Emilia Pechinkova, a 24-years-old Bulgarian Pomak (Bulgarian speaking Muslims) bride poses for a photograph following the “gelina” or face painting ceremony carried out by female guests and relatives in preparation for her three-day wedding ceremony in the village of Draginovo, 100 kms southeast of Sofia on April 22, 2016. Bulgaria's Muslim population is one of the highest in the European Union. During the Communist regime religious rituals were not tolerated, and Muslims were forced to abandon wearing their traditional wedding outfits. Recently, more young Pomak women want to include traditional wedding customs that were forbidden during the regime, regardless of their secular lifestyles and the high cost of such a wedding. (Photo by Nikolay Doychinov/AFP Photo)

Kashmiri Muslim brides sit during a mass marriage of 30 couples in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, February 21, 2024. Mass weddings in India are organized by social organizations primarily to help economically weaker families who cannot afford the high ceremony costs as well as the customary dowry and expensive gifts that are still prevalent in many communities. (Photo by Mukhtar Khan/AP Photo)

Brides-to-be participate in the “Running of the Brides” race in a park in Bangkok, Thailand March 25, 2017. (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters)

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish bride takes part in the “mitzva tantz”, the custom in which relatives dance in front of the bride after her wedding ceremony, in Netanya, Israel, early March 16, 2016. (Photo by Baz Ratner/Reuters)

The bride in her room, prepared for a traditional Chechen wedding ceremony in Grozny, Chechnya, Russia on November 24, 2016. (Photo by Valery Sharifulin/TASS)

These are the stunningly creative photographs voted as some of the worlds best wedding snaps from the last year. The International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) Awards features more than 20 categories. From the conventional Bride and Groom Portrait to the vibrant All About Light award - everything is taken into consideration. In total more than 20,000 images were submitted by the societys members. Here: The bride being thrown up buy her Groom and Ushers. 1st place – the wedding dress. Cordoba, Spain. (Photo by Valentin Gamiz/Caters News)

A bride and groom jump over a skipping rope as they pose during a wedding photo shoot at a park in Pyongyang on April 18, 2019. (Photo by Ed Jones/AFP Photo)

A Muslim dervish whirls during celebrations for Mawlid al-Nabi that marks the birthday of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, in Peshawar, Pakistan, Sunday, October 9, 2022. Thousands of Muslims take part in religious processions, ceremonies and distribute free meals among the poor to mark the holiday. (Photo by Muhammad Sajjad/AP Photo)