Bride kidnapping, also known as bridenapping, marriage by abduction, or marriage by capture, is a practice in which a man abducts the woman he wishes to marry.
Bride kidnapping has been practiced around the world and throughout prehistory and history, among peoples as diverse as the Hmong in Southeast Asia, the Tzeltal in Mexico, the Romani in Europe, and tribes in the Amazon jungle.
Bride kidnapping still occurs in various parts of the world, but with differences depending on the intent.
In Romania, it is done on the wedding day right under the nose of the groom and guests at their party.
Every Saturday night, brides from Bucharest and beyond are dragged away in a mock abduction by friends and driven to a top tourist spot where they are “held hostage” – all the while pouting, dancing, and striking provocative poses for the cameras.
The ransom
After the bride has been abducted, the abductors, usually the friends of the couple negotiate with the groom on the phone on the ransom.Â
The ransom, paid can be a few bottles of whisky, or perhaps something more romantic, like a public declaration of love from the abandoned groom.
The whole process is usually harmless only meant to add fun to the nuptials.
History
The custom took off a few years ago when a top football player rented Bucharest’s Arch of Triumph, a major monument modeled after its iconic namesake in Paris, and proposed there to his girlfriend.
There was no kidnapping involved but the scene stuck in the popular imagination as a symbol of marriage. Since then, it has been the popular place where stolen brides are brought.
However, according to buskers in the area, the tradition has been around for as long as anyone can remember.
In ancient times, brides were actually stolen during weddings, as many marriages were arranged and the bride was in fact in love with another man.
The outdoor party is one way for Romanians, frustrated with austerity measures and feuding politicians, to let off steam.
