US vs UK weddings differences?

Also as far as I'm aware, here the bride pays for the BM dresses?

I think I heard in the UK it is more common to have a (insert horror face even though I don't care) cash bar. I had heard the bridal shower wasn't common though as I have a friend who was like what's the difference between that and a hen do?

Yes that's true, I don't think I've ever ever been to a wedding where evening reception drinks were free. Wedding breakfast drinks, toast wine and stuff is generally covered, but for the evening you pay for your own.

A hen do is equivalent of your bachelorette parties I believe? So more of a go out have fun party type thing. I presumed a bridal shower was sitting down with a glass of wine getting gifts?

Also I think the bride walking before her bridesmaids is traditional from what I've seen from friends. Never seen that at a wedding here but when you think about it it kind of makes sense that way

We had a few UK brides teach us about the tiered system of invitations.

Groom's cakes are regional here in the US. Its more of a southern tradition. As a Northerner, I've never been to a wedding with one.

I agree with @Star about the grooms cake, never heard of it until I moved to Texas.

I learned about it by watching Steel Magnolias when I was younger. They had the armadillo grooms cake. Heh

There are also cultural differences (italian, mexican, polish, greek) on top of the regional ones.

Its like saying all British weddings the guests wear hats.

At Jamaican weddings we give a piece of rum/fruit cake in a box for everyone to take home

I thought bridal teas and bridal portraits were something everyone did, but apparently it is mainly done in the South. So there are even differences like that between different areas in the U.S.

Well, as an English girl marrying an American, I've definitely been made aware of the differences in UK and US weddings. If anyone is interested the main differences that we have in the UK are:

Starting right from the beginning, no engagement picture session (though this might be starting to happen a little), no Save the Dates (again this is starting to happen), invitations go out earlier, no bridal shower (they are actually considered a bit rude and tacky if I'm honest), no gift registries (though again, becoming a little more common now), generally cocktail hour and wine with dinner and all else cash bar, tiered weddings are very common, no rehearsal dinner (no rehearsal except for the bride and groom normally) , speeches rather than toasts and limited to 3 people (BM, Groom and FOB), no garter toss, no processional except for the bride FOLLOWED by the bridesmaids (I.e no formal escorting of parents etc to their seats), no groomsmen only best man and ushers. Much longer than US weddings, normally two meals (a full 3 course dinner and then a buffet later in the night). As the OP mentioned, no father/daughter dance or mother son dance. The bride and groom only dance about a minute of their first dance before other couples (normally parents and BP join in).

American traditions I'm embracing, some because they actually work better for me, and some so I don't offend my new family: bridal shower, registry, bridesmaids entering before me, rehearsal dinner.

Grooms cakes actually started in England. As the English migrated to the US they settled mostly in the south where it stayed a strong tradition.

I personally prefer many of the UK traditions to US. I also think showers and registries are tacky. And the BP should not pay for their attire.

I wasn't suggesting all Americans are the same and I'm sorry if it came out that way.I am just curious/nosy! I'd like to hear all the differences

Andrea - the rum cake is a West Indian thing! My fam is from St.Martin and we are doing that as small favors. We call it black cake. Usually the grooms cake is the black cake but we're doing the traditional southern version of one since FH is from GA. I love all these cultural differences

Grooms cakes may have 'started' in England but they were never, ever popular here, and they certainly don't happen now. They are not a British tradition.

I also forgot about the couple paying for all the attire. I think that's also why we don't tend to go all that over board on gifts for the BMs etc.

No, it started and died in Victoria England.

Nicola pretty much nailed the vast majority of UK wedding things.

Scottish weddings, especially in rural areas, tend to have a ceilidh (actual band, the proper dances - I had to distinguish since I've had the misfortune to attend "ceilidhs" where its obvious nobody bothered to actually learn the dances and instead slapped some glorified dance party together and called it a day) opened to the village instead of an evening reception.

Gypsy weddings - our family doesn't really have anything that sticks out as different to me. Aside from a lot of bright colours and a very family focus.

Black cake is a Colombian wedding cake thing too! Must be a Caribbean thing.