Whether you’re planning your wedding for a small family gathering or an extravagant celebration, there are several key factors that should be considered before you commit. If you don’t have a wedding planner, you’ll want to appoint a point person for the entire week. They can handle any last minute travel plans, and they can also help you contact vendors.
The wedding ceremony is a formal ceremony that marks the beginning of a couple’s marriage. It includes the exchange of wedding vows, an official declaration of sanctification, and a special benediction for the newlyweds. In the United States, most weddings follow a standard format. However, in different cultures, they may include unique traditions. There are several common wedding rituals, which you should consider when planning your own ceremony.
The ceremony starts with a processional. The processional includes the bride and groom, as well as the bridal party and attendants. The processional ends with the bride making her entrance escorted by her father. In the recessional, the bridal party, bride and groom, and attendants back up the aisle in opposite order from their entrance.
The ceremony continues with a reading of one of the Bible’s passages about marriage. The reading may also involve a personal statement by the couple. The reading may be about the sanctification of the marriage, the sanctification of the bride, or the sanctification of the groom.
The groom and the groomsmen enter the ceremony under a four-poled canopy structure called a chuppah. The chuppah is a symbolic symbol of the creation of a new Jewish home. During the wedding, the bride and groom may drink wine from the Kiddush cup. The bride and groom may also exchange their wedding rings, either together or separately. The wedding ceremony can be very expensive, especially in our culture.
The ceremony often includes an offertory, during which guests are allowed to bring gifts to the altar. Some weddings include a signature cocktail, which is a special drink created by the couple.
Another popular wedding ritual involves the breaking of a wine glass. In Reform Jewish weddings, the groom and the groomsmen break a glass of wine together, ostensibly in memory of the destruction of the Second Temple. The groom then lifts his veil to kiss the bride, symbolizing their marriage.
A wedding mission statement can be a great way to start the process of planning your ceremony. This statement includes what you want your wedding to be, including the religion, ceremony, food, cake, and loving messages from your friends and family. The mission statement can also involve your favorite art and music.
In some cultures, the wedding ceremony can last a week or more. In some churches, the ceremony includes a reception and a wedding cake. The reception may also include a punch. For a nondenominational wedding, the reception may include a signature cocktail, handfasting ritual, jumping broom, planting a tree, or other wedding ritual.
The wedding ceremony has its roots in Old Norse and Danish words that mean “to make a bet” or “to pledge one’s love.” It also means to make a wager or to make a pledge.