Wedding Rituals

[UncleRogi]

Sping is in the air and it's that time.....

Now, the tradition for a White wedding dress pretty much started with Regina Victoria,
but their are a myriad of other rituals out there; who hasn't enjoyed "Fiddler on the Roof"?

I'd like to hear other experiences about these things, and enjoy the mish-mash of tradition
that sometimes occurs.

Myself, I got married on a true Southern Plantation, outside Charleston, and the
Officiate was my own Mother, a Notary Public, which is legal in South Carolina.

None of us wore the traditional accoutrements, and this was our first wedding.
(though divorced, I MEANT my vows)

Who else has wonderful stories of THEIR Day?



EDIT: I might want to add that there were only about 60 people there...

 

[Marynator]

I've never been to a wedding that wasn't a traditional Catholic ceremony. I literally have experience with nothing else, at all lol. I've never been to an outdoor wedding, or anything of the sort, just always Mass in a church with a priest and all the trimmings. I've never been married, but I was involved with my sister when I was her maid of honor. Catholic weddings aren't supposed to play the song "here come's the bride", you're supposed to choose songs from a selected list. There's nothing like on television or movies, like no "does anyone object" or anything like that, it feels very solemn. But yes, every friend's or family member's wedding I've ever been to was full Catholic, so every ceremony always feels to me pretty much the same, lol.

 

[Sophie74656]

Most weddings I've been to have been Russian Jewish weddings. One big difference I've noticed is that both parents give the bride away instead of just the father.

 

[Sophie74656]

Sping is in the air and it's that time.....

Now, the tradition for a White wedding dress pretty much started with Regina Victoria,
but their are a myriad of other rituals out there; who hasn't enjoyed "Fiddler on the Roof"?

I'd like to hear other experiences about these things, and enjoy the mish-mash of tradition
that sometimes occurs.

Myself, I got married on a true Southern Plantation, outside Charleston, and the
Officiate was my own Mother, a Notary Public, which is legal in South Carolina.

None of us wore the traditional accoutrements, and this was our first wedding.
(though divorced, I MEANT my vows)

Who else has wonderful stories of THEIR Day?



EDIT: I might want to add that there were only about 60 people there...

Same here...I'm now divorced but *I* meant my vows. Him not so much

 

[cosmic mouse]

I'm not married either, but I've attended or participated in a number of weddings that were everything from traditional Catholic in a church in New England to a completely non-religious ceremony in a corn field in Alberta.

 

[Sophie74656]

My next wedding will be very simple. Courthouse wedding and dinner with immediate family.

 

[Sophie74656]

Also now I'm getting ads for wedding photography

 

[Riker'sMailbox]

My husband is of Middle Eastern heritage and I have Irish and Greek heritage. I know nothing about the Greek side and know everything about the Irish side. I was raised in a very Irish household. We were both raised Catholic, though his father is Syriac Orthodox.

At our wedding, we had ulutation from my husband's side as I walked down the aisle. We had Irish step dancing and Kurdish Circle Dances. During the cocktail hour, we had a steel drum player. Neither of us wore traditional clothes or shoes. We were married on the water and arrived by boat. It was fun.

Our entrance song was 'Welcome to the Jungle' and we had our bridal party enter to the Ranger's fight song.

And the booze. We both come from a family of drinkers and all our friends are drinkers. Lots and lots of booze.

 

[UncleRogi]

I'm not married either, but I've attended or participated in a number of weddings that were everything from traditional Catholic in a church in New England to a completely non-religious ceremony in a corn field in Alberta.

I'd like to have seen that, how awesome...

 

[UncleRogi]

Our entrance song was 'Welcome to the Jungle' and we had our bridal party enter to the Ranger's fight song.

And the booze. We both come from a family of drinkers and all our friends are drinkers. Lots and lots of booze.

AWESOME!

 

[Doom Shepherd]

My best friend got married outdoors with a bunch of SCA members. Everyone was dressed - as much as they were able - in adventuring garb. I wore a cloak and carried a wizard’s staff (a long, vine-gnarled stick). The bride wore chainmail.

If I’d ever been married in a ceremony, instead of doing it the long-term cohabitation way, i’d planned on having a “come as your self-image” theme.
Also said i’d wear a kilt, and have my friend as my Best Woman, and we’d have swords, and when they got to the “if anyone here knows why these two should not be joined” bit, the groom’s party would have drawn their weapons and GLARED at the guests. Never happened, though.

 

[Marynator]

My husband is of Middle Eastern heritage and I have Irish and Greek heritage. I know nothing about the Greek side and know everything about the Irish side. I was raised in a very Irish household. We were both raised Catholic, though his father is Syriac Orthodox.

At our wedding, we had ulutation from my husband's side as I walked down the aisle. We had Irish step dancing and Kurdish Circle Dances. During the cocktail hour, we had a steel drum player. Neither of us wore traditional clothes or shoes. We were married on the water and arrived by boat. It was fun.

Our entrance song was 'Welcome to the Jungle' and we had our bridal party enter to the Ranger's fight song.

And the booze. We both come from a family of drinkers and all our friends are drinkers. Lots and lots of booze.

Oh your wedding sounds so amazing and interesting! I have a friend who's getting married in September, she is going to have an absolutely beautiful forest ceremony, I'm so deeply sad I won't be able to go.

I've daydreamed about my fantasy wedding, I'd just love something elf-like, outside, wearing just a simple but lovely dress, going barefoot, having flowers woven in my hair, quiet by festive. I know that's just a dream though, lol if I ever get married I'll totally chicken out and have a small Catholic ceremony with my family.

 

[UncleRogi]

I've daydreamed about my fantasy wedding, I'd just love something elf-like, outside, wearing just a simple but lovely dress, going barefoot, having flowers woven in my hair, quiet by festive. I know that's just a dream though, lol if I ever get married I'll totally chicken out and have a small Catholic ceremony with my family.

That might be because you carry Sidhe Blood, and are an actual nymph of the Forest...
Just sayin...



EDIT: Want a Load of BS? I'm of the Diaone Sidhe, and was once called Emrys

 

[Refuge]

I got married in a fever, hotter than pepper sprou ... hang on that wasn't me.

I was married in a Museum of Transport and Technology. There was a recreation village complete with a small, consecrated chapel. The photos were pretty darn good, even the one with hubby (in sailor uniform) with a gold ball and chain someone had given him. It was full Summer (Dec 22nd) and I had so many layers of tulle in my dress because I really, really, really wanted to have a wedding dress that looked liked Cinderella's dress or a wedding cake one. I was so hot, like hot and my shoes I was never able to wear again. They were too small but on the day I didn't notice. Was taken to the chapel in horse and carriage and because the chapel was so small it was packed. My dear brother who was usher was pushed out! I wish I had known as I would have physically gone out and got him.

We had a huge selection of food to do any wedding breakfast proud and my father-in-law just spontaneously sat at the piano and played. The guests sat on trams and were taken around the grounds while we had our photos taken.

It was a lovely day, I couldn't have wished for more.

 

[Velocity]

It was so hot that June that I watched the sweat roll off the pastor's beard during the ceremony. When we knelt at the altar my mother-in-law was very embarrassed when my husband's shoes revealed some holes in the soles. Ceremony lasted 17 minutes because my husband and his brother timed it. I hate singing at weddings (and funerals) and symbolic stuff like candle lighting, so we had a stream-lined service with none of that. Only served mints and nuts besides the cake, no sit down meal. So we were on the road to our apartment in record time. I wasn't into a fancy wedding for myself, but my daughters had lots of singing, symbolic candle lighting, sit down meals, etc, at theirs. To each his own.

 

[UncleRogi]

Really, regally really?
Man, carriage is seriously AWESOME

Thank you. You Board Folk are showing True

What better legacy can Trek Folk have?

 

[Butters]

We got married on Bonfire night, in a folly on a hill in the rain, had photos with butterflies, and drank the night away in the asylum social club.

That’s more or less all I remember of it.

 

[UncleRogi]

We got married on Bonfire night, in a folly on a hill in the rain, had photos with butterflies, and drank the night away in the asylum social club.

That’s more or less all I remember of it.

What is important, and this means everything, was the grass trod upon turquoise?
Now I know this is difficult, but it must. Summer grass is green, while in spring it should
be turquoise...or I'm an idiot...don't answer that.....!

 

[1001001]

Almost 26 years ago, this Mullet-filled awesomeness happened....

Simple civil ceremony with about 100 people. Then lunch (we got married in the morning). Headed off to Cabo San Lucas the next day.

Looking back I have occasionally regretted not doing the full Catholic wedding, but my wife is not one of the Pope's Holy Army, and at the time it didn't seem important.

All in all, a lovely day.

 

[Jedman67]

My wedding was traditional-Jewish.
There are several elements; the first is the "Grooms Table", where the "betrothal contract" is filled out. It is a stipulation agreed to by both fathers, and signed by witnesses (and then read aloud in aramaic) that they agree to a wedding between the named bride and groom - back in Europe, when jewish towns were far apart and arranged marriages were the norm, this contract would be drawn up at the time of the engagement; in modern times its simply done at the time of the wedding (because "tradition" - in hebrew, this document is called "tannaim").
The marriage contract itself is filled out at this time, it provides stipulations that the husband is required to support his wife financially and emotionally, and alimony in case of divorce. As most of the language and terms of this contract are somewhat archaic, many couples choose to write up a pre-nup as well.
At this time, the Bride conducts a "viewing" - she sits in a big chair with the mothers and sisters (and sisters in law) for pictures; food is generally provided for guests as they come to give well wishes to the women and then take some food to eat.
A sushi table has become traditional at these affairs in the past 10 years or so .
At this time, the Grooms Table concludes with the mothers coming and smashing a plate - to symbolize that just as a broken plate can never be fully repaired, so to the couple should understand that a broken relationship is not one easily repaired.
The actual ceremony itself takes place under a canopy, representing the new couples house.
The groom waits for his bride while wearing a white, linen robe ("kittel") which is symbolic of death shrouds, as even on the most special day of ones life (hopefully) one should recall his own mortality and the humility that inspires in how to treat his wife.
The bride also wears white, also to symbolize purity in the new marriage.
The groom gives the bride a ring, that he has owned and purchased with his own money, to enact the "legal" transaction of a wedding. A ring symbolizes the circle of life and wholesomeness.
The ceremony ends with seven blessings recited, generally by family or friends of the couple, and concludes with the groom stepping on a glass. The breaking of the glass symbolizes that even in celebration, there should be trepidation - getting married should not be taken lightly, and the responsibilities are serious.
It's also symbolic that even the most joyous celebrations are incomplete with Jerusalem and the Temple in ruins.
While not strictly required, its become traditional to conclude the ceremony with the cantor singing Psalm 137 ("If I forget thee, O Jerusalem").

Anyone interested in learning more, feel free to PM.

Wedding customs among Jews vary greatly by region, essentially breaking down to the customs followed by ones ancestors; either descending from Europe, Arab/Mediterranean, or Russian/Asian.