As we will celebrate the joining of our lives, we hope to bring a little bit of Poland to you and share some beautiful and fun Polish wedding traditions with you. These customs have been passed down through generations and hold deep cultural significance. Here's a little explanation of the traditions you'll experience during our special day:

The song "Sto lat" (meaning "a hundred years") is a popular Polish song sung during weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations. It is a wish for the person being celebrated to live for 100 years, a traditional way of expressing good health, long life, and happiness. At weddings, guests sing "Sto lat" to the bride and groom to wish them a long and prosperous life together. The song is simple and repetitive, with everyone joining in, often raising glasses in a toast. It creates a festive atmosphere and is a heartfelt gesture of well-wishing.

We invite you to sign along:

Sto lat, sto lat, niech żyją, żyją nam,

Sto lat, sto lat, niech żyją, żyją nam,

Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech żyją, żyją nam,

Niech żyją nam!

Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz, niech żyją żyją nam.

Niech żyją nam!

Witanie Chlebem i Solą (Welcoming with Bread and Salt)

Upon our arrival at the reception, we will be greeted by our parents with bread, salt, and water. The bread represents the hope that we will never go hungry, and the salt reminds us that life may sometimes bring challenges. This is a traditional blessing of abundance, strength, and unity as we begin our life together.

Witanie Kieliszkiem Wódki i Wody (Welcoming with Vodka and Water)

As part of this welcoming ceremony, two glasses—one filled with vodka and one with water—are presented. The glasses are shuffled, and we, the bride and groom, must choose one. Tradition says that whoever chooses the vodka will “wear the pants” in the marriage! This playful tradition adds a touch of humor and fun to the celebration.

Gorzka Wódka (Bitter Vodka)

Throughout the reception, you may hear guests chant “Gorzka wódka!” meaning “bitter vodka.” This chant is a request for us, the bride and groom, to kiss and “sweeten” the bitterness. The more kisses, the sweeter the vodka! This fun, lively tradition invites everyone to join in the joy of the moment.

Oczepiny (Unveiling Ceremony)

Later in the evening, we will take part in the oczepiny, a symbolic ceremony where the bride’s veil is removed, representing her transition from a maiden to a wife. Sometimes a cap or other headpiece is placed on the bride to mark this new chapter in her life. Oczepiny often includes fun games for the couple and guests, bringing laughter and joy to the night. It’s a key moment that officially marks the close of the wedding day and the beginning of our new life together. We hope you will join us for the games!

We hope you enjoy experiencing these traditions with us. We cannot wait to celebrate with you!