:'''Nuptial' is the
adjective of "wedding". It is used for example in
zoology to denote plumage, coloration, behavior, etc related to or occurring in the
mating season.''
A
bride in the South of France
Ethnic Hakka people in a wedding in East Timor, 2006
A 'wedding' is a
ceremony that celebrates the beginning of a
marriage or
civil union.
Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between
cultures,
ethnic groups,
religions,
countries, and
social classes. In some countries, cultures and religions, the actual act of marriage begins during the wedding ceremony. In others, the legal act of marriage occurs at the time of signing a
marriage license or other legal document, and the wedding is then an opportunity to perform a traditional ceremony and celebrate with friends and family. A woman taking part in the ceremony is called a
bride, a man called a
bridegroom, after the ceremony they become a
wife and a
husband, respectively.
Types
A 'double wedding' is a single ceremony where two
affianced couples rendezvous for two separate weddings. Typically, a fiancé with a
sibling might plan a double wedding with that sibling.
A '
destination wedding' is any wedding in which the engaged couple and/or a majority of their guests travel to attend the ceremony. Whether this happens for an intimate beach ceremony in the Caribbean, extravagant nuptials in Las Vegas or for a simple ceremony in someone's back yard, chances are it qualifies as a destination wedding.
A '
weekend wedding' is a wedding in which couples and their guests celebrate over the course of a weekend. Special activities, such as spa treatments and golf tournaments, are scheduled into the wedding itinerary for guests' enjoyment throughout the weekend. Lodging usually is at the same facility as the wedding and couples often host a Sunday brunch for the weekend's finale.
A '
white wedding' is a formal or semi-formal wedding in the
United Kingdom,
Ireland and
United States, as well as
Commonwealth, traditions.
A 'military wedding' is a ceremony conducted in a
military chapel.
An '
online wedding' is a wedding that is either conducted on the internet, or is an event that resembles a standard wedding when two people who wish their avatars, or characters, to be married. Many couples are using the internet to meet and share their vows. Planning is made easy, with online wedding guides (see references) where reliable and friendly vendors are listed. Weddings that are broadcast live online are also referred to as online weddings.
A 'same-sex wedding' is a ceremony in which two people of the same sex are married or, more commonly,
civilly united. This may be an official and legally recognized event, or (in places that do not allow
same-sex marriage) it may simply be an opportunity to make the same pledges and have the same celebration with friends and family as at a heterosexual wedding.
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.
Civil wedding ceremonies may use references to
God, but generally no references to a particular
religion or
denomination. They can be either elaborate or simple. Many civil wedding ceremonies take place in local town or city halls or courthouses in judge's chambers.
A 'church wedding' is a ceremony presided over by a Christian
priest. Ceremonies are based on reference to
God, are frequently embodied into other church ceremonies like
Holy Mass.
A 'Jewish wedding' is a ceremony presided over by a
rabbi. The rabbi recites the wedding blessing, reads out the
ketubah, the rabbi, or those close to the couple, bless the couple by saying the seven blessings and the ceremony finishes when the groom breaks a glass underfoot.
A 'mix wedding' is when a bride and groom from two different religions get married. They would also have two leaders from different religions precide the wedding. An example would be a rabbi and a priest presiding over a mix wedding together.
Expense
The average expense of a wedding in the United States, as of 2007, is $28,000. This is twice the cost of a wedding in 1990. The wedding industry nets $161 billion dollars yearly, according to Rebecca Mead, author of "One Perfect Day."
[1][2]
Customs
Nubian wedding with some international modern touches, near
Aswan,
Egypt
A traditional Japanese wedding ceremony
Wedding ceremonies may contain any number of different elements, however most contain
wedding vows of some kind and a proclamation of marriage, usually by the officiant. Most weddings also involve wearing the traditional clothes of the culture in which the couple is wedding. A wedding is often followed or accompanied by a
wedding reception.
Other elements may include music, poetry, prayer, scripture, or other traditions. In most societies a number of
traditions or customs have emerged around the wedding ceremony, many of which have lost their original symbolic meaning in the modern world. Other wedding traditions are relatively recent. Some elements of the traditional Western wedding ceremony symbolize the bride's departure from her father's control and entry into a new family with her husband. In modern Western weddings, this symbolism is largely vestigial, since a husband and wife are of equal power and status.
A wedding's particular customs may be varied, mixed, or invented to suit the personalities, interests, and cultural backgrounds of the couple. Such hybrid ceremonies are more common when performed by civil celebrants, as in Australia, the United States and Canada.
Clothing
Different wedding traditions call for different wedding outfits:
★
Qipao, Chinese traditional formal wear
★
Batik and
Kebaya, a special garment worn by the
Javanese people of
Indonesia.
★
Barong Tagalog, an embroidered formal garment of the Philippines
★
Kimono, the traditional garments of Japan
★
Sari, Indian popular and traditional dress in India
★
Ao dai, traditional garments of Vietnam
★
Morning dress, a particular category of men's formal dress
★
Kilt, male garment particular to
Scottish culture[3][4][5]
★
Topor, a type of conical headgear
★
Tuxedo
★
★
Black tie, indicating dinner jacket in the UK
★
★
White tie, indicating evening dress in the UK
★
Sherwani, a long coat-like garment worn in South Asia
★ Wedding
veil
★
Wedding dress
Music
African weddings
Traditional music throughout Africa is almost always functional; in other words, it is performed to mark a ritual such as a wedding. A traditional African wedding ritual serves to combine the families of the bride and groom. Because
Africa is a
continent with a wide range of ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity, the
music of Africa varies widely.
Chinese weddings
Chinese music plays an important role to create an environment of jolly and noisy atmosphere in the wedding ceremony. A band of musicians with gongs and flute-like instruments accompanies the bride parade to groom's home. Similar music is also played in wedding banquet.
Western weddings
Music often played at western weddings includes a processional song for walking down the aisle (ex:
Wedding March) and reception dance music. More at
wedding music.
See also
★
Religious aspects of marriage
Related events and social processes
★
Betrothal
★
Bride price
★
Brideservice
★
Dowry
★
Dower
★
Engagement and
Engagement ring
★
Handfasting
★
Banns of marriage
★
Wedding reception
★
Wedding anniversary
★
Wedding of the Weddings (meetings of couples)
★
Prenuptial agreement
★
Bridal shower
★
Bachelor party
★
Mayian
★
Martha Stewart Weddings
Wedding traditions
Main articles: Wedding traditions
★
Marriage license
★
Wedding band (or ring)
★
Wedding dress
★ Wedding
gift
★
Wedding invitation
★
Wedding music
★
Wedding vows
★
Wedding trends
Participants
★
Bride
★
Bridegroom
★
Best man
★
Bridesmaid
★
Celebrant
★
Flowergirl
★
Page boy
★
Maid of honor
★
Ringbearer
★ Usher or
groomsman
★
Wedding party
Related travel
★
Honeymoon
★
Wedding trip (traveling to meet a bride or groom in an arranged marriage)
★
Las Vegas Weddings
Other
★
Wedding cake
★
Wedding videography
★
Wedding photography
★
Personal Wedding Websites
References
1. "The Wedding-Industrial Complex," "Christian Science Monitor," June 8, 2007, p. 8 http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0608/p08s01-comv.html
2. http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/05/21/mead_weddings/index_np.html
3. Kilts: tightly woven into Scots culture
4. The Scottish Kilt
5. Scottish Culture and Heritage: The Kilt Jim Murdoch
العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
Español
![La Zebra is Mexico\](images/articles/thumbs/lazebrathum.jpg "La Zebra is Mexico\")
