Western-Weddings.doc

Western Weddings

Bride – the woman who is getting married.
Groom- the man who is getting married.
Engagement – the period of time between when a man and a woman agree to marry and the wedding.
Wedding Vows – the promises the bride and groom make to each other during the wedding ceremony.
Wedding Reception – a party held immediately after a wedding for the bride and groom.
Wedding Registry – the suggested gift list for the bride and groom. The bride and groom will typically register at a store that sells things for the home.
Bachelor party – a party for the groom hosted by his friends. The party is always held in the days before the wedding.
Bachelorette party – a party for the bride hosted by her friends. The party is always held in the days before the wedding.
Honeymoon- the period of time following the wedding when the bride and groom go on a vacation together alone.
Bridal shower – a conservative party for the bride which is hosted by her friends. The bridal shower is held in the days before the wedding.

Weddings in General
Weddings in the West are usually formal events.
The most common place to hold a wedding is in a church but people also get married in homes, parks, auditoriums, and sometimes courthouses.
Most people are married by a minister, priest, or a judge.
Weddings in the West can be very expensive.

What to Wear
Weddings are normally formal events so you should wear your best clothes. Most men normally wear a business suit and most women normally wear formal dresses. It is considered inappropriate for a woman to wear red to a wedding because the bright color takes attention away from the bride. It is also considered inappropriate for a woman to wear white to a wedding because it also takes attention away from the bride.
In addition to formal clothes, you should also wear your best formal shoes to a wedding. Sandals are considered inappropriate.
The groom will normally wear a business suit or a tuxedo.
The bride will normally wear a wedding dress. The most common color for the bride to wear is white because it symbolizes purity. In the West, brides never wear red wedding dresses.

Before the Wedding
Western weddings normally require a great deal of planning and it can take as long as six months to plan the wedding.
Weddings are typically rehearsed prior to the actual ceremony.
After the rehearsal, everyone involved in the wedding ceremony will eat a formal dinner which is normally held at a nice restaurant.
A few days before the wedding, the groom’s friends will have a party for him. The party may either be a wild party or a conservative party.
A few days before the wedding, the bride’s friends will have a party for her. The party may either be a bachelorette party (wild) or a bridal shower (conservative).

Wedding Gifts

It is customary for friends and the family of a bride and groom to give them a wedding gift. The gift is normally something for the home and it is not customary to give money.
The couple will normally have a registry with one or more stores. The registry will have a list of the items the bride and groom want for their home.
It is customary to give the gift to the bride and groom prior to the wedding and not at the actual wedding.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
The bride will typically have a few close friends who assist her before and during the wedding. They are called bridesmaids. Their purpose is to offer the bride emotional support, help the bride dress for the wedding, hold the flowers during the wedding, and host the bridal shower or bachelorette party.

The groom will typically have a few close friends who assist him before and during the wedding. They are called groomsmen. Their purpose is to offer emotional support to the groom, hold the bride’s wedding ring until the ceremony, greet guests, and host the bachelor party for the groom.

The Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony is normally a beautiful affair with music and an exchange of vows by the bride and groom. The ceremony begins with the groom standing in front of the church waiting for the bride. The bride and her father then enter the church. The father walks the bride down the aisle and “gives away” the bride to the groom. There is traditional music playing as they walk down the aisle. Once the bride stands next to the groom the minister or priest begins by welcoming everyone and starts to talk about the institution of marriage. The bride and groom then exchange wedding vows and then the groom places the wedding ring on the bride’s finger. After this, the bride and groom kiss and the ceremony ends.
The Wedding Reception

There is normally a party after the wedding called a wedding reception. It is everyone’s first opportunity to interact with the bride and groom as a married couple. Sometimes a full meal is served but wedding cake is always served. Parents and friends of the bride and groom will offer toasts and wish them a happy and long life together. After the reception, the bride and groom depart for their honeymoon.

General Wedding Etiquette
· Do not bring a guest to the wedding unless your invitation says you can.
· Dress formally when attending the wedding.
· Be certain to arrive at the wedding ceremony before the bride walks down the aisle.
· It is ok to take pictures before and after the ceremony but it is not appropriate to take photos during the ceremony.
· If you attend the wedding reception, you are obligated to stay at least until the wedding cake has been cut.
· As you are leaving the wedding reception, wish the couple well, congratulate the families of the bride/groom, and thank the wedding hosts (the people who paid for the wedding).