Traditional Polish Wedding Reception

Polish Wedding Dance Apron

A traditional Polish wedding reception features two important customs. The first custom is the “Oczepiny”, or Unveiling and Capping Ceremony. For this ceremony, all the married women present will circle around the bride. The maid of honor will remove the bride’s veil and a married woman, usually her mother or godmother, will pin the “Czepek”, or bride’s cap, on her head. When it is first placed on the bride she is officially considered a married woman.

Following the Unveiling and Capping ceremony, the bride will often throw her veil, in place of the more common bouquet, to any single women present. She may also choose to give it to her maid of honor. The veil is then passed around from one single woman to another, each wearing it for a dance until all single women at the reception have worn it.

Polish Wedding Apron

The second important tradition at a Polish wedding is the last dance, referred to as the “Pani Mloda”, also known as the Bridal or Apron Dance. This is the last dance before the bride and groom make their exit. The bride will wrap a Polish wedding apron around her dress, signifying the end of her innocence and beginning of her wifely and motherly duties. During this dance the bride will pass from one guest to another for a short spin. As each guest dances with the bride, they will pin money for the new couple to her apron, or drop it into one of the pockets. The last person to dance with the bride will be the groom. As the dance concludes, he will toss his wallet into an apron pocket and the bride and groom make their grand exit. This tradition is a fun and festive way to see the new couple off.

In some Polish weddings, the maid of honor is given the honor to wear the wedding apron instead of the bride.  You can find a “made in America”, handcrafted Czepek (bride’s cap) and traditional Polish Wedding Apron set at Bridal ‘N Beauty website.
Photos: J Lowe Photos