A bride is a woman who is about to marry or who is a newlywed. Her future husband is called her bridegroom and she may be attended by maids of honour, flower girls, or other attendants. Brides traditionally wear white wedding dresses, but they can also be made in other colours to reflect their culture or religious tradition. They may also wear veils, and carry bouquets, prayer books, or other tokens. They often wear jewelry that is meaningful to them, such as a wedding band or engagement ring in Western cultures, chura (red and white bangles) in Punjabi Sikh culture, or mangalsutra in Hindu culture.
The word bride is derived from the Latin bridem, meaning “wedding”. This is in reference to the fact that the marriage of a Christian couple symbolizes Christ’s sacrificial and loving choice of his church as his bride (Ephesians 5:25-27). The Bible teaches us that a beautiful bride is one who has internalized her beauty and carries it with her throughout her day. Her beauty does not depend on her clothing or external emotions, but on the fact that she is God’s beloved and he has chosen her to be his forever (Revelation 19:7; Ephesians 3:16).
Brides are admired for their beauty, and the size of a bridesmaid or matron of honour wedding party is usually based on a bride’s wealth and social status. A bride’s dowry was once provided by her family as a sign of a good match, but this practice is now rare. Modern brides are frequently adorned with gifts from friends and loved ones.
Historically, the bride’s family would provide a retinue of female attendants to assist her at her wedding and reception. They were primarily there to offer emotional support to the bride, and to help her with tasks such as bustling her gown and affixing her veil. Today, the bride may choose how many bridesmaids or maids of honour she wishes to have, and she may decide not to have any at all.
If you are asked to speak at the wedding of a friend or relative, it is a good idea to begin your speech by complimenting the bride. Begin by mentioning a particular trait that you love about her, such as her wacky sense of humour or generous nature. You can then share a favourite anecdote or memory about her that exemplifies this quality.
You can then move on to the relationship between the bride and her partner and celebrate their happy union. This is a great opportunity to tell the story of how you came to know them and to share some of your well-wishing thoughts for their future together. For example, you could offer some marriage advice or share a quote that has particularly touched your heart. Alternatively, you could end your speech with your best piece of marriage wisdom or a personal anecdote that demonstrates why you think this bride is so special. This is sure to make her feel truly appreciated on her special day.