The word “bridal” means of or relating to a bride, or to a wedding. It is a compound word formed from the words bride and bridal party, and may also refer to a store or hotel that specializes in weddings and their attendants. The term is a culturally specific one, so its meaning differs from person to person, depending on their culture, the people around them, the movies and TV they’ve seen, the photos and wedding magazines they’ve thumbed through. For example, if you ask 20 different people what “bridal” means to them, you’ll get 20 very distinct and unique answers.
For the modern-day bride, a bridal magazine is a great way to start collecting ideas and inspiration for her special day. Not only does it offer a tactile experience with its glossy and colorful printed pages, but the visuals will spark her imagination and help her dream up the perfect way to celebrate her unique love story.
In addition to the bridal magazine, there are plenty of online resources to turn to for ideas and information about planning a wedding. These websites can be a huge time-saver, and many of them provide comprehensive lists of the most popular wedding vendors and venues in the area. Some even allow the bride to share her wish list with her friends and family, which is a fantastic way to get everyone involved in the process of planning her big day.
Another resource that is a must-have for any modern-day bride is her wedding planner, who can help with everything from choosing the right venue to creating a timeline for when she needs to have her dresses altered. Having an experienced wedding planner by her side can make the entire process much less stressful, and it will also ensure that she stays within budget.
In Western culture, the father of the bride plays a smaller role than other family members, but he does have several duties on the day of the wedding. For example, he will often walk his daughter down the aisle and “give her away” at the altar. He will also take part in the father-daughter dance. In non-Western cultures, the father of the bride may wear traditional dress and other symbolic jewelry, such as chura (red and white bangles) in Punjabi Sikh culture and the mangalsutra in Hindu culture.
A wedding shower and a bachelorette party are both pre-wedding celebrations that can be a lot of fun. They are not the same, however, and it’s important to understand the differences between them before planning or attending either event. Some couples choose to have both a bridal shower and a bachelorette party, while others only want one of the two. The difference between these parties is important because they will vary in who is invited, what types of gifts are given, and whether or not the couple will have a cake.