Ceremony
A wedding between two people although it can be religious, is also a legal contract that both partners agree too; the attitude of western populations towards marriage has undergone many changes recently. Although the service may be quite lengthy and involved, it is not complete until the legal aspect is fulfilled; a legal document called a marriage license must be signed before the law recognizes a couple is married. The man getting married is called the groom or bridegroom to give him his full title and the woman the bride; once they are married they known as the wife and husband.
Here are some kind of wedding plans that you should know to choose the best fits your wishes:
Religious Wedding Services
Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Even in today’s climate, the traditional Church ceremony is still the most popular service. These ceremonies are usually referred to as white weddings and are considered formal or semi-formal in the United Kingdom, Ireland and United States, as well as some other Commonwealth countries.
Double Ceremonies
A rare type of marriage is where two separate couples decide to marry at the same time; ceremonies such as this are usually instigated by siblings who like the idea of a simultaneous marriage.
Marriages in Another Country
Destination weddings are becoming more popular and many couples decide to have their wedding and honeymoon in the same place; it doesn’t matter exactly where you travel to, whether it is in Egypt or just to Las Vegas it will still be considered a destination wedding.
Getting Married on a Weekend Break
Weekend weddings are becoming popular and in Ireland they take place over the course of three days. To cater for an expanding market a number of companies arrange special themed occasions that incorporate anything from golf to surfing. 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.
Getting Married on the Internet
Still in the early stages of evolution is the internet wedding where the couple is married online; there are even guides for information on how to go about an internet ceremony with information on people that can carry it out for you. Marriages that are broadcast live online are also referred to as online weddings.
Civil Ceremonies
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. The weddings discussed here are primarily based around Christian beliefs but each religion and culture has their own traditions in this area.
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Everyone involved in the wedding, from the bride and groom to the groomsmen, bridesmaids and the guests, is subject to these certain rules of etiquette to ensure that tradition is upheld and that everything goes as expected. Not following the etiquette in a traditional ceremony could result in hurt feelings.
One key thing to remember, if you are a part of the wedding party, ie. a bridesmaid or groomsman, that the day isn’t about you. It’s about the couple being married. Essentially, you are there to support the bride and groom and do what you can to make things easier on them. Causing a scene, upstaging the couple or stealing their thunder is completely unacceptable and any such behavior should be avoided at all costs.
During the ceremony, the guests must be aware of their actions and behavior. Certain things like getting up to use the restroom, whispering, or falling asleep can be a distraction for everyone around you. There is nothing worse than being distracted by a guest insisting on making everyone in their row move so they can get up and use the restroom. Cell phones should be turned off as well, to prevent any unexpected interruptions.
If you are the mother and father of the bride or groom, you need to be especially mindful of your behavior during the ceremony. Keep in mind that the attention should be focused on the bride and groom, NOT on you. Every time you sniffle, cry or make any other noise you take away from the ceremony. The last thing you want the guests remembering at the ceremony is how the mother of the bride caused a scene by breaking down during the vows.
For the bride and groom, keep in mind that everyone in attendance are your guests, and should be treated as such. Yes, they are there for you, but at the same time you should ensure that everyone is comfortable both during the ceremony and the reception afterwards. Try to put yourself in their shoes. What would you like at a wedding or reception as a guest? Is the seating comfortable? Are there enough entree choices to cater to vegetarians or any other dietary issues? What have you done to make your guests feel welcome and appreciated? Always make sure to make the rounds to each table and thank everyone for coming.
Generally, the bride and groom have registered at a store for gifts that they feel would be beneficial to their new life and new home together. When shopping for gifts, guests should do their best to stick to the registry as best they can. Most couples understand that not everything they want will be in everyone’s price range, and so will put a few smaller items on the list. If you are unable to find something on the gift registry, then a gift of cash is always acceptable. Just don’t go overboard.