Wedding Traditions & Customs

One of the major events at a wedding reception is the toast to the newlyweds given by the best man, but the wish for health, happiness and good luck can be offered by anyone present. Some cultures...

Italian weddings don't last just a few hours. Instead, they last an entire day and often extend into the early hours of the next day. The first part of an Italian wedding ceremony involves going...

To be chosen as the toastmaster at a relative's friend's wedding is an honor. Therefore, take care not to embarrass the bride and groom, their families, friends or yourself. From this premise,...

The father/daughter dance: a keystone of almost every wedding reception. The only thing that bothered me about this ritual was the intimacy associated with a slow dance. Did I really want to find...

Music plays a vital part in weddings and wedding receptions from start to finish. The song choices are important to the overall feel of the wedding. Wedding music can be traditional, sentimental,...

Wedding bouquets are one of the most beloved of nuptial traditions. Brides can express aspects of their personality or find flowers whose meanings represent their values and hopes for marital...

The wedding is tomorrow. You have the tux. The shoe polish is at the ready for the get away car windows. The Bride's ring is in a safe place. So why can't you sleep. Because your speech as...

Choosing to follow a particular religion is an important, and deeply personal decision. If you feel you are ready to convert to Judaism, here are the steps you will need to take.

A wedding arch is a decorative canopy made traditionally from wood, flowers or balloons that is used to frame the bride and groom during the ceremony. They may also be used in the reception as...

Once a couple is officially engaged, for many, a non-stop planning mode begins. A basic wedding consists of the couple intending to wed, witnesses, and the officiant who is to conduct the...

Many cultures have their own traditions when it comes to marriage, weddings and celebrations. For the Irish, the celtic design holds significant value, so it was only natural that they...

Jewish weddings have a mystique about them. Anyone who has witnessed the bride and the families circling the groom seven times under the Chupa has got to realize that she is witnessing a ceremony...

A woman's menstrual cycle lasts between 20 and 40 days, but 28 days is the most common time frame. In a 28-day cycle, ovulation occurs around day 14 of the cycle, when estrogen levels are at a...

Scottish weddings are beautiful, tartan-wearing events that are rich in tradition and romance. Many people make their way to Scotland's rugged landscape to say their vows every year.

Kissing the bride is the most beloved and practiced ritual in the wedding ceremony around the world. Here's how to do it so that your bride will never forget it and you'll make everyone in the...

Blended families of all colors, faiths and nationalities prove that when it comes to love, barriers fade away. Many of these fortuitous relationships culminate in weddings rich in tradition. One...

There are so many decisions to make when planning a wedding. The date and the time of the day is one of the earliest things you must plan. Times and traditions have changed. You can have an...

In regard to Hindu marriage law, the term "Hindu" includes not only those who are Hindu by religion, but also Buddists, Sikhs and Jains. In India, the Hindu Marriage Law includes anyone who is not...

This is a wonderful alternative to the Unity Candle in a wedding ceremony and something different. We chose to do this and our guests raved about how beautiful it was. I found the Unity Sands to...

A wedding is one of the most important moments in a couple's life together. If either the groom or the bride, or perhaps both, are of Italian heritage, they can choose to incorporate rich Italian...

A wedding cake can turn into a real expense but if you know some secrets, you can have a beautiful cake and eat it too!

A Native American wedding is a meaningful ceremony rich with symbolism and the history of the family's culture. Each tribe has its own traditions that go along with the ceremony and though there...

Wedding ceremonies are replete with customs, traditions and unwritten rules. Wedding card holders and money boxes might not have an ancient history, but gifting the couple with something to aid...

Whether you are the bride or one of the bridesmaids in an upcoming marriage ceremony, you have probably given a certain amount of thought to the role that bridal attendants play. Even though a...

Like any other time you are invited to a party or a person's home, when you attend a wedding, it is important to remember that you are a guest. Even though throughout the years weddings have...

There are a few different reasons why someone wants to legally change his or her name: upon getting married; following a divorce; or for personal reasons such as disassociation with other family...

Wedding favors are mementos given from the wedding couple to the wedding guests. They are items that commemorate the special occasion and often has the names of the couple and the wedding date on...

The reasons for legally changing a name have differed throughout history, but today it's still popular to take the surname of your husband, to change your name for commercial purposes or to...

A caterpillar, when it is fully grown, secretes a long stream of liquid from its glands, called the spinneret, located below its mouth. The liquid stiffens forming a silk like thread which is used...

Catholic weddings are highly traditional and follow a set standard, rarely deviating from the religious customs. The ceremony consists of biblical readings, a sermon, the exchange of vows and...

Most of the stress you will encounter during the planning and arranging of your wedding is "getting it right." There are many ideas about the proper wedding etiquette but all you need...

When your wedding day comes, you may choose to keep with the “something blue” tradition, whether you get your item for yourself or from a loved one. Some people consider this quite...

Wedding speeches are always stressful- you want to make sure you do a good job for the bride and groom, but you don't want to take too long or make it too impersonal. Speech writing can be...

Wedding receptions are known for their traditions, and one of the most fun parts is catching the bouquet or the garter. The bouquet toss requires the bride to gather all the single women attending...

A common wedding tradition is for the bride and groom to provide their guests with wedding favors. These are typically small gifts of appreciation. But what if you have a really big wedding? The...

A Ketubah is a traditional Jewish wedding contract. It is customary for the bride and groom to sign this before the ceremony under the chuppah. They were, at one point, simple documents that...

For many couples their wedding is their first hosting experience—and Rule Number One is to make their guests feel like the celebration would not be the same without them—and for one brief moment...

Let this brief guide serve as a jumping off point to weaving traditional African elements into your special day. Whether you are planning a lavish wedding, or hosting a small, intimate gathering...

A Ketubah is a traditional Jewish wedding contract. Once an item that was used for more practical purposes in Orthodox and Conservative weddings, the Ketubah has become more of a piece of art...

Have you ever wanted a tropical bouquet but just didnt think it was possible to make at home? Just follow these simple steps and have fun....

It is traditional for wedding guests to purchase gifts for the bride and groom. A new toaster oven, 300 thread count sheets, or a new towel set. But do you really need all of that stuff,...

Chuppah means "canopy" in Hebrew. That is exactly what a traditional chuppa is: a canopy for the bride, groom, rabbi and any other special people in the wedding party to stand under during the...

Congratulations, you've found the person you'd like to spend your life with, but you come from two different backgrounds of faith. How do you reconcile the two faiths in your wedding ceremony so...

Filipino wedding receptions are not so different from traditional American wedding receptions. However, there are unique festivities incorporated into the Filipino celebration or program. From the...

There's nothing more exciting than announcing to the world that you're engaged.Writing a newspaper engagement announcement is probably one of the easiest things you'll have do to do prepare for a...

Since not everybody is likely to stand up with a toast on the day of the wedding, making sure the young couple gets all the much-needed advice and wisdom from guests is a fantastic idea. This...

Wedding planning can be stressful for many couples. From the invitations to the wedding cake, everything needs to be planned in advance. One factor that some couples may give little thought to is...

Navajo wedding vases, which have two spouts coming from a single vessel, were used in wedding ceremonies in Mexico and among Native Americans in the Southwestern U.S. The vases come in every size...

Being asked to deliver a toast at any occasion is a very nice honor, so it should not be taken lightly. Proper preparation will ensure that the reason you were asked in the first place means that...

If you can’t be the bride, you can increase your hopes of being one soon if you catch the wedding bouquet, or so the tradition goes. Catching the wedding bouquet is definitely an honor, not...