While virtually every culture has some version of the institution of marriage, what a wedding looks like and how it is celebrated can vary dramatically. And if you've only been to Western-style weddings, you may not realize how wonderfully diverse the world of nuptials really is.
Ahead, we've compiled 10 beautiful photos from real weddings all over the globe. While the customs and clothing may be unfamiliar, these images serve as a poignant reminder that whatever the differences, weddings can be a beautiful celebration of love.
Traditional Ethiopian Orthodox ceremonies include a crowning of the bride and groom, as shown in this photo taken at a church in London, England.
Photo: Photofusion/Getty Images.
A wedding ceremony in Oaxaca, Mexico, features two life-sized puppets that represent the newlyweds.
Photo: Getty Images.
A bride and groom are crowned in the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral in Mtskheta, Georgia.
Photo: Getty Images.
A wedding procession in South India.
Photo: Amit Basu/Getty Images.
Tshepo Modisane and Thobajobe Sithole made history as the first-ever gay couple to be married in a traditional African ceremony in South Africa in 2013.
Photo: Alex Nkosi/Getty Images.
A couple is wed in the Basilica di San Giovanni e Paolo in Venice, Italy. The church dates back to the 15th century.
Photo: Getty Images.
A Bai wedding party in China.
Photo: Getty Images.
A scene from a traditional Khmer wedding in Cambodia, where the celebrations can last anywhere from three days to an entire week.
Photo: Getty Images.
A newlywed couple in La Paz, Bolivia, walk with guests after the wedding ceremony. While the couple is in more modern attire, the female attendees are wearing traditional Andean garb.
Photo: Getty Images.
The first same-sex marriage ceremony in Scotland took place on December 31, 2014. The grooms, Joe Schofield and Malcolm Brown, wore traditional Scottish kilts for the occasion.
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