A bride is a woman who is about to be married. She is usually the center of attention on her wedding day and is often adorned with lots of jewelry and flowers. The groom’s attendants, or “maids of honor,” may also wear similar attire. A wedding ceremony may take place in a church, at a private home, or at an outdoor venue such as a park. After the ceremony, there is typically a reception where the couple greets friends and family, cuts a cake, and has their first dance together. There is sometimes a toast where the groom and bride ask their guests for help in supporting them in marriage. Some couples decide to skip the reception and only have a wedding ceremony. The cost is less than a full wedding and it allows more people to attend, which may increase the sense of support that the couple receives in their marriage.
In many cultures, the wedding ceremony is an important rite of passage for both women and men. For the women, it is a chance to be showered with gifts and to be seen by their friends and family as someone who is desirable. The groom is also given gifts, which are often referred to as his “bride price.” This can be anything from nothing if the groom can’t afford it, to tens of millions of Thai baht for a beauty queen or a woman of high social standing.
The ceremony starts with the officiant welcoming everyone and saying a few words about their relationship and love story, or about what marriage means. They may then do a reading, which could be from the Bible or any other book that speaks to love and marriage. The officiant may also say that they are about to marry the couple, and if they are a priest or member of the clergy, they might then lead some prayers as well.
After this, the couple will walk down the aisle to meet their witnesses and the officiant. This is a moment where they are usually smiling and looking beautiful, and it’s a great time for pictures! The officiant will then say that the couple is now legally married, and this is usually followed by a big kiss in front of all their guests. This is one of the most memorable pictures from a wedding, and it’s an excellent way to start off a marriage.
After the ceremony, some couples will give their thank you speeches, which is another nice part of the wedding. Others will have a party or banquet afterwards, which is often called the wedding breakfast. The couple will eat a meal together and celebrate with their friends and family. Then, the groom and bride may leave in a car decorated with balloons, signs (“Just Married!”), old shoes or tin cans tied to the bumper. The couple may even be greeted by their guests with bouquets made of twigs or holly leaves.