(In Part 1 of this series, we explored embracing beauty and wellness across cultures during the fall season. This part looks at fall-inspired cultural traditions for bridal self-care and wellness during weddings.)
Often, when you’ve moved away from wherever home is for you and you’re getting married there, it can sometimes be challenging to find balance in how you implement and continue some of your traditions.
Here are some suggestions and ideas on including your cultural practices for the big day, particularly if it’s during the fall season.
Middle Eastern cultures have elaborate bridal traditions emphasizing beauty, health, and well-being. Applying henna to the hands and feet is a symbolic and decorative practice believed to bring good fortune and protect against evil spirits. This tradition is known as the mehndi ceremony. A hammam (Turkish bath) involves a series of steam baths, exfoliating scrubs, and massages.
This deeply cleansing and relaxing ritual is an excellent way for brides to rejuvenate their skin and unwind before their bid day! For their aromatic and therapeutic properties, perfumed oils and incense, such as frankincense and myrrh, are prevalent in Middle Eastern cultures.
IN THE SPIRIT OF JAPANESE KOYO
In Japanese culture, we’ve discussed how koyo is a vital time to enjoy the changes that are taking place in nature. If you’re part of the Japanese culture and you’re away from home, and you’re wondering how you can infuse your culture into your fall wedding, brides-to-be can indulge in the serene beauty of nature by taking a retreat or spending a day enjoying nature (depending on where you are in the world).
Get on Google and find a place to get you as close to home as possible. You could host a bridal shower or event there or find a way to get your bridal party to a hot spring, which is a great way to rejuvenate and detoxify the skin while soothing some muscle tension.
The sauna is a cornerstone of wellness practices, in many places worldwide, but in Scandinavian countries, it’s a significant part of the culture. Brides can embrace the fall season by combining a sauna session with “forest bathing” (shinrin-yoku in Japan), immersing oneself in the forest to reduce stress and enhance mood. The sauna’s heat opens pores and detoxifies the body, while the tranquil experience of walking through autumnal forests promotes mental clarity and emotional balance.
INFUSE AYURVEDIC RITUALS AS YOU PREPARE FOR THE BIG DAY
In India, Ayurveda, the ancient system of medicine, offers a wealth of self-care practices that are particularly beneficial during the transition into fall. Brides can benefit from treatments like Abhyanga (warm oil massage), which uses herbal oils to nourish the skin and improve circulation.
Additionally, pouring warm oil over the forehead in Shirodhara calms the mind and promotes deep relaxation. These rituals enhance physical beauty and ensure emotional and mental well-being.
MOROCCAN HAMMAM SPA DAY
Moroccan brides traditionally visit a hammam (public bath) during pre-wedding preparations. The hammam experience involves a series of cleansing rituals, including steam baths, black soap exfoliation, and rhassoul clay masks.
These treatments detoxify the skin, leaving it soft and radiant. The social aspect of the hammam, where brides can relax and bond with friends and family, adds to the overall sense of well-being and celebration and can be practiced wherever you are in the world.
When we discuss weddings and wellness, you can find so many practices that tie to different places worldwide, offering a rich and diverse array of customs that celebrate love, community, and cultural heritage. Whether it’s the vibrant Mehndi ceremonies of India, the serene Shinto rituals of Japan, or the communal harvest feats of Native American tribes, these traditions add depth and beauty to the wedding season.
Either way, no matter where you are in the world or what you grew up learning from the beauty, health, and wellness standpoint, or even if you’re preparing to say “I do,” hopefully, this piece reminds you that you can include your cultural heritage as a part of anything you do.
