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Alteri Wedding Customs:
The Alteri do not have a set wedding ceremony per se. The bridal couple usually stands together and speaks a set of vows or statements that they write themselves. The important thing about the wedding to the Alteri is what you WEAR, and that you have the entire family present to party! Wedding apparel is brightly colored, usually made by the family of the bride and groom and highly decorated with jewels and embroidery. One traditional aspect is the Bridal Headdress, the Shiveio, which can be passed down in an Alteri family from generation to generation. Usually, the bride will add her own touch to the headdress, a special color or gem, something all her own. The headdress can be very tall; made of different fabrics and colors; and adorned with gemstones, embroidery, charms and trims. The wedding reception is like a festival, with all sorts of food, drink, games, and dancing.
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Darju Wedding Customs:
The Darju wedding ceremony centers on the blood-bonding and scarification ritual that they call Mlivdroh. The groom is usually shirtless, both to show off his mantle of back hair, and to leave his arms bare for the ceremony. The bride wears a wedding dress usually trimmed in fur and sleeveless. The bride and groom typically have something to say to one another, like vows or promises. The Darju male might say something like "With this wound, we mingle blood and give proof for all time of our joining", then a ritual knife, or Mlin, is used. The groom cuts the bride's arm in a curved pattern, sometimes with lines. She then takes the Mlin and cuts him in the same pattern. The two wounds are pressed together to symbolize the joining of blood and then a blue powder is sprinkled over the cuts to sterilize them and to create a more noticeable scar. The Darju never complain of any pain in the ceremony or at any time after and wear the scar proudly like a permanent wedding ring. Traditional Darju do not use wedding rings, but some have adopted this custom from the Humans, preferring plain gold wedding bands. After the cutting, everyone gets drunk and celebrates.
The older form of the Darju bonding ceremony is similar except that before the scarification ritual, the bride and groom actually have a knife fight to first blood, to see who will "wear the pants" in the family. The wedding clothes were white to more easily show who received the first blow. The wound is then used as part of the scar in the scarification part of the ritual.
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Eolai Wedding Customs:
The Eolai prefer to have their weddings outdoors, in a forest or an area with trees. Flowers are worn rather than carried, in the form of crowns and wreathes with trailing vines and ribbons. The Elan rose is the traditional Eolai wedding flower and is always included. After a few words are said by an Elder or a member of the family, the Eolai enjoy dancing and feasting on foods made from nuts, grains and fruits. Ales and wines made by the family members are prized as part of the wedding offerings.
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Jaddan Wedding Customs:
Jaddan weddings have always been very formal and ritualistic. Some of the younger Jaddan prefer to adopt the wedding customs of other races, but most Jaddan families expect their traditions to be honored. Both bride and groom wear flowing robes that may be adorned with gemstones. Traditionally, silver wedding bracelets are exchanged and vows spoken by the wedding couple, and then a huge feast or celebration is held. Traditional moon-shaped cakes called Mavaj are served. Some younger Jaddan have opted to use wedding rings instead of the bracelet.
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