Customer Reviews

Timeless Traditions : A couple's guide to wedding customs around the world

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Among the hundreds of wedding books on the real and virtual shelves of America's booksellers, I think this one really is unique. The author has unearthed from cultures around the world (countries and religions) hundreds of great traditions you can actually use, whatever your ethnic background--African American, Asian, European, Latin, Catholic, Buddhist, Amish, etc. It's easy to use, arranged in alphabetical order within chapters that follow the wedding timeline, engagement to the first year of marriage. There are even--and this is great--vows, readings, and toasts arranged by country and religion, so you can find a South American poem or the Quaker vows or a Yoruban rite. Shakespeare and the Apache Wedding Song coexist comfortably here. If you want to find some special, personal touches that'll still keep the ceremony and reception traditional, this is it. My grandfather was from Finland, and we broke the plate at our wedding and did the Dance of Crowns(page 157). AND we borrowed some from other cultures: I carried a tiny horseshoe and put some English lavender in my bouquet, like the Irish, so we'll be lucky enough to have our love last forever. Lots, lots more!

This would be a fantastic book, if only the traditions were true. Or if the author wrote "In this country they SOMETIMES do this and this at a wedding", but no.

The book is written in a way that makes the reader believe that these are traditions that are commonly used, which is wrong. I come from Norway and have never heard about these so-called "Norwegian wedding traditions", nor has anyone I know, old or young and spread all over the country. They say in the book "Green is a favorite dress color, and even if the brides wear different colors, the bridesmaids stick to green". And that the bride wear a crown to fend of demons. To tell the truth, green has NEVER been a common color for a wedding dress, ever. Not even in the Viking-era. There is, on the other hand, a small area in Norway where the bride used to wear a crown to the traditional national outfit, but that was like 150 years ago.
I have also no idea what this "traditional Norwegian wedding cake" is suppose to be. A cake made of bread with syrup and cheese? Huh?

This makes me think, if these "facts" are wrong, what other traditions are wrong or something they did 200 years ago?

No other book covers the world or makes the customs as easy to find as this book does.

It's worth it just to add a few really special touches to the pre-wedding parties, ceremony, and reception. It explains the origin of customs around the world and includes a variety of religious as well as Native American, Chinese, Japanese,African, Phillipine, Hispanic, and Slavic cultures among the incredible variety.

But it also includes vows AND ceremonies for an incredible variety of religions, great quotes from literary masters, and lots of toasts.

AND it's easy to find what you want because it's divided up into chapters that cover courting, engagement, ceremony, reception, clothes, and post-wedding stuff.

It's wonderful. I added some of the traditions to my wedding and it was so much more romantic.

I had the book delivered to a friend. She was quite happy with it. Delivered on time.

Timeless Traditions : A couple's guide to wedding customs around the world
by Lisl M. Spangenberg

I really enjoyed browsing through this book. My daughter would like to have a wedding with some Celtic traditions blended in someday. I found this book very helpful.

Not as extensive in World traditions as I originally hoped. Too Americanised, for my liking, still not a bad book overall. Will keep searching for book that really covers many world cultures and unusal traditions.

What particularly struck me about this book was the depth and breadth of information. In addition to an astounding array of well-documented international customs, the author includes useful extras like wedding ceremony vows, readings, and toasts used around the world.

It's a pleasure to read and contains some real gems.

If you want to copy some rites and traditions and use your imagination so that your wedding is different from that of your friends this is the book for you. But if you care about the origin of customs and which societies around the world have practiced over the centuries, it is not for you. The research from books and the Internet is sloppy. Despite her having "travelled the world for a decade," her book reflects little personal research. It adds up to being superficial and inaccurate. Anyone who knows anything about henna evenings in various societies (she cites seven that hold them) will be appalled by the repetitive writing, describing henna generally as "elaborate designs" on the hands, wrists and the soles of the feet of a bride.