The Guide to Weddings

Couples engaged in serious relationships eventually outgrow the baby talk, the petty quarrels and the supreme focus on lust. Somewhere along the line, the couple will want to have a more mature take on their relationship. The moment they see that the relationship is strong enough to last a lifetime, they engage in a ceremony that formally binds them in the eyes of the law and their religious faith. That ceremony is called the wedding. What is a Wedding?The wedding is the rite that formalizes the marriage of two people. As a couple, you have two basic options if you want to get married. They are:

• Church wedding
• Civil wedding

The church wedding focuses on the religious aspect of the bond, while the civil leans on the legal side. In some countries and states, a church wedding will merit a marriage license, which renders the civil wedding unnecessary. People with meager budgets, on the other hand, settle for the much cheaper civil wedding. The Wedding ProcedureWeddings follow a strict order of practices before a couple is formally named husband and wife. The usual order of activities are:

This procedure applies for church weddings. Civil weddings require couples to swear in front of a government official, bring a witness, and sign the marriage contract before they are declared husband and wife. Wedding ThemesWeddings can have different themes, depending on a couple’s preferences. People usually go for the white wedding, the world’s most popular wedding theme, so that their marriage has a balance of spirituality and elegance. Some people prefer a more creative take on their weddings. They combine other elements such as diving, skydiving and party themes to the ceremony. Here are several themes that you can apply for your marriage ceremony:

• White wedding
• Skydiving wedding
• Diving adventure wedding
• Luau wedding
• Elvis wedding

With the exception of the white wedding, the other themes are simply products of combining interests with the wedding ceremony. You can apply almost any theme to your wedding, as long as a minister is present and agrees with your wedding terms. Weddings in Different CulturesSome countries have distinct wedding practices, themes and attires. Here are some examples:

• Chinese weddings are known to have tea ceremonies within the proceedings.

• In Jewish weddings, the participants greet the bride and the groom with chants backed up with music.

Other cultures have superstitions for certain situations that might occur during the wedding ceremony. The proceedings of your wedding may vary, which depends on the marriage laws and customs of your country. You should research on these factors, so you can better prepare for your wedding. Wedding ReceptionWhen the formal ceremony is over, the newlyweds, together with the guests, proceed to the reception. The wedding reception is the after-party of the wedding, often held at a prestigious venue. The setting and the decorations are based on the theme set by the wedded couple, while the activities are aimed to pay tribute to the newlyweds. Just like the wedding ceremony, the reception holds a number of customary activities. The newlyweds and all the other participants are required partake in these activities, since the reception is a formal extension of the wedding ceremony. Here are some of the practices in a wedding reception:

• Dinner
• Speeches from the newlyweds family members
• Formal Tribute to the Newlyweds
• The Tossing of the Bride’s Bouquet and Garter
• Wedding Toasts
• Eating of the Wedding Cake
• Wedding Dances

Everyone, including the newly weds, have fun at the reception. The mood is generally light with a few emotional moments, which provides a balance to the serious and reverent feel of the wedding ceremony.

Weddings are Good Memories

The wedding, as a prelude to marriage, should be well-prepared. You should devote some time to make the whole experience special. Hire a good wedding planner. Splurge thousands of dollars if you must. Remember, you are sharing the joy of such a momentous occasion with your family, friends and most especially, your partner. Better make your wedding a memorable one.