Marrying a Bulgarian? The wedding traditions your video should capture

The moments to plan for

A handful of customs turn up at most Bulgarian weddings, though the exact form varies by region and family, so treat this as a starting point to check with your own relatives rather than a fixed script.

The kum and kuma are the couple's main sponsors and witnesses, often a married couple themselves, with a role closer to godparents than a best man and maid of honour. They usually stand beside the couple through the ceremony and carry real weight in the day's structure, so know who they are and brief the videographer to follow them, not just the couple.

A bread-and-honey welcome often greets the newlyweds after the ceremony: a round loaf the couple tears a piece from and dips in honey, a small ritual about a sweet life together, sometimes alongside wine or another local custom depending on the family. And the horo, a fast circular folk dance with linked hands, tends to be the moment the whole room, both families, grandparents included, ends up on the floor together. It is one of the best things to film wide and let run, rather than cutting away early.

Some families also keep smaller traditions alive, such as a mother-in-law greeting or a particular song played for the first dance. None of these are guaranteed at every wedding, which is exactly why a quick conversation with your own parents or grandparents about “what we always do” is worth having before the big day, not during it.

A day plan that works for guests travelling from abroad

When one side of the guest list is flying in, build in more breathing room than a local wedding would need: a slightly later ceremony start, clear signage or a printed timeline in two languages, and someone briefed to explain each custom as it happens rather than leaving international guests to guess.

It also helps the film. A guest who understands what the bread and honey means reacts differently on camera than one who is simply confused, and that genuine reaction is what makes the footage worth keeping. A short, friendly announcement before each custom, from the host or the kum, gives everyone a beat to look up and take part rather than reaching for their phone to ask someone what's happening.

Two languages: speeches, subtitles and a film both families follow

Speeches in a mixed wedding often switch between Bulgarian and English, sometimes mid-sentence. Warn your videographer in advance so audio is captured cleanly from both sides of the room, and plan for subtitles in the final edit so each family can follow the parts spoken in the other language. I cover this in more detail in capturing speeches and vows clearly. A radio microphone on the speaker matters more here than usual, since a switch between languages is exactly the moment a camera-mounted microphone struggles to keep every word clear.

Briefing the videographer on your family's customs

Because customs shift by region and even by family, the single most useful thing you can do is walk your videographer through your own day in advance: who the kum and kuma are, whether there's a bread ritual, a money dance, or anything specific to your grandparents' village. A five-minute call beats a generic checklist, and it means nothing important gets missed because nobody knew it was coming. Share the running order the venue or planner gives you too, so the camera is already in position before each custom starts rather than catching the end of it.

• List every custom you expect, even ones you assume are obvious.
• Name who leads each moment, so the camera knows where to be.
• Flag any language switches for speeches and vows in advance.

Delivering the film to relatives in several countries

With family spread across countries, plan delivery as an online link rather than a single physical copy: something every relative can watch from home, with subtitles built in for whichever language they need. I film across Bulgaria, including Plovdiv, Sofia and the Rodopi Mountains, and work comfortably across two languages and two families who may be meeting properly for the first time. If you're planning a mixed-nationality wedding here, my wedding videography page has the packages and prices, and I can talk you through timing for a day with customs, two languages and travelling guests before you commit to a schedule.