Armenian Wedding Traditions&Useful Tips

This post includes a number of useful Armenian traditions that are often practiced in Armenian wedding receptions. We hope that the useful tips will help future brides and grooms during their wedding planning process, and also provide knowledgeable insight of Armenian traditions to non-Armenians.

'Tarosiks' Tradition - Tarosiks are small

beautiful souvenirs, designed in the form of small boxes, baskets, bouquets and containing candies. According to a beautiful Armenian wedding tradition, the bride and the groom distribute these gifts - to all their single friends during the wedding party. By giving tarosiks to their friends, the married couple wish their single friends to get married soon. It is also believed that if a person puts “tarosiks” under the pillow, he or she can see their promised wife or husband in their dreams.

Advice: It is recommended to prepare more tarosiks, than there are single guests, as other non-single guests also like to take tarosiks for their single members of family and friends, and there is always shortage of tarosiks and someone who is upset, because he/she didn't manage to get one.

'Shabash' Tradition – Is another Armenian tradition, when the close relatives and friends approach the bride during the first dance and give her money (drams and dollars). This tradition is to wish the newly-weds wealth and affluence.
Advice: A great way to add color to the dance floor is to pass out colored handkerchief to all the guests. This fun accessory will not only brighten up the dance floor but will also look great in the wedding video.

'Bouquet Toss' Tradition – According to the tradition bride throws her bouquet and the lucky lady who catches it is believed to be the next to wed. Initially, it was believed that anything of the Bride's would bring good luck and help to dispel evil spirits.
Advice: It is recommended to have the florist create two bouquets: one a bride can use for the bouquet toss, the other bouquet (the original) to keep as a keepsake.

'Breaking the Plates' Tradition - Two decorated plates are required to be broken by the Bride and the Groom at the entrance of their home. It is to keep the evil eye from their home and dispel the evil spirit.
Advice: It is recommended to choose the plates made of thin glass, because, according to the common belief, the plates should be broken at the first hit. Otherwise, the measure will not be as effective.

We will be happy if you share your knowledge about past and present Armenian wedding traditions.