Although Romania is most known for its vampire-connected culture (Bram Stoker, hello!), weddings and marriages with Romanian mail order brides are far from superficial stuff. In fact, the country’s wedding traditions are appealing, and if you plan to marry a Romanian bride, it will come in handy to learn about the customs.
Popular Wedding Customs in Romania
A wedding with a Romanian mail order bride is about numerous unique pre-wedding and ceremonial customs. Yet, we will talk about the most popular traditions that are still performed during modern ceremonies:
- The “Hora” and “Money” Dance. No wedding comes without dancing, and in Romania, dancing in a circle is called Hora. Usually, guests stand in a circle, holding hands and moving in a synchronized manner. As for the “Money” dance, it’s about male guests paying to dance with the bride. Often, guests try to pin money to the bride’s attire, but mostly, they just put money in a separate place.
- The Nasi – Godparents. Yes, people choose godparents for their children, but in Romania, they choose these parents for a bride and a groom, too! Nasi are like spiritual parents for the couple; they often partially pay for the wedding and bless the newlyweds.
- Candles (for religious weddings). If you and your Romanian bride are going to have a religious wedding, then be ready to hold lit candles, a custom that symbolizes the purity and light of Christ.
- Darul. In the USA, guests usually bring actual gifts to the wedding, but in Romania, the gifts are less creative but of more use – it’s just money.
What Romanians Think about International Marriages
Romanians, in general, are welcoming to people from abroad (in many cases, it’s because the country is dependent on tourism and foreign investments). Which is why it’s logical to conclude that Romanian mail order brides don’t mind marrying internationally. If you are asking yourself, “Do Romanian women like American men?” the answer is also yes.
Of course, many still prefer local dating because of the common language and mindset. Yet, since Romania is part of the EU, its citizens often bond with foreign-born individuals.
Romanian Mail Order Brides Statistics
To prove the statement that Romanian women for marriage are eager to bond with someone, we decided to provide you with helpful and interesting insights about girls from Romania.
- Romanian mail order brides usually marry in their 25–29 years, although the first marriage age can be lower since a lot of people there still follow conventional worldviews.
- Romania had the highest crude marriage rate in 2023, 5.8 marriages per 1,000 persons. That speaks not only for the popularity of marriages in the country but also can be a sign that a lot of marriages from this statistics are between Romanians and foreign-borns.
- The fertility rate in Romania is average, 1.72 births per woman. If you want a serious relationship and build a family, you can be sure that your Romanian wife won’t mind having children.
- Besides, the divorce rate in Romania is also pretty low, compared to other European countries – 1.04 per 1,000 inhabitants.
- More than 30% of Romanians speak English. The number of those women who speak English is important because it brings people closer to Western and American cultures. Which, in turn, makes local ladies more open-minded and willing to marry internationally.
How Do You Marry a Romanian Bride? Legal Nuances
When you meet a potential Romanian wife, learn about her culture and background, and find that this is THAT woman, you may think about marrying her. Nevertheless, this process may be a bit tricky since it involves applying for a K-1 visa – a fiancée visa, which each foreign bride needs to apply for to come to the USA, marry her American partner, and get permission to live in the States. Here are the most crucial moments about this visa:
Firstly, when you and your Romanian bride decide to marry, you need to be at least 18 years old. Also, none of you should be in a relationship. For example, if you were married, you need to provide a divorce certificate to prove that you are no longer in an official relationship with someone else. Thirdly, before applying for a visa, you should meet your Romanian bride in real life at least twice, providing proof of your relationship, such as screenshots of text messages, photos, travel tickets, etc.
It depends: some get the approval within less than six months after applying, while others wait up to two years.
The first step is filing Form I-129F and sending it to USCIS, which then processes and forwards it to the National Visa Center (NVC). NVC forwards your petition to the U.S. Embassy.
Meanwhile, your Romanian bride should also apply for a visa, submitting form DS-160 and going through a medical examination.
If everything is okay, you both will be invited to the interview. During the interview, you need to show your real intentions based on love, bringing the necessary documents.
- passports
- birth certificates
- background checks
- medical exam results
- passport-style photos
- police certificates
- translation of documents
- copies of documents may be required, too
What Obstacles Can You Face When Married to a Romanian Woman?
Your Romanian mail order bride may have ideal inner features that fit your expectations, but since she’s from another culture, it can create certain obstacles, which are important to handle at the early stages.
- Firstly, it’s about different approaches to family building. In Romania, people are more family-oriented and have closer relationships with their parents. If you want to keep your individualism but also want to preserve the relationships, you can learn to participate more in your wife’s family events, but also express your desire to have time for your hobbies, too.
- Then comes the language barriers. Although more and more women in Romania are learning English, still, not all of them know it on a C1-C2 level. Besides, many Romanians expect their foreign partners to learn their language, too. That’s why the best solution to language barriers is just to learn each other’s mother tongues.
- Besides, you may be expected to be the main provider in the home – 50/50 rarely works with Romanian women. That’s why, simply get prepared to be financially dedicated to your partner.
Success Stories
When Liam, an IT specialist, first met Ana, also an IT specialist, while traveling to Bucharest for a job exchange, he was just mesmerized by her mature outlook on life. She was ready to build a family and was open about it. This honesty struck him because he also wanted the same.
Yet, the tricky part came when they got married and thus got less time for his hobby – hiking and going for walks. Liam said that he was feeling as if he was losing himself, and that’s why arguments began. Yet, in fact, he was just missing his hobby, and the couple found a solution – Ana just joined him. Ana, Liam, and their newborn are just having silent walks in local parks. One time, they even went for a real hike, which wasn’t as scary as expected with a child. That saved their marriage and helped revive the feeling of excitement.
Patrick, a bioengineer, and Camelia, a biology teacher, met each other online and liked each other for their common worldview – exploring nature together. Yet, the only difference between these two was their personality types. Patrick, used to solo work and being an introvert, found it difficult to join Camelia, a real extrovert, at her friends’ and relatives’ meetings. That was emotionally draining for him, while Camelia felt betrayed and loved because of this. What was the solution? Camelia listened to Patrick’s needs and agreed that he should not join her each time she goes to see someone, while Patrick agreed to join Camelia on the most important occasions and learn to support small talk with Camelia’s friends.
Map with the Best Places to Marry in Romania
- Bran Castle. Often linked to the Dracula legend, Bran Castle offers a fairytale-like setting with Gothic towers and a mountain backdrop. If you want to marry surrounded by a medieval atmosphere and stunning views of the Carpathians, then it’s the best location for your Romanian wedding.
- Peleș Castle. This castle is located in the picturesque town of Sinaia and is known to be a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture. Its luxurious interiors and romantic gardens can create an unforgettable royal atmosphere for a wedding, which your Romanian wife will really love.
- Transfăgărășan Mountains. For adventurous couples, a mountaintop ceremony along the winding Transfăgărășan Road offers breathtaking scenery and pure alpine air. The panoramic views are unmatched, which makes it ideal for intimate outdoor weddings in a Twilight-like style.
- The Black Sea Coast (Mamaia or Constanța). Romania’s seaside resorts like Mamaia or Constanța offer sun-kissed beaches and lively nightlife, perfect for a summer wedding by the sea. Beachfront venues combine natural beauty with modern amenities for a wedding.
- Sibiu’s Historic Old Town. This pretty Saxon city with cobbled streets, pastel-colored buildings, and baroque squares can serve as a very cozy wedding setting. Its mix of history and comfort makes it ideal for Romanian-foreign couples who want a warm celebration.
Wrapping Up
Romanian brides traditions are really fascinating and, frankly speaking, so close to the wedding and marriage traditions in other Slavic and Western countries, which makes marriage with Romanian mail order brides feel easy like breathing.
The most crucial thing before marrying a Romania mail order bride is to learn about their character, historical background, and explore the nuances of the legality of such unions (such as the steps toward a visa that we described above). Save this article, read other tips on international dating and marriage on aspenweddingguide.com, and plan a happy wedding with your Romanian girl.
