Wedding Traditions & Customs

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...

It's tradition to give gifts to your bridal party as appreciation for all of the groomsmen's hard work. The gift exchange can take place at the rehearsal dinner or on the day of the wedding....

Hawaiian weddings promise couples the same attractions as other tropical destinations -- brilliant sunlight, rhythmic tides and natural shorelines. Yet only Hawaii offers a distinct blend of...

Many theories surround the origins of wedding veils and how they came to be a popular wedding accessory in modern weddings. From being used to cover the face of a bride from her betrothed to...

If you want to celebrate your Irish heritage at your wedding, you'll want to look into traditions that have been used for centuries in Irish ceremonies. You can make your wedding as Irish as you...

A chuppah is an integral part of any Jewish wedding. Many brides and grooms like to create a unique chuppah to symbolize their love and future. This chuppah will become a family heirloom as the...

Are you getting ready to make a wedding toast for a dear friend or relative? Cat got your tongue? Not sure which direction to head? Do not wing it. Take a few minutes to reflect on what to say at...

The wedding toast is a great opportunity to show love and give a testament to the happy couple. Though this practice is common, there are many different orders of the event, some traditional and...

The sand ceremony is a beautiful moment where a new family comes together. Couples often choose to include their children, whether previous children or children they have together, in the sand...

Wedding flowers just have to be beautiful --- they don't have to cost a lot! Follow the tips below and make the bridal party's flowers yourself --- or ask a creative friend to or relative to do...

Lavender oil has been used for medicinal as well as cosmetic purposes for centuries. Lavender is extracted from a flowering herb called Lavandula angustifolia.

Rings made from flatware, collectively called spoon or fork rings, have a long a history associated with class conventions. In the modern era, they entertained widespread popularity in the U.S....

The best man's speech is the one that's most commonly given at weddings, but the groom and the father of the bride frequently make them, too. The bride's father's speech will introduce him to the...

There is a wedding tradition that the bride and groom do not see each other before the wedding yet you can send romantic text messages to each other. Text messages are a perfect way to tell your...

People began giving almonds as wedding favors over 3,000 years ago in Greece, Italy, France and the Middle East. Although there are many wedding favor options available today, many couples still...

Traditional weddings in Mexico are full of customs and rituals that are steeped in Mexican history and the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church. Many traditions still practiced in Mexican weddings...

Most often, when the bride and groom cut the first slice of their wedding cake with a sword, it's because the groom, the bride or both are in the military. But any newlywed couple can use a sword...

Planning a wedding can be an intimidating mission. Not all weddings are the same and everyone has their own opinion. But if you're looking for a traditional wedding and relying on the...

Noni juice is an increasingly popular beverage that people drink because of its reputation for body detoxification and cleansing, immune system enhancement and energy boosting. Noni fruit comes...

A wedding sand ceremony is known as the unity sand ceremony. It is an old tradition, used by Hawaiians and some Native American tribes. The wedding sand ceremony is becoming a widely used in...

Even in the most contemporary of weddings, some traditions continue to be followed. Questions regarding the wedding aisle runner are among those small details of the nuptial ceremony that the...

The garter toss is a wedding tradition that dates back for centuries. The bride wears an elastic garter, usually lace, around one of her thighs. The groom reaches under her dress and removes the...

Passing out small mementos, such as a wedding program, at your ceremony gives your guests a pleasant reminder of your special day. Learn about how to create them in a way that reflects your vows...

The tradition of the groom tossing his new bride's garter behind his head to his single male guests is still practiced today. However, it is done as a matter of tradition and just for fun. In...

Chinese marriage traditions have changed and progressed over the centuries. In ancient China, men were permitted to have many concubines following their first marriage. Arranged marriages were...

If you're reading this article, chances are you already know the origins of the Bengali wedding (also known as the Bengladeshi wedding) are steeped in centuries of ritual and that the event is not...

Marriage traditions in America are incredibly flexible. America is a diverse country, and wedding traditions have been influenced by cultures around the world. Common traditions include writing...

Whether you want to make your own wedding cake for your big day, or you’d like to get into the business of making cakes, it’s a fun and creative process. It can be difficult at times but sticking...

Italian weddings are steeped in a long history of romance and tradition. Romeo and Juliet, the famous lovers in literature were from Italy and even the word romantic is derived from Rome.

There are many foods that can help to aid weight loss. Some foods require more calories to chew and digest than they inherently hold. Others trigger digestive processes that boost metabolism and...

A Muslim contract is made when a couple decides to get married. The male will have to prove that he can afford to support his future wife in order for the marriage to be approved by the parents of...

During a wedding, a bride chooses close friends or her sister to participate in her ceremony as a maid of honor and bridesmaids. These roles are supportive to the bride and an integral part a wedding.

Decorating a wedding car is a tradition and part of the ambiance the decorators provide the newly married couple. Give the just married ‘get away car’ a personal touch by making your own window...

The unity candle ceremony is one of the most popular wedding traditions in America, despite its relatively new appearance on the scene. The ceremony is performed in Christian, interfaith and...

The Unity Sand Ceremony is a newer wedding tradition typically used as an alternative to the Unity Candle Ceremony. It represents the coming together (or unity) of the bride and the groom, and...

The lighting of the unity candle is a relatively newer custom in weddings used to symbolize the coming together of two families--the bride's and the groom's--into a single familial union. While...

Wedding cakes are one of the most iconic wedding-day traditions. Almost every wedding features a cake-cutting ceremony, though few people realize the roots of this time-honored act. Brides who are...

Engagement and wedding rings are generally silver or gold bands, sparkling with diamonds or other precious stones. These rings are symbols of the enduring love between a husband and wife. Which...

Making ribbon bridal bouquets is a long standing tradition as part of the wedding celebrations. It occurs at the bridal shower while the bride opens her presents. It is customary for the maid of...

Wedding bands are the symbol of a marriage. The exchanging of rings is one of the highlights of a wedding ceremony and something every guest, bride and groom looks forward to. If you are sticking...

Weddings are steeped in tradition and ceremony, from the dress to the flowers; no detail is neglected, no ritual overlooked. One of the greatest honors a friend can bestow upon you is to ask you...

Some see Louisiana as the land of voodoo, bayous, Creole cooking and Britney Spears, but the state also enjoys some of the least restrictive laws for those who want to officiate marriages. One...

First, if you have come here to read how to celebrate your 10 year wedding anniversary, Congratulations! 10 years of wedded bliss, or 10 years of ups and downs; either way 10 years of marriage is...

This makes a great personal gift for a bride, or it can be a fun DIY project for the bride. It's best that you have some crochet experience before starting this if you are using it for a wedding....

With just a few supplies and three or five fresh flowers, you can make your own pin-on corsage. This will reduce the cost of the flowers at your wedding. It can also really impress your date when...

Wedding garters are not that hard to make. If you'd like to personalize yours, here's how to do it. You can find ribbon and edgings in all kinds of patterns. Reference the wedding colors, the...