The bride is one of the most important people on a wedding day. She is the center of attention and often the focus of a lot of time, energy and money that goes into her dress and the other details that surround her. She also represents the future of her marriage and, if she is lucky enough to be married for a long time, can be a beautiful symbol of love and strength.
Whether they are religious or not, many couples have some sort of vision for what their ideal wedding should be. Some of these visions are influenced by the as-seen-on-tv type of weddings that seem to be all over social media and TV. Other couples have grown up in families that have very specific traditions for their weddings. Then there are the others that just want to create core memories with the people they love and get married their way!
In some cultures, the celebration of a wedding can last for weeks and involve large amounts of money. While most American weddings are shorter and more intimate, the same idea of a big event to honor and showcase the bride is still prevalent.
Some of the most common wedding traditions include the bride walking down the aisle while her father gives her away, signing a marriage contract (ketubah) at the ceremony or reception, and having family members toss rice at her on her way out of the venue. The sand ceremony, where the bride and groom pour sand into a small glass container together, is another popular tradition to show their unity as husband and wife.
When it comes to the actual ceremony, most couples are choosing to do things differently than in the past. They may get ready separately and then see each other before the ceremony starts. This is known as a first look. It allows them to enjoy this special moment before the ceremony and takes a little pressure off of their shoulders for the rest of the day.
After the ceremony, it’s usually time for photos. Most of the time, this includes family and wedding party photos with the couple. This can take up a lot of the couple’s time and can be pretty exhausting. They then eat dinner (usually in between cocktail hour and when the dance floor opens) and then toasts start to happen.
Often, couples will spend time on their websites sharing things about themselves, their love story, their engagement or proposal, their bridal parties and any other fun and interesting facts they want to share with their guests. This is a great way to make the guest feel included and shows how much thought they put into their day. However, it is important to remember that weddings never really stay on schedule and there are always hiccups along the way. Budgeting aggressive amounts of extra time into transitions can help ensure that the little things don’t derail the whole day.