A white limousine screeches to a halt and a bride, resplendent in frothy gown and veil, is hauled outside by her abductors. It’s one of Romania’s more colorful customs: bride-napping. And the tradition of snatching the bride from under the nose of groom and guests with the wedding party in full swing is getting bigger, brasher and an increasingly common sight in the Romanian capital, the Balkans’ undisputed party town. 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: a few bottles of whisky or perhaps something more romantic, like a public declaration of love from the abandoned groom. `’Everything was staged and ready in my case.
