Different cultures/ Different Traditions

I am loving this thread!

Buffet is very much the norm in South Africa. Although our venue did say that plated dinners are a trend right now. FH is part of the Afrikaans ethnic group, and I am English. Historically there is bad blood between the 2, and some of the grandparents are still sensitive about the Boer War (which ended in like 1902), especially in the more rural farming communities.

We do have bridal showers, but you typically give kitchen cloths to the bride, or recipes, because it is about adding to the brides' trousseau. Nowadays though, I don't think gifts are given, and it's just a tea party.

We have to get married under a roof. So if you are having an outdoor wedding, then you need a structure with a roof for the signing. Also, your officiant applies for your wedding licence for you, and files all your paperwork.

Confetti is always thrown after leaving the chapel. Like, don't even not think about confetti - the guests will expect it, and everyone knows to grab a handful while waiting for the couple to exit.

Hi Bearpenguin! That's a great perspective on the difference between cash gifts and registries. I guess the rule here is that gifts are unspoken and never to be expected. Almost everyone gives cash but it's never mentioned apart from a thank you card.

I can see how registries are handy - people can choose what they want instead of getting a lot of gifts that are of no use to them and need to be returned. So it fixes that problem. If I was the gift giving type I would find it handy and not think twice about it. But as I said it's not the norm here and my mother (probably most of her generation here too) would be appalled. It's a great example of how something that is considered rude in one culture is totally the norm in another.

@ Cham, the expectation to invite all of our family was a big reason we chose a DW. I have 74 first cousins (Catholic Ireland has only in the last few decades come around to the idea of birth control ) and my FH has around 30. When we first started our guest list it came in over 300 just inviting immediate family, aunts, uncles, first cousins and SO's. There have been proper falling outs in the past over cousins not receiving invites to weddings and we didn't want to go down that road. The DW gives us an excuse to limit our guest list. That, and it rains ALL THE FLIPPING TIME here so at least we have a chance of a sunny day in Portugal