While the happy couple’s big day is supposed to be all about them, no wedding celebration is truly complete without an array of tasty wedding food. 

As the old saying goes “the way to the heart is through the stomach.” And to show us the way, Bookatable has created the following infographic exploring traditional wedding food from around the world. They’ve scoured the globe to find appetizers and desserts you are likely to find on the table of 23 countries and the tradition behind them.

They include an assortment of savoury dishes like the long noodles eaten in a Korean wedding ceremony to signify the lucky couple’s long life together; if you find yourself trying to stay awake through the long speeches, in Bolivia the bride, groom and guests chew coca leaves to boost their energy.

For more wedding food traditions, check out the infographic below or if things don’t work out, check out these divorce cakes:

Traditional wedding food around the world

United Kingdom

Ever wonder why any wedding feast in the UK is referred to as a ‘breakfast’? The phrase wedding breakfast actually symbolizes the newlyweds’ first meal together as a married couple, and can take place at any time of the day.

Norway

Alongside the guests at any traditional Norwegian wedding, you’ll find a beautiful (and structurally impressive) Kransekake. Constructed using dozens of flat almond biscuits and icing sugar, this majestic mound adds patriotic pride to the proceedings, decorated with mini national flags.

Italy

Chuck out the confetti and instead scatter a handful of brightly-coloured Jordan Almonds over an Italian bride and groom. With a crisp sugar shell, these almonds symbolize the sweet and bitter moments of the couple’s future together.

France

The proud centrepiece of nuptials the world over, a wedding cake has to be pure perfection. The French celebrate a new marriage with a tottering pile of sumptuous pastry and whipped cream, encased in a lattice of spun caramel called a Croquembouche.

Ukraine

A wold away from your average thick-sliced white, the Ukrainian Korovai is a spectacular sight that bears more resemblance to a grandiose cake than a humble loaf of bread. Decorated with glazed dough shapes and with multiple tiers, it’s a traditional way for couples to prove their love.

Sweden

Bringing a taste of the ocean to traditional Swedish weddings is Toast Skagen, a small appetizer of shrimp, dill and sour cream on crisp toast. The recipe was devised at sea by a maverick Stockholm chef, just off the coast of the Danish town Skagen.

Thailand

An alluringly fragrant combination of rice flour, sugar and jasmine essence, Thong Yod is a Thai wedding staple. Shaped like a tear drop, these little bursts of golden sweetness represent the couple’s love and good fortune in marriage.

Korea

Signifying the lucky couple’s long life together, long noodles are an important part of any Korean wedding ceremony. The nuptial feast is known as the ‘Noodle Banquet’, with guests happily slurping up metres of the stuff from bowls of boiled beef broth.

China

Ensuring a sweet and smooth marriage in China is as simple as a bowl of soup; newly married couples share a portion of Sweet Rice Ball Soup after the ceremony. There’s no delicate sipping in front of the guests though, as the soup’s sticky rice balls must be swallowed whole for good luck.

Japan

A Japanese celebration just wouldn’t be complete without free-flowing sake, and weddings are certainly no exception. The nuptial sake is housed in an ornate wooded barrel, which is smashed open with a mallet in a ceremony known as Kagami Biraki.

Vietnam

Sticky, syrupy, bright and beautiful, this Vietnamese dessert truly sweetens up any local wedding day. Translating as ‘conjugal cake’, this petite Bahn Xu Xe’s snug banana leaf is meant to symbolize the couple being a ‘perfect fit’ for each other.

Nigeria

Part of any budding bride’s dowry, Kola Nuts are also first on the guest list at a Nigerian wedding. Symbolizing the couple’s ability to heal differences, these naturally caffeine-rich nuts provide enough energy to get the post-ceremony dancing into full swing.

Morocco

When in Morocco, the concept of a ‘first date’ is something quite different in certain parts of the country. As a sign of welcome and affection, new wives are greeted at the marital home by the groom’s mother, who offers a plate of sticky dates and a glass of fresh milk.

Kenya

There’s nothing that brings a family quite together like a good old BBQ, and the same can be said of the Kenyan Nyama Choma. A staple at any traditional nuptial celebration, this fire-roasted meat is a true sizzling centrepiece to satisfy any wedding guest.

USA

Move over brides, US weddings allow the groom a moment to shine with his own personalized cake. These magnificent pieces of confectionary are gaudily decorated with the husband-to-be’s hobbies and favourite sports team.

Mexico

The Mexican wedding cookie is an aromatic, lasting memory of marriage. Traditionally given as favours, these little balls of coconutty biscuit are every bit as white, fluffy and sugary-sweet as a wedding worth remembering should be.

Bermuda

A Bermudan wedding cake could very easily be mistaken for part of the flower arrangement, thanks to its ornate colouring and cedar-sapling topping. After the ceremony, the sapling is planted in the newlyweds’ home to grow (and occasionally pruned), much like their love.

Jamaica

There’ll be no teetotalling at a Jamaican wedding—this fruit cake really packs a punch! A dense fruit loaf soaked in white rum for the duration of the couple’s engagement, this dessert is ready to keep all guests topped up with good spirits on the day, in more ways than one.

Bolivia

During a traditional Quechuan ceremony, energy-boosting coca leaves are chewed by the bride, groom and guests. Anyone who has ever found themselves snoring through the wedding speeches should definitely take a leaf out of the Bolivians’ book.

Brazil

Made by joining two crumbly biscuits together with honey and jam, the casadinho is a traditional sweet treat at Brazilian weddings. Symbolizing the union between the bride and groom (and literally translating as ‘happily married’), this cute cookie couldn’t be lovey-dovey if it was baked by Cupid himself.

Argentina

Unlike the UK, an Argentinian wedding breakfast does exactly what it says on the tin. Most ceremonies begin at 9pm, and continue until the morning, when guest finally sit down for a full meal. Forget muesli and plain toast though, breakfast here is all about crunchy churros with silky chocolate sauce.

Fiji

An essential component of any Fijian wedding, the passing around of a bowl of potent kava symbolizes unity in marriage. The traditional production of the drink is slightly less romantic though—it’s brewed using pre-chewed kava roots.

Australia

Britain’s favourite seaside treat can be found moonlighting at Australian wedding feasts. Guests will dine out on portions of fish & chips, with more archetypical Aussie favourites including vegemite and BBQ burgers available for the true traditionalists.

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Source: http://www.visualistan.com/2016/03/traditional-wedding-food-from-around-the-world.html