Spin the globe and pick a spot -- no matter where you land, chances are getting married is a time for intimate bonding and indulgent preening for the bride and her friends. There are countless fabulous traditions shared between women around the world -- here are just a few ways to incorporate them into your own special day.

NIGERIAN FATTENING ROOMS
All brides want to look beautiful on their wedding day and women of the Nigerian Delta are no exception according to Carolyn Mordecai, author of Weddings, Dating, and Love Customs of Cultures Worldwide, Including Royalty (Nittany, 1998). "The women stay in fattening rooms to have a more womanly figure before getting married," explains Mordecai. Getting married is definitely a time to indulge, so grab the girls and head to the local ice cream parlor for a hot fudge sundae -- and no, that fat-free yogurt stuff doesn't count.

FINNISH TRUTH OR DARE
The bachelorette party isn't just an American custom -- Finnish women have parties called polttarit before the wedding, where the bride and her bridesmaids celebrate by drinking and dancing. The bridesmaids make the bride change into a costume and act out that role for the night. Then they force her to perform certain tasks that may even include kissing a stranger or singing opera in a public square! This tradition is a perfect excuse for you and your friends to play a round or two of Truth or Dare.

FIND THE SCOTTISH RING
Scottish brides and bridesmaids have parties that are equally as wild. But at the end of the party, the bride is invited to soak her feet in a tub of water with a ring in it while her friends try to fish it out. The first young woman to find the ring is said to be the next to wed. It's not as easy as it sounds, especially after having one-too-many drinks. Just be sure you get the royal treatment and have your footsies rubbed with peppermint lotion by each and every bridesmaid before the party's over.

POLISH BREAD FAVORS
Traditional Polish brides and bridesmaids have no time to worry the night before the wedding because they're too busy baking small round loaves of bread. At the wedding, each guest gets a small bag of bread as a symbol of goodwill and happiness from the newlyweds. While it may not be the easiest thing for you and your pals to whip up 125+ loaves the night before for your wedding, you could always take the easy way out and visit your local baker. Then to escape pre-wedding jitters, you and your maids can wrap the loaves the night before so they'll be perfect to give as favors.

GREEK SWEETS & TREATS
For a sweet life, a Greek bride will place a lump of sugar in her right glove on her wedding day. Looking for some extra sweetness? Surprise your bridesmaids with a pair of spectacular gloves -- dainty wrist gloves or dramatically elegant ones that touch the elbow -- along with a sugar cube or two hidden inside.

Another popular attendant gift from a Greek bride is a charm shaped like an eye to ward off evil spirits. To continue this tradition why not find "evil eye" charms or buy unique pendants for your bridesmaids -- maybe ones with the face of a sun or a moon.

FINNISH CROWN DANCE
Many single women don't want to participate in the bouquet toss anymore -- they've been knocked down or shoved in the face one too many times. Finnish brides have a wonderful solution to that problem: "The Dance of Crowns". The maid of honor places a crown on the bride's head, blindfolds her and spins her around. Her bridesmaids and single female friends encircle her. Then, she takes off her crown and places it on the head of the woman in front of her, who is said to be the next to marry.

POLISH UNVEILING
Polish brides have a similarly wonderful tradition called "The Unveiling Dance." As the women in the bridal party dance, the mother of the bride takes off her daughter's veil and places it on the head of the maid of honor. She, in turn, places it on another bridesmaid, and so on and so on. This may not provide the crystal ball approach to future partners, but it's a lot more fun.

-- Delia Blackler

From About.com