Discover the traditions behind weddings from different faiths at Bradford’s “Sacred Vows and Sacred Spaces” events this weekend.

Visitors are invited to explore two local places of worship, enjoy a short guided tour, and join an open “chai and chat” session about marriage customs across cultures.

The Ramgarhia Gurdwara will welcome guests on Saturday, followed by the Urdu Hindi Beacon Church on Sunday.

Organiser Rahila Hussain says the aim is to create a warm, inclusive space where everyone can share stories, ask questions, and celebrate the connections between different communities: “Every culture does weddings.”

These sessions are part of the Bradford South Asian Festival in partnership with Heritage Open Days.

Visitors are also encouraged to bring along wedding memorabilia from their own celebrations or a loved one’s to spark conversation and help share personal stories.

Across the sessions, guests can explore unique wedding rituals and creative traditions found in different cultures, as well as moments shared across many South Asian communities. These might include the meanings behind henna and haldi, or playful customs such as Joota Chupai, where the bride’s family hides the groom’s shoes for a ransom.

Other traditions include Door Rokai, where the groom’s sister cheekily blocks the newlyweds’ entrance until she’s given a bribe, and Aeki Beki, a lively game in which the couple searches a bowl of milk and vermillion for a ring to determine the future “head of the household.