Polish weddings are a two day celebration. On the first day, the guests of the groom go together to the bride's family home, where the bride and groom receive a blessing from their parents. Everyone then drives to the church in procession with the bride and groom at the front. Along the way, in a fun Polish wedding tradition called "wedding gates" (bramy weselne), people can stop the couple and demand gifts (often sweets and alcohol) from them in order to let them pass. The wedding ceremony (ślub) is then performed at the church of the bride. After the wedding Mass, the bride and groom remain in the church while the guests exit. The guests wait outside to shower the bride and groom with confetti/rice/pennies as they exit the church. Once everyone arrives to the wedding celebration (wesele) venue, the bride and groom's parents greet them outside the venue with bread and salt as a gesture of best wishes for their marriage. The groom then carries the bride into the venue, and the celebrations begin! Celebrations last late into the night (as late as 5:00 the next morning!) Several meals are served, and there is dancing and games for everyone! On the second day, in the afternoon, there is a second celebration (poprawiny) with food and even more dancing that proceeds until midnight. Polish weddings are very festive, and we are honored to celebrate this momentous occasion with you!
For the first day, dress as you would any formal occasion, but be sure that you can dance in whatever you wear! Cocktail attire is great for the second day.
The norm in Poland is to wear wedding rings on the right hand. Widows and widowers wear their wedding rings on the left hand. (This is just the norm in Poland; no need to swap!)
Fear not! The wedding Mass will be bilingual (Polish and English)!
Yes! After the bride and groom are married and the Holy Eucharist is celebrated, they both proceed to an image or statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and ask for Her intercession.
Don't worry! There will be several meals served throughout the reception and plenty of drink as well!
One fun tradition that the guests do if they want to see the newlyweds kiss is to shout the word "gorzko" (pronounced like "goh-shko") which means "bitter." The guests are implying that the alcohol is too bitter and that the newlyweds need to sweeten it with a kiss!
Vodka is very much a staple in traditional Polish weddings. People make toasts with it and take shots throughout the celebration! Some common toasts include "na zdrowie!" (for health!), "do kieliszka!" (to your glass!), "do dna!" (to the bottom!). Other similar flavored liqueurs are commonly served at Polish weddings, too. Enjoy responsibly ;)
Polish weddings always include "disco polo," which is very lively dance music! If you know how to swing dance, you'll do just fine.