A bride is a woman who is about to be married. In Western culture, brides traditionally wear white dresses.
A wedding is a special occasion that brings together family, friends, and acquaintances to celebrate the union of two people in marriage. These gatherings are often large and extravagant affairs. Regardless of their size and scope, weddings serve three important purposes:
One is to celebrate the couple’s love and commitment to each other. This can be achieved through gifts, speeches, and activities. It is also an opportunity for the couple to declare their intention to each other before God and their guests.
The second purpose is to recognize the significance of their union. This can be accomplished through a ceremony of spoken promises, such as “for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”
A third and perhaps the most important purpose is to bring together members of society who might otherwise not interact. This can be done by inviting representatives of various social and political groups to a wedding, and it can be reinforced by having them sit together during the meal, toasts, and dances. This interaction can foster greater understanding of different cultures and perspectives and help build a sense of community.
In the past, when love was not always a factor, teenage brides were not uncommon (and in some cultures still are). The need for a dowry and trousseau to support the new wife and her future children necessitated that brides be prepared for marriage before they were even old enough to cook and clean.
These days, it is becoming more common for brides to wear colors other than white and ditch the traditional long dress altogether in favor of jumpsuits or a shorter gown. And it is not uncommon for brides to choose something that reflects their unique personality and style. In addition to showcasing the personal style of the bride, alternative outfits allow more people to feel included in the day and provide options for those with physical limitations.
Regardless of what brides choose to wear, there is no denying that the most important part of any wedding is the moment when a father passes his daughter’s hand off to her soon-to-be husband as she walks down the aisle. It is a truly touching and tear-jerking scene that is guaranteed to make any wedding album. And, when you think about it, that’s what a wedding is really all about: the fact that billions of people on this planet were in the same place at the same time and for whatever reason they happened to meet their significant others. That is a beautiful thing! And what makes it all the more incredible is that they fell in love. And that is why a bride is so lucky.