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Wedding Traditions
Widely Accepted Wedding TraditionsSome of the items in this list of wedding traditions comes from a book entitled The Romance of the Wedding Ceremony by Rev. Richleigh Hale Powers, Ph.D.. The Bride’s BouquetBridal bouquets have evolved through the ages. Saracen brides carried bouquets of orange blossoms to symbolize fertility, and Roman brides carried sheaves of wheat to symbolize prosperity for their husbands. In the eighteenth century, the practice of carrying a bouquet of flowers or herbs became a popular tradition which symbolized fragility, purity, and new life. Bouquets of dill were among the most popular herb carried. After the ceremony the dill was eaten to “provoke lust.” Today, the bridal bouquets are tosses to assembled single women to symbolize new life and to pass on the bride’s good fortune. The Special Meaning of the Bride’s VeilThe veil represents modesty and respect. It symbolizes the sanctity and exclusiveness of the marriage covenant and reminds the couple and the witnesses that the physical relationship is to be entered into only after the vows are completed. Rice and PetalsIn the Middle Ages, handfuls of wheat were thrown over the married couples to symbolize the hope for fertility. In modern times, rice is thrown instead of wheat to symbolize fertility. In recent years, flower petals have become another alternative, symbolizing beauty, happiness, and prosperity. Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something BlueOld and new items jointly symbolize the passage from the old unmarried state to that of the new married union. The wearing of a borrowed belonging demonstrates community participation and approval of the wedding. Blue is worn because it is the color that signifies purity, love, and fidelity. White Aisle RunnerA white aisle runner symbolizes walking on holy ground. A marriage covenant is not made merely between two people and their witnesses. It is made in the presence of God and He is actively involved in the agreement. The white aisle runner symbolizes God’s holiness. Special Seating for the ParentsThe parents of the bride and groom are part of the marriage covenant. The commitments they make during the ceremony are just as binding as the vows of the couple. The final responsibility of parents for their children is to determine with them God’s will for a life partner. Thereafter, they serve in a chain of counsel for them and their children. Parents enter in the line of authority and leave in the line of counsel. The Groom Entering FirstBy this action the groom signifies that he is the covenant initiator. This is important because whoever initiates the covenant assumes greater responsibility for seeing it fulfilled. The Father of the Bride Walking Down the AisleThis action has two meanings. By doing so, the father says to the bride, “I am endorsing this young man as God’s very best choice of a husband for you, and I am now bringing you to him.” In addition, the father is saying to the young man, “I am presenting you a daughter who I have earnestly endeavored to raise as a pure bride.” The Bride and Groom Taking Each Other’s Right Hand During the CeremonyThe open right hand offered by each party symbolizes their strength, resources and purpose. By clasping each other’s right hand, they pledge these qualities to each other so that each partner can depend on all the resources that the other brings into the covenant relationship. The handclasp goes far beyond sealing the contract. It symbolizes the cleaving together of lives which is to be accomplished in the marriage covenant. The Groom Making the First Marriage VowThe groom must be the leader and assume greater responsibility for fulfilling the marriage covenant. As covenant initiator, he must commit himself to the purposes of marriage which God established in the beginning, and these must be reflected in his vows. The Symbolism of the Wedding RingsThe wedding rings symbolize the promise between two people together in marriage. The unbroken circle of the wedding band represents the continuity of undying love. Greek theory believed the fourth finger of the left hand to be connected to the heart, making this the appropriate finger to be “bound” in romantic attachment. Kissing the BrideDuring the Roman empire, the kiss between a couple symbolized a legal bond. Continued use of the kiss to seal the marriage bond is based on the deeply rooted idea of the kiss as a vehicle for transference of power and souls. The Couple Being Pronounced “Husband and Wife”This establishes their change of names and a definite point in time for the beginning of the marriage. These words are to remove any doubt in the minds of the couple or their witnesses concerning the validity of the marriage. Signing the Wedding PapersThe newlywed couple signs the wedding papers to establish a public document and a continuing public record of the covenant. Signing the Guest BookYour wedding guests are official witness to the covenant. By signing the guest book, they are saying, “I have witnessed the vows, and I will testify to the reality of the marriage.” Because of this significance, the guest book should be signed after the wedding rather than before it. The Purpose of the Receiving LineThe receiving line is for guests to give their blessings to the couple and their parents. The Meaning of Serving Food at the ReceptionFood is part of the covenant celebration. It further symbolizes the unity of the couple. Entering into a meal itself is a form of covenant. The Bride and Groom Feeding Wedding Cake to Each OtherThis represents the sharing of their bodies to become one. A New Testament illustration of this symbolism is The Lord’s Supper. The Bride and Groom Smashing Cake into Each Other's FacesOnly brides and groom with pent-up hostilities and twisted ideas about what is funny will do this. It is crude and rude and NO ONE is laughing. The only laughs you hear are of giggles of embarrassment coming from the guests who feel uncomfortable and unhappy for the couple. Do you know a groom who enjoyed having to clean up his face and tuxedo of icing, or a bride who loved having her nice makeup, hairdo and special dress ruined for the remainder of the reception? (And most cake cutting events happen early in the reception, prior to the toasts, meal and dancing.) Cultural Wedding TraditionsBorne from different cultures and passed down through the generations, traditions can add a unique touch to your special day. Incorporate one of the following for a future of good fortune.AfricanBride and groom "jump the broom", a custom that symbolizes jumping from a carefree single life into the responsibilities of domestic life and a future together.American Bride carries something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.Austrian Brides crown their veils with myrtle, which is the flower of life.Belgian Bride embroiders her name on a handkerchief and carries it on her wedding day, then frames it until the next family bride marries.Chinese Bride dresses in red, which symbolizes love and joy.Dutch After the wedding, the couple plants lily-of-the-valley in their garden so they can renew their love for one another every year when plant blooms.English Bride sews a good luck charm, such as a silver horseshoe, into the hem of her wedding gown.German During the ceremony when the bride kneels, the groom may kneel on the bride's hem to show that he will keep her in line. The bride may then step on his foot when she rises to reassert herself.Greek To be sure of a "sweet life", the bride carries a lump of sugar in her glove.Hungarian Guests dance with the bride and give her a few pence in exchange for a kiss.Indian To banish all evil spirits, a coconut is circled around the couple's heads three times.Irish The couple toasts each other as their "Anam Cara", or soul mate. Italian Ribbons signify the tying together of two lives. A ribbon is tied to the front of the church door to symbolize the wedding bond.Jewish Groom breaks a napkin-wrapped wine glass underfoot in remembrance of the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.Korean Ducks are included in the wedding procession because ducks mate for life.Mexican A large rosary "lasso‚" is wound around the couples' shoulders and hands during the ceremony to show the union and protection of marriage.Native American Bride and groom wash their hands to symbolically rid themselves of evil and loves from their past.Polish The parents of the bride and groom feed them salted bread to symbolize their wishes for the couple to always have good health, food to eat, and money to spend. Russian After the couple is crowned, they race to stand on a white rug...whoever steps on it first will be the master of the household.Scottish Friends wash the couple's feet preparing them to set off on a new path. |
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A wedding officiant may also be referred to as a: celebrant, clergy, officiator, officiate, official, pastor, preacher, wedding minister, minister, magistrate, justice of the peace, JP, priest, judge, facilitator, counselor and rabbi. Rev. Elaine Radloff is a Michigan wedding officiant, MI wedding officiant, (a non-denominational minister) who can officiate your ceremony if you are getting married in Michigan, are having a wedding in Michigan, are having a MI wedding or are wanting to get married in Michigan. Rev. Elaine will write and perform a wedding ceremony (marriage ceremony) or vows renewal (vow renewals) ceremony with as much of your input as you would like. Elaine performs indoor weddings and outdoor weddings in Michigan. Printed ceremony programs are also available. A sample wedding ceremony is included in a packet mailed to you. Also please remember that getting married online, getting married on the web, or getting married on the Internet, is not legal. Rev. Elaine Radloff will marry you in person and sign your marriage license so it is a legal marriage, a legal wedding.
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