Weird Marriage Customs From Around the World

#1. To a Whale of a Wife
In Fiji, men have to find an unusual gift before they can ask for a woman's hand in marriage: Before asking for the hand of his beloved, the groom must present his father-in-law with a whale's tooth.

#2. Dirty Couple
In Scotland, there is a particularly nasty pre-wedding tradition that involves the bride and groom being pelted with food trash, including rotten eggs and fish. The Scots believe that if a couple can withstand this, their marriage can withstand anything.

#3. Bridesmaid Barricade
In China, when a groom comes to get his bride, he must first break through an aggressive wall of her angry bridesmaids. The bridesmaids demand money from him, and put him through a series of silly performances and tasks - all meant to prove just how strong his love really is.

#4. The Cursed, Tree-Marrying Wives of India
In some parts of India, it is said that girls born during a certain astrological period are cursed, and will cause an early death for their husband. The only way to break the curse is for the woman to first marry a tree, and then have the tree cut down.

#5. The Locked-Down Love Bridge
This tradition has become popular all over the world, but many believe that it started in Rome, Italy. Couples come to the bridge, attached their decorated lock to the fence, and then throw away the key - a symbol that they will be bound together forever.

#6. The Mandatory Tears of Love
For China's Tujia people, the bride-to-be is actually required to begin weeping for one hour a day, for one month before a wedding. In fact, many of the women in the bride's family are encouraged to weep as well.

#7. Jumping the Broom
This tradition stems from the American deep south. Back in times of slavery, black newlyweds jumped over a broom to symbolize moving forward in their new lives together. Though obviously somewhat antiquated, some couples still participate in this tradition.

#8. The Feet-Down Beatdown
In South Korea, there is a traditional custom that says that a groom should have his feet beaten with fish and canes the night before his wedding. It's supposed to prove strength of character, but might just actually be the groomsman attempting to interfere with him walking down the aisle - we see what you did there, bros.

#9. The Questionable Mate-Grabbing
In some gypsy groups, there is a controversial tradition that involves male suitors to grab a girl and start forcefully kissing her. It might be love - or it just might be an unwanted assault.

#10. Eloping in Scotland
In Scotland, there aren't any laws about how old one has to be to tie the knot. Gretna Green in Scotland became a popular elopement spot for couples who were too young to get married in the UK - 5,000 couples visit Gretna Green every year.