not that Australian weddings are all that different from ones you may attend in the United States. Still, there are some interesting distinctions that clearly mark the divide between an American wedding from those down under.

Keep scrolling to see what they are.

Both parents walk the bride down the aisle.

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According to Aide-Memoire, it is pretty common for both the mother and the father to walk the bride down the aisle during the wedding ceremony. In fact, mothers and fathers may occasionally walk their son down the aisle, too.

Wedding guests may participate in a unity bowl ceremony.

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Australian weddings will sometimes have a ceremony called a unity bowl, according to BuzzFeed. The unity bowl is a tradition in which guests fill a bowl with small, colorful stones during the wedding ceremony.

According to My New Orleans, the stones may have different colors, which represent different qualities, attributes, and people. After the ceremony, the newly-married bride and groom receive the bowl filled with stones to remind them of the support they have from their friends and family as they embark on their marriage journey.

The bride and groom might receive a special Bible.

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If a couple is Christian, they may receive a keepsake Bible from a family member. According to Bridal Cookie, some Australian weddings feature a ritual in which the family passes down a Bible that has belonged to them for generations is passed down to the newly-married couple for safekeeping.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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