Wedding Traditions & Customs

Unity candles are a newer wedding tradition, but one with many interesting variations. Full of religious meaning, a sense of community or simply a symbol of the ultimate meaning of marriage, unity...

Filling out a formal RSVP card simply requires filling in the blank spaces, which should include attending guests' full names, number of guests attending and a food preference if offered. Complete...

Church alters can't always be decorated for a wedding, but wreaths, ribbons and flowers can often be placed on the pews and in the entrance of the church. Contact the pastor or church coordinator...

The best songs for a father-daughter or mother-son dance are those that are meaningful and nostalgic, but avoid songs that might make someone cry. Find sweet and memorable tunes for parent dances...

First dance songs for a wedding should be meaningful to both the bride and groom, and it might be helpful to take dance classes together before the big day. Choose the best possible first dance...

Wedding showers are best planned by a group of people, such as the bridesmaids and mothers of the bride and groom, each of which has a specific task to complete. Choose a theme, create a guest...

Decorations for a fall wedding outdoors can include pumpkins, gourds, apples and fall leaves in yellows, oranges, reds and browns. Harness the warm colors of fall at an outdoor ceremony with...

A dollar dance is a wedding tradition that entails the bride dancing with various people for short amounts of time in exchange for a bill of any denomination pinned to her sash. Resurrect this old...

Slow dance songs for weddings should begin with less romantic tunes and progress to more meaningful and sappy melodies. Incorporate opportunities for slow dancing in a wedding set list with...

Serbian wedding celebrations are rich with tradition and can be huge events. As a guest, you will probably be treated to a lavish celebration. Starting the day before the ceremony and continuing...

The traditional Indian wedding is a brilliant reflection of India's opulence, faith and vibrant spirit. Lavish and colorful, Indian wedding ceremonies are one of the culture's most sacred and...

The groom's best man is usually his best friend or his brother. Arranging the bachelor party is one of his most popular (and enjoyable) duties, although he does have other more serious...

Italian weddings are rich in symbolism and tradition. An Italian wedding reception will be lavish with great care taken to ensure that all in attendance enjoy themselves and the day is memorable....

One of the greatest fears universally shared by men and women everywhere is the fear of public speaking. For many, the thought of standing in front of a group of people to communicate their...

Wedding quilts are a traditional gift that loved ones give a special couple that are marrying. Some families choose to actually create the wedding quilt from scratch; however, time or skill does...

Cake toppers can add individuality, personality and whimsy to your wedding cake. Many traditional cake toppers are quite expensive and may not fit the couple's aesthetic or wedding style. Homemade...

Your wedding day is, of course, about you and your new spouse, but you also want to remember your guests by giving them small wedding favors as gifts. These gifts serve as a way to thank your...

A unity sand ceremony is an alternative to the tradition of the unity candle. Like the unity candle, it symbolizes the couple coming together as one and can involve other family members or the...

Te role of the mother of the groom is not set in stone. Although there are several established traditions regarding the groom's mother, couples might choose to follow only some or none of the...

Hope chests are wooden boxes that women traditionally used to collect supplies for her marriage, as well as a place to store special things from past generations. They can be as plain or as...

A longstanding tradition for friends of the bride and groom is to decorate the wedding car. The bride and groom might give suggestions on what decorations to use or what to avoid.

Giving your wedding guests a token of appreciation is not only customary but thoughtful as well. Personalized wedding favors allow your guests to have something to take home that can forever...

Wedding guests will always remember an exhilarated, joyful and ecstatically laughing couple as they dash towards their honeymoon and new life together. Here's how to pull off this picture-perfect...

Letting everyone know which car contains the new bride and groom is one of the most fun projects for the wedding party. Some wedding parties keep the car classy, with just a few "Just Married"...

We've all been to weddings were the good intentioned Best Man and sweet, audience shy Maid of Honor get flustered and fumble over their words. The audience sits in awkward silence waiting for the...

A garter is a type of women's undergarment that has been worn for hundreds of years. While it is modernly associated with weddings, it has a rich history fit to enhance the meaning for any bride.

The wedding garter is part of the traditional bridal apparel. It is common for a bride to wear two garters, one to toss and one to keep. Plan a traditional or an unusual garter toss to continue...

Wedding bands are an important and lasting symbol of your marriage and devotion to your partner. A wedding ring is a representation of your relationship and can be customized to reflect your...

An engagement is an exciting time in a couple's life before they forge a union together by getting married. During this time, a woman wears an engagement ring on her leftshand to state that she...

The literal meaning of a chuppah is canopy. Used in traditional Jewish wedding ceremonies, a chuppah uses an ornately decorated piece of fabric or prayer shawl attached to the tops of four poles....

A wedding is one of the most important events in both the bride and the groom's entire life. All the events leading up to the wedding can be stressful and very time-consuming. On the wedding day,...

Weddings create memories for not only the bride and groom, but their families and friends as well. The wedding party and guests alike hold the bride or groom, or both, in a special place and would...

A new tradition is quickly taking the place of a unity candle in wedding ceremonies. The origin of the sand ceremony may be disputed, but several backgrounds add to the usage of the symbolic ritual.

A personal, meaningful message engraved inside a wedding band makes the symbol of your eternal love even more special for the two of you. It can be a favorite saying, a religious message, a line...

Writing your wedding toast can be a big deal. Make it easier by breaking it down to a couple of parts that are sincere and entertaining. Before you begin, think about the crowd you will be...

Weddings can be costly affairs. From venues to caterers to florists and beyond, everyone who provides a service needs to get paid. It makes sense, then, for couples to create a budget during the...

Doing a wedding card is a lot of fun! Some people have a hard time viewing them as fun because they don't know what to put in the card. They want it to be perfect. Well, guess what? That can happen!

Bridesmaids are an integral part of many weddings. Maids, as they're often called, help the bride and groom get all the elements of their wedding together by aiding with such tasks as dress...

The use of a white aisle runner during a wedding ceremony has roots in religion, but has also serves a practical purpose.

A wedding is a special occasion, remembered for a lifetime, and wedding toasts can make it more memorable. A wedding toast or wedding speech can be funny, heartfelt and leave an emotional impact...

Although mothers typically hold a special place of honor on the wedding day of their children, it is not required to give them a gift on that day. Thank you gifts are traditionally given at the...

Though brides have enough to think about when planning their wedding day, one element is hard to forget--flower girls. Traditionally, flower girls are under age 10 and toss flower petals on the...

Bridal bouquets originated with the wearing of herbs and flowers thousands of years ago, then evolved to today's neatly cut arrangements of flowers. Bouquets were thought to bring luck to the...

Many people fantasize about weddings from the time they're children, but few realize how expansive, and expensive, a wedding truly is. With the average wedding price in the mid five figures,...

The groom has many responsibilities before the wedding as well as on the day of the wedding. Traditionally, the bride's parents pay for the wedding and the bride does more of the planning than the...

Brides and grooms often give their parents gifts to show their appreciation for helping with the wedding. These gifts are even better when they are unique. Unique wedding gifts for parents are all...

Many couples choose to announce their wedding in the newspaper. Most want it to look appropriate and following the guidelines for submission is one of the best ways to get the look you desire.

A unity candle is part of a wedding tradition that has the bride and groom lighting a candle together. The flames are taken from two separate candles, then together the two flames are used to...

The first dance performed by a couple is highly symbolic and often sets the tone of a wedding reception. However this dance can cause great anxiety for couples who are shy, or who are not...

Weddings are memorable occasions that often end with the bride and groom driving away after the ceremony or reception. Decorating their getaway car will create even more memories for the...