The marriage ritual occupies an important place in Georgian customs. In Samegrelo, they chose the season, month and day for the wedding with special diligence. The best time was considered to be autumn, rich in cruciferous vegetables, it was not possible to hold a wedding during fasting. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday are called "Gekula" days and were considered beneficial days for performing wedding rituals. However, Sunday was the most auspicious and desirable day for the wedding.

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The wedding was usually performed in the bridegroom’s village, although sometimes it was performed in the bride’s village.

Father, brother and uncle play important roles during the engagement and wedding ceremonies. 

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Father or uncle would go with a wedding party to fetch the bride. Bride’s family would lay the table and invite the wedding party. The bride was hiding at that time and did not show herself to the groom. Women would start "mochkudu" – a ceremony of decorating the bride. The best option for wedding clothes was a traditional Georgian dress with a belt and a sweetheart neckline.

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Traditionally, inn Samegrelo, marriages were arranged by matchmakers. The parents of a bride would invite the groom to the family. This is called "ginodzirafa" and means the checking of a bride. If both parties agreed, the "shanua" (engagement) was organized. The engaged woman was left in the family for one year to allow her family to prepare a dowry. On the day of the wedding, a “diara” (wedding feast) was held in a bride’s family. The bridegroom sent the best men to fetch the bride. A very close relative was chosen as the leader of the wedding party, who was obeyed without hesitation. He was obliged to leave as soon as possible for the wedding held in the groom’s parents' family and take the bride on time.

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Instead, the home team tried to keep the wedding party at the bride’s house as long as possible.  According to the strict traditional rules, not everyone could be a part of a wedding party and only a good rider, singer and polite person could be the one.

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Wedding clothes were distinguished by the quality of the fabric (shawl or silk) and colour. The main colour was white.

 

Sometimes they might wear a white top with a red bottom, and many people wore a pink or sky-blue dress. The bride, dressed in a circular dress, was covered with a veil and taken out like that. The bride would come with her matron of honour and wedding party. Before leaving the bride’s house, the wedding party of the groom would demand to hand over a dowry and money... In Mengrelian language, a dowry is called "Ochkuduri".

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On the way, the bride was brought on a horse and covered with a veil, while singing the wedding song "Kunta bednieri" (Short happy). When entering the bridegroom's family, they started singing "Kuchkha bednieri" (let your arrival bring happiness),

It was very important how a new family met the bride. In Samegrelo, the mother of the bridegroom would meet the newlyweds, bless them and feed them sugar or honey to match the start their joint life together with sweetness and would put millet (a symbol of fertility) on their heads.