From not smiling on one's wedding day to placing an infant on the newlyweds' bed, these cultural wedding traditions are truly fascinating yet completely strange at the same time.

From wearing "something old, new, borrowed, and blue" to the groom tossing the bride's garter, Americans' wedding customs are pretty standard nowadays. Even if the happy couple doesn't consider themselves as "traditional," a lot of these customs sneak their way into the big day, one way or another.

But, I'll be honest. As far as American weddings go, we're pretty ... bland, in terms of traditions. At least, we are when compared to the following list of uniquely weird wedding traditions from around the world.

Who knows? Maybe some of these different cultures' traditions could help you plan your big day! Or maybe not ...

Congo: No Smiling on the Wedding Day

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the bride and groom are not allowed to smile. The reason behind this wedding tradition in the Congo is to prove the couple's seriousness towards marriage. If nobody is smiling, it just means they're taking it seriously, quite literally.

Can you imagine not smiling on your wedding day? 'Cause I certainly can't! (I was grinning like a damn fool on my wedding day!) Nothing like having the happiest day of your life and not being able to show any outward emotions, like at all. Congrats?

China: Groom Must Shoot Arrows at the Bride

Okay, it's not as deadly as it sounds! Chinese tradition says the groom must shoot three arrows (all without arrowheads, for obvious reasons!) at the bride. Afterward, the groom picks up the arrows and breaks them in half to imply the love the couple has for one another is unbreakable.

Not sure about you, but this sounds terrifying. You know, in a sort-of romantic kind of way ...

Czech Republic: Placing a Baby on the Couple's Bed

Can you imagine entering the bedroom on your wedding night and seeing a baby on the bed? In the Czech Republic, this is commonplace for weddings. The reasoning behind this strange wedding tradition is that they believe placing a baby on the newlywed's bed will increase their fertility.

Now, I've got one big question about this particular tradition: where do they get the baby from?

Mongolia: Chicken Liver Tradition

No chickening out! Even prior to setting a wedding date, couples in Mongolia must partake in a very strange and gruesome tradition: kill and gut a baby chick, then cut the chick open and find the liver. If the liver is in good condition, they can set a wedding date. If not, the couple must do the process again until a good liver is found ...

Umm ... what?!

French Polynesia: Newlyweds Step on Relatives

Talk about walking all over someone! On the Marquesas Islands of French Polynesia, instead of a typical send-off like we do here in the States, with the throwing of the rice and such, couples must walk over the relatives of the bride. The family will be placed side-by-side, faced down on the ground.

Why the groom's family isn't included in acting as human stepladders, I don't know! Seems pretty biased, if you ask me.

Germany: Sawing a Log

In Germany, immediately after the wedding ceremony, newly married couples must prove themselves and their teamwork abilities by sawing a large log in half. Pretty standard, right? Once the log has been cut in half, confetti is tossed in the air and a flurry of cars honking fills the air as the couple makes their way to the reception. The honking cars are said to drive off (see what we did there?) any evil spirits.

The confetti? I'm good with. The honking? I can tolerate. The sawing? You lost me there.

Spain: Cutting the Groom's Tie

Remember when Jim cut his tie in The Office at his wedding to Pam? Yep. This Spanish tradition is exactly that! Well, sort of ...? In Spain, the groom's friends will cut up his tie and then sell the pieces to guests, to raise money for the newlyweds. This same tradition applies to the bride's garter.

What I'm wondering is: do the groom and bride continue to wear the cut-up accessories during the wedding? Or completely forgo them altogether?

India: Mehndi

Indian brides and their closest girlfriends will get together for a pre-wedding event called a mehndi party. They'll sit for hours to have their skin intricately painted with mehndi, which is a type of paint made from henna. The temporary art lasts for about two weeks. 

Tradition says the darker the stain of the mehndi, the more love the bride will receive from her partner and in-laws.

Are there any other different wedding traditions from around the world that we missed on our list? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.