Myrtle as a corsage

Czech traditional wedding corsage for guests. Unlike the corsages we see at some foreign weddings, it is worn by each guest. It is myrtle, decorated with a white bow and pinned to the jacket or dress of the wedding guests when they arrive at the ceremony.

Ransom

The friends will block the betrothed's way to the ceremony with various obstacles - only after the groom pays ransom for his bride, then the obstacles will be removed. Sometimes, instead of a ransom, the friends ask the groom to complete some funny task.

Somewhere, this tradition is called pulling - friends of the groom stretch a rope, hang various items on it and block the path.

Flower petals

Little bridesmaids sprinkle the aisle to the altar with flower petals, along which the wedding procession walks. Flower petals symbolize fertility.

Rice throwing

After the ceremony, the guests form an aisle through which the newlyweds walk into their new life together. Guests throw grains of rice at them as a symbol of fertility and wealth. In some places, throwing rice is prohibited, so they are replaced by petals or bubbles.

Horse's collar and “ball and chain”

The groom's friends sometimes put a horse's collar on the groom´s neck after the ceremony - as a funny way to show that marriage is not always easy. 
At the same time, they put an iron ball and chain on the groom's leg. He can be freed by the bride who receives a saw or he can pay himself out.

Breaking the plate

Upon arrival at the reception, the manager of the wedding venue welcomes the newlyweds and offers them a glass with a welcome drink from a tray and then unexpectedly drops a plate on the floor (it is usually hidden under the tray). The newlyweds then sweep up the shards together. The meaning of this custom is multiple: it indicates the ability of the newlyweds to work together, the shards bring good luck and the noise is believed to ward off evil spirits. According to one interpretation, the number of shards indicates the number of children that will be born to the couple. Newlyweds should keep one shard for good luck.

Wedding toast

According to tradition, the wedding dinner is opened by the father of the bride with a festive toast. He can be followed by the groom's father and then possibly by a witness.

Shared soup

The newlyweds share one soup at the wedding - from one plate and with one spoon (which is sometimes purposely perforated). They feed each other and prove that they can take care of each other in difficult times.

Cutting the cake together

The newlyweds cut the wedding cake together, with one knife (or sword), and share the first cut piece.

Wedding cookies

Traditional wedding cookies belong to every Czech wedding. They are small and taste very nice. They are often offered to guests before the ceremony and actually throughout the wedding day.  Guests usually also receive a gift box with wedding cookies at departure.

Newlyweds' first dance

The first dance at a wedding belongs to the newlyweds. Wedding guests usually form a circle around them. The first dance in the Czech Republic has long been the waltz; lately it has been replaced by other songs. According to tradition, the first dance should be followed by a dance with the "new parents" - that is, the groom with the mother of the bride and the bride with the father of the groom, followed by dance with your own parents (bride with her father and groom with his mother).

Throwing the wedding bouquet

After the wedding ceremony and photo shoot, the bride blindly throws the wedding bouquet into the crowd of single women.  According to tradition, the one who catches the bouquet will get married within a year.

Pinning the bride

According to an old tradition, during the wedding day, the decorative green wreath symbolizing her virginity is removed from the bride's head and replaced with a cap worn by married women. This emotional ritual is performed by a group of married women, typically while singing and holding candles.

Wedding games

A specialty of Czech weddings are various wedding games, with which guests have fun and get to know each other. They are played mostly during the evening. Among the most famous are:

Wedding quiz  (shoe lifting)

The bride and groom sit back to back, each holding their shoe in one hand and their partner's shoe in the other. Questions are asked, and the newlyweds pick up the chosen shoe as an answer: for example, which of you cooks better? Who is the better driver, Which of you is the bigger romantic, etc.

Wedding raffle

Guests will buy raffle tickets (thus contributing to newlyweds). The prizes are small gifts, often hidden behind a funny name, e.g. Elixir of youth = children's tea, etc.

Find your groom
The bride is blindfolded and dances with the men one by one until she guesses who the groom is.

Kidnapping the bride
During the wedding afternoon or evening, the bride suddenly disappears- she is “kidnapped” by the groom's friends, usually to the nearest pub. The task of the groom is to find her and buy her back - he will pay the expenses of his friends.

Dance with the bride
During the evening, each of the gentlemen can dance with the bride for a short time for a financial contribution.

Transmitting across the threshold
The husband carries his new wife over the threshold to her new home in his arms - in order to outwit the evil spirits that dwell below the threshold.