A wedding between two people although it can be religious, is also a legal contract that both partners agree too; reforms to the law and attitudes regarding marriage have seen a number of important changes in recent years. Although the service may be quite lengthy and involved, it is not complete until the legal aspect is fulfilled; the marriage certificate must be signed at the end of the service for the law to legitimize the couple's relationship. The names bridegroom and bride extend around the world; once they are married they known as the wife and husband.
Church Marriages
Other wedding traditions vary according to the religion, race, ethnic group and even class the couple may belong too. Even in today's climate, the traditional Church ceremony is still the most popular service. White weddings may be quite normal for those of us that live in the United States, UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth but they are not always accepted worldwide amongst Christian faiths.
Twin Ceremonies
A rare type of marriage is where two separate couples decide to marry at the same time; related people are the most likely to try for this type of service.
Getting Married in a Foreign Country
Marriages in foreign countries are called destination weddings where guests can arrive either just before the ceremony or actually travel with the couple; destination weddings automatically conjure up exotic countries but it could just as easily be a themed wedding in Las Vegas to qualify for that title.
Weekend Break Weddings
Whilst it is quite normal for the Irish to have three day weddings, more couples are taking the hint and having theirs over a weekend which gives them more time to enjoy the occasion. Special activities, such as spa treatments and golf tournaments, are scheduled into the itinerary for guests' enjoyment throughout the weekend. Accommodation for these is normally arranged at the place where the service is going to take place and where the other events are also being held.
Online Ceremonies
Although it has not really caught on yet, a few bold and different people have decided to tie the knot online but it may be sometime before this style of wedding really becomes more popular; There are already a number of companies based online can help you find out more information about his unusual type of ceremony. An internet or online wedding can also refer to a situation where a couple may broadcast their marriage to friends and family in other parts of the world.
City Hall Services A civil wedding is a ceremony presided over by a local civil authority, such as an elected or appointed judge, justice of the peace or the mayor of a locality. These ceremonies do not normally make any reference to God as they are a legal ceremony only. These services often take place in city halls, courthouses and other designated areas of town.
This brief article has tried to explain what a wedding as carried out in the Western world.
There are certain traditions associated with the wedding that play a very important role. These traditions have a great impact right from buying bridal gowns to selecting the wedding ring. Here are some of the most popular wedding ceremony traditions:
Bouquet
The tradition of carrying matching bouquet by the bride is going on for quite a long time. The bouquet originally made of strong smelling herbs and spices such as thyme and garlic, was carried to ward off the evil spirits, bad luck and ill health.
Bridal Shower
This beautiful wedding tradition has its roots in Holland when a father disapproved his daughter's choice and it was then when the villagers showered her with gifts of house hold goods and belongings to help the newly wed couple start a new phase of life. A bridal shower is believed to strengthen the ties between the bride and her friends and help her prepare for marriage.
Veil
In the past, marriages were generally arranged by family members and the newlyweds were not allowed to see each other. According to one tradition, it is considered bad luck for the bride to be seen by the groom before the ceremony. According to another story, it was done to ensure that the groom wouldn't refuse to marry the bride after seeing her. The veil is still in fashion and while selecting a wedding gown from an online store or a traditional shop, the bride takes a lot of pain to find a matching veil. Even if one is buying a discounted wedding gown, one does go to great lengths to find a veil that matches perfectly.
Carrying the bride across the threshold
This age old tradition of carrying the bride over the threshold dictates that the new wife must never trip and fall while entering her new home for the first time. Another ancient belief says that to keep the bride away from evil spirits the groom carries her over the threshold.
Ring Finger
Prior to the 5th century, the ring finger was actually the index finger. But later on the groom used to place a ring on the third finger of the bride's left hand, as it was believed that a vein in this finger is connected straight to the heart. Today the ring worn on the ring finger symbolizes the love and trust shared by the husband and wife.
Wedding Cake
During the Roman period, cakes baked of wheat or barley were traditionally broken over the head of the new Bride by the Groom as a symbol of her fertility. The bride and groom fed each other a piece of the wedding cake that symbolized the sharing of life's bounty. This tradition has given rise to another popular wedding tradition where the newlyweds exchange a kiss over a small cluster of cakes.
White wedding gown
The white bridal gown has always been a symbol of purity and dates back to Victorian period. A white wedding gown symbolizes chastity, virtue and hence of maidenhood. Prior to this period, brides used to wear their best dress on their wedding day and color was not an issue. But today white is the first choice when brides spend hours searching for wedding gowns and even .
There are many more wedding traditions that make the wedding ceremony a special one. These traditions help in making the wedding extra special and wonderful.
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Both Henry Matthias & Cynthia Ford are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Henry Matthias has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Bridal Shower and Training A Cat. Find out how to select wedding ceremony that is most fitting to your need .... and download your free no obligation wedding ceremony guide. Yours free for visiting. Henry Matthias's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Cynthia Ford has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Gowns, Wedding Theme and Wedding Gowns. Cynthia ford is a fashion journalist who writes on bridal wear and on how to purchase best along with wedding accessories, veils, shoes and a lot. Cynthia Ford's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.