The primary purpose of a wedding is to celebrate marriage. The celebration can be very long – in some cultures, the wedding can last for a week or longer. In our culture, a wedding is very expensive, but the bride is the focus of attention and the more money spent on the wedding, the more valuable she will seem. Here are some tips to make your wedding as special as possible. Weigh your options and choose the right wedding ceremony for you.
Gather addresses – If you can, collect home addresses of your guests. While sending out wedding invitations by mail may seem traditional, many couples are choosing to go digital. Keeping track of RSVPs is easy, too, thanks to sites such as Postable. If you can’t do this in person, try Google Docs or Zola’s guest list tracker. Once you’ve collected all the addresses, you can make sure they get to your wedding!
Vows – Most marriage ceremonies conclude with the exchange of vows. The bride and groom are accompanied by both their mothers and fathers. The ceremony begins with the bride sipping wine from a Kiddush cup, and the groom smashes it with his right foot. In Reform Jewish weddings, the bride and groom may share the same vows or use traditional phrasing. Other traditions include the exchange of rings. Before kissing the bride, the groom must lift the bride’s veil. He can do this with the help of a maid of honor or a bridesmaid.
The bride’s father often plays a lesser role in the run-up to the wedding, but has several roles on the day itself. Some families opt for a “first look” between the father and daughter, so that they can get to know each other in person. The father of the bride also walks his daughter down the aisle. He then gives her away at the altar. The groom may also perform a father-daughter dance. In addition, his role at the wedding day is less obvious.
The bride’s wreath is the Christian equivalent of a gilt coronet. Jewish brides often wore coronets. Calvinists in Holland and Russia still practice the tradition. Orange blossoms are a symbol of fertility and were introduced to Europe by the Crusaders. The bride’s veil is a modern version of the ancient yellow veil called flammum. Traditionally, brides wore these flowers during the ceremony to distract evil spirits.
During the wedding ceremony, the officiant may make an introduction or provide some thoughts on marriage. The bride and groom are then accompanied by their respective families and guests. The officiant may also invite readers to say a few words about the wedding ceremony. The officiant may follow a scripted wedding ceremony or just let things flow naturally. While there are many ways to plan a wedding, the following are some tips to help make your ceremony memorable.
The bride wears a veil and carries a flower bouquet. In the US, the groom can remove the bride’s garter and throw it to male guests. In many cultures, the bride can also throw the bouquet and the garter to her male guests. The bride can catch it, and it’s believed that this means she’ll marry again soon. So, choose your wedding ceremony accordingly. It’s important to remember to take photos.