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What Is A Traditional White Wedding? Wedding Faqs

What is a Wedding?


definition of wedding
An official religious ceremony in which two people are united in marriage is known as a wedding. It is important to note that wedding customs and traditions differ significantly across cultures and ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. An authority figure or a celebrant will usually begin a wedding ceremony by exchanging wedding vows with the couple, which will be followed by the presentation of a gift (such as wedding rings, symbolic items, flowers, money, or a gown) and the public declaration of marriage. Wedding gowns are frequently worn, and the ceremony is frequently followed by a wedding reception to celebrate the couple's marriage. The ceremony may also include elements such as music, poetry, prayers, readings from religious texts or literature, as well as superstitions and superstitions-related customs.

What is a Western Wedding?


What is a Western Wedding?
Certain cultures have adopted the Western tradition of the white wedding, which involves the bride wearing a white wedding gown and veil. This tradition gained popularity following Queen Victoria's marriage.  While some argue that Victoria's choice of a white gown was simply an expression of extravagance, others argue that it was also influenced by her values, which emphasized sexual purity. White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, purity, and virginity. Additionally, white is frequently referred to as the color of perfection.  For centuries, Western culture has adhered to the tradition of wearing white on the day of one's wedding.  

wedding ring tradition
It remains popular among contemporary brides. Nowadays, as Western culture spreads, white wedding gowns are worn in a wide variety of countries and regions worldwide.

The tradition of wearing a wedding ring at religious weddings in Europe and America dates all the way back to the Middle Ages, but its origins are unknown. 

cutting cake tradition
The exit from the wedding ceremony is also referred to as the "send off." In the majority of the Western world, as well as India and Malaysia, the newlyweds are frequently sent off by throwing rice (a symbol of prosperity and fertility) or other seeds at them. 

The wedding ceremony is frequently followed by a wedding reception or wedding breakfast, during which the groom, best man, father of the bride, and possibly the bride deliver speeches, the newlyweds perform their first dance as a couple, and an elegant wedding cake is cut. Traditions have evolved in recent years to include a father-daughter dance for the bride and her father, as well as a mother-son dance for the groom and his mother.


What Is A Formal White Wedding?


what is a white wedding
A white wedding is a term used to refer to a traditional formal or semi-formal Western wedding that follows certain traditions. 

The white wedding gown is one of our most cherished wedding traditions. Numerous historians assert that the vivacious French queen Anne de Bretagne initiated this most cherished of wedding traditions in 1499 by wearing a white wedding gown; however, there is some debate over the veracity of this assertion. It would be another 160 years before accounts of Mary, Queen of Scots' marriage to the French Dauphin in 1558 claimed she wore white as well. 

However, the white wedding gown is frequently attributed to Queen Victoria of England, who married Albert of Saxe-Coburg in 1840 while dressed entirely in a white gown adorned with some of her prized white lace. White became a symbol of viginal purity. As a result, it had become the color of choice for young women who were being formally presented to the royal court.  In most circles, this wedding is considered to be the most influential white wedding of the twentieth century. When getting married in the temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the bride must always wear a white dress, and nothing other than white is permitted. 


What is a Christian Wedding?


christian catholic wedding
A church wedding is a religious ceremony that takes place in a church and is presided over by a Christian minister. In some Western countries, couples must simply obtain a marriage license from a local government authority. Some Christian churches permit religious marriages of same-sex couples, though others forbid such marriages. Wedding ceremonies are typically comprised of prayers and readings from the Holy Bible. A wedding service may be combined with a Mass or Holy Communion in order to save money.

Pre-marital counseling may be recommended or even required for an engaged couple before they tie the knot. Weddings in the Protestant tradition can be either elaborate or simple. Weddings in liturgical Protestant churches (such as Anglican, Lutheran, or high-church Methodist) may include Holy Communion. Quaker wedding ceremony takes place in the context of a Friends meeting.

What is the order of the wedding procession?


Guests arrive - ushers - seating

As soon as the guests arrive at a wedding, the ushers, if there are any, assist them in finding their seats. As part of a traditional white wedding ceremony, which draws heavily on Christian tradition the bride and groom will stand side by side at the front of church before the chancel for most, if not all, of the service. As a result, some guests prefer to sit on the side of the table closest to the person they are most familiar with.

  • Ushers assist guests in finding their seats
  • Some couples choose to have their grandparents, step-parents, and parents escorted to their seats in a ceremony that takes place immediately before the procession begins. In other instances, these relatives are invited to participate in the wedding procession.
  • The bride's family will sit on the left side of the house 
  • The groom's family will sit on the right side of the house. 
  • The first few rows of seats are usually reserved for immediate family members or close friends.

The bride and groom enter

  • The groom - in some cases the groom and his best man arrive from the side of the church and do not walk down the isle. In other cases they will do so ahead of the brides procession.
  • The bride's entrance depends on the country/culture.
    In the UK the bridesmaids and flower girls , page boys enter before the bride and the bride arrives last escorted by her father/other guardian. In the USA the bride arrives escorted by her father/other and then the bridesmaids etc follow her down the aisle. 
  • In a same-sex marriage the couple will decide who goes first/last or they may choose to enter together.

The wedding procession music

The music that is played is referred to as a wedding march by the general public. The bride and groom can choose their own music, usually something that resonates with them personally. The individual church may have restrictions re this. The 'here comes the bride' march is less used in modern times.

The service


After everyone has arrived the service begins traditionally with a prayer, blessing, or ritual greeting. There may be hymns, Bible reading, a reading from a guest.

The marriage officiant, Priest, Father will take the couple through their wedding vows. They will repeat promises to each other as quoted by the officiant, exchange rings and conclude this aspect of the service usually with a kiss.

Signing the register


Immediately following the conclusion of the actual wedding ceremony, the bride and groom, as well as the officiant and two witnesses, usually proceed into a separate room to sign the wedding register in the United Kingdom or the state-issued marriage license in America. A marriage has not legally taken place unless both parties sign the register or obtain a marriage license from the state.

Following the ceremony, guests are encouraged to throw flower petals, confetti, birdseed, or rice over the couple as they exit the church. Instead of throwing the previously mentioned items, miniature containers of bubbles are frequently provided to guests to blow at the couple instead of throwing items. Some churches now prohibit the throwing of items due to the clean-up operation that follows. Confetti that decomposes easily such as that made from dried leaves is preferable and less harmful to the environment.


what is a civil wedding

What is a Civil Wedding?



A civil wedding is a ceremony officiated by a local civil authority, such as an elected or appointed judge, Justice of the Peace, or the mayor of a municipality. Civil wedding ceremonies may include references to God or a deity (except in the United Kingdom, where readings and music are also prohibited), but no references to a specific religion or denomination are permitted.

Civil marriages allow partners of different faiths to marry without one partner converting to the religion of the other partner.

They can be either complex or simple. Many civil wedding ceremonies are held in town or city halls, or in the judges' chambers of local courthouses.

The importance of civil weddings varies greatly by country. Some countries do not allow civil marriages at all (Israel and many Islamic countries), whereas in others it is the only legally recognized form of marriage (most countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia). In this case, civil weddings are either required as a prerequisite for any religious ceremony or have no legal significance at all. Civil Marriage[50] is an example of a civil marriage.

what is a destination wedding
What is a Destination Wedding?



A destination wedding, not to be confused with an elopement, is one in which a wedding is held, often in a vacation-like setting, at a location to which most of the invited guests must travel and often stay for several days. This could be a tropical beach ceremony, a lavish event at a metropolitan resort, or a simple ceremony at the home of a geographically distant friend or relative. Despite the recession of2009, destination weddings continued to grow in popularity in comparison to traditional weddings, owing to the smaller size and consequently lower costs. 

Weddings at prestigious venues such as castles or stately homes have grown in popularity in the twenty-first century, especially in European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Since2010, there has been an increase in destination weddings in exotic locations such as Indonesia, the Maldives, India, and Pakistan.

Destination weddings are prohibited by some Christian denominations, including the Catholic Church, which believe that Christian marriages should take place in the presence of God at the church where Christians began their faith journey through the sacrament of baptism.


What is a Joint Wedding?



A double wedding is a ceremony in which two engaged couples meet for two concurrent or consecutive weddings. Typically, a fiancé who has a sibling who is also engaged, or four close friends who are all engaged, will plan a double wedding in which both couples marry legally.

what is an elopement
What is an Elopement?



Elopement is the act of marrying privately, frequently unexpectedly, without inviting guests. In some instances, a small group of family or friends may attend, while in others, the engaged couple may marry without their parents' consent or knowledge. While the couple's engagement may or may not have been widely publicized prior to the elopement, the wedding itself is generally a surprise to those who learn of it later.


pagan handfasting
What is Handfasting?



A handfasting is an ancient pagan tradition that dates all the way back to the time of the ancient Celts. Originally, a handfasting was more akin to an engagement period, during which two people declared a binding union for a year and a day. The original handfasting was intended to serve as a trial marriage. 


what is a highland wedding
What is a Highland Wedding?



The groom and one other member of the wedding party are dressed in a kilt, Argyll jacket, and long tie. A Highland or Scottish wedding requires the groom to wear a kilt, as do some or all of the groom's men. The bride may choose to wear a sash or other tartan-inspired garments. Any Saber Arch requires the use of the Scottish basket sword.


what is a microwedding
What is a Microwedding?



Micro weddings are defined by the small number of invited guests and family members. The term "guests" refers to a group of no more than 10 or 15 people, including family members, though some sources use this term to refer to a small wedding of up to 50 guests.  In comparison to an elopement or a civil wedding with no guests, a micro wedding is planned and announced in advance and may include any traditions and activities that the family wishes to maintain, such as a wedding cake, photographs, or religious ceremonies. [53] While the cost per guest may be higher, a microwedding is typically significantly less expensive than a large wedding. Microweddings gained popularity as a way to hold a wedding event while adhering to public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.  


What is a Military Wedding?



A saber arch at a military wedding in1955, with an Argentine Naval Officer dressed in his dress uniform and the bride.
A military wedding is a religious ceremony held in a military chapel that may include the use of a Saber Arch. In the majority of military weddings, the bride, groom, or both will wear military dress uniforms rather than civilian formal attire. Certain retired military personnel who marry after their service is complete may choose to have a military wedding.


What is a Same-Sex Wedding?


A union of two people of the same sex. The order of events may differ as there are not usually defined bride, groom roles although some couples will adopt them.

What is a Shotgun Wedding?


A shotgun wedding is one in which the groom is hesitant to marry the bride but is strongly urged to do so in order to avoid family, social, or legal consequences. Frequently, the bride is pregnant prior to the wedding, and the bride's family, most frequently the bride's father, insists on the groom marrying the bride before the pregnancy becomes obvious.

What is a Wedding vow renewal?


A wedding vow renewal ceremony is an occasion for a married couple to renew or reaffirm their wedding vows. This ceremony is typically held to commemorate a significant wedding anniversary. It may also be held to recreate the wedding ceremony in front of family and friends, particularly if the couple previously eloped.


Who is in the Wedding Party?


who is in wedding party


The wedding ceremony participants, also known as the wedding party, are the individuals who take part in the wedding ceremony directly.

This group may consist solely of the individuals marrying, or it may include one or more brides, grooms (or bridegrooms), persons of honor, bridesmaids, best men, groomsmen, flower girls, pages, and ring bearers.

A "bride's party" is composed of those who support her, whereas a "groom's party" is composed of those who support him.


who is in wedding party



Bride: A woman who is about to marry.
Bridegroom or Groom: A man who is about to marry.
Marriage officiant: The person who officiates the wedding and thus validates it legally and/or religiously. This individual may be a judge, justice of the peace, or clergy member. In Hindu weddings, the officiant is referred to as a pandit or Brahmin. 
Best Man, Woman, or Person: The chief assistant to the bridegroom at a wedding, who is typically a sibling or close friend. Frequently retains the wedding rings until they are exchanged.
Mothers and Fathers of the Bride and Groom 
Maid, Matron, or Man of Honor: the title and position held by a bride's chief attendant, who is typically her closest friend or sibling.
Bridesmaids are a bride's female attendants. Males serving in this capacity may be referred to as honor attendants or occasionally bridesmen, but the term has a different traditional connotation.
Groomsmen or Ushers: Typically male attendants to a bridegroom during a wedding ceremony. Female attendants, such as the groom's sister, are typically referred to as honor attendants.
Young attendants - flowergirls may be tasked with the responsibility of carrying the bride's train. In some cultures, flower girls carry bouquets or scatter flower petals in front of the bride during the wedding procession.
The ring bearer is a special page who carries the rings down the aisle during a formal wedding. The coin bearer, on the other hand, is a similar page who marches down the wedding aisle to deliver the wedding coins.

source: wikipedia


Where did 'something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue' come from?


This tradition dates all the way back to the nineteenth century, with each item representing a special trinket or symbol carried by the bride on her wedding day. However, the majority of people are unaware of the final line of this phrase, which concludes with 'and a silver sixpence in her shoe.' Numerous cultures place coins in the bride's shoes as symbolic wedding customs, which, of course, represent wealth and prosperity. In Sweden, for example, these wedding traditions are evident, with the bride's mother placing a gold coin in one shoe and her father placing a silver coin in the other to ensure her financial security throughout her marriage.

'Something old' refers to the bride's previous life; wedding tradition dictates that she should select an item that reminds her of a loved one (possibly a grandparent) or a past significant event. 'Something new' conveys the couple's optimism for their future together; a symbol representing a shared interest is an excellent choice. 'Something borrowed' symbolizes something the bride aspires to or someone she wishes to honor, whether it's an old bracelet from a loved one or a memento from a friend who has a happy marriage. Finally, the something blue' component of these wedding traditions, while it no longer carries the same symbolic significance, denotes the bride's purity. Today, many brides incorporate the color subtly beneath their gowns via garters or jewelry.


How To Plan A Traditional White Wedding


The process of planning your wedding and getting married should be a joyful and unforgettable experience. Your wedding can be stressful if you don't do enough planning, and you may quickly become overwhelmed by the rising costs, the family politics, and the sheer volume of things you have to do. Follow these simple wedding planning suggestions to ensure that your big day goes off without a hitch and that you remain sane throughout the process.

Enlist the assistance of others.


Engage the assistance of your most creative, organized, and enthusiastic friend or family member to assist you in the planning of your wedding. This will immediately alleviate your stress and reduce your workload by at least half, if not more. That is, if you are able to delegate and share responsibilities in a fair and equitable manner.

Make use of the 'wedding planning things to do' list provided below to help you divide the responsibilities among yourselves.


Reserve the church or other location for the wedding ceremony


Give yourself plenty of time to plan the wedding and to check with your guests to make sure they will be available on the big day. When it comes to booking a wedding venue in advance, it is customary to book between one and two years in advance.

How to apply for a marriage licence?


The rules for obtaining a marriage license will differ depending on where you are in the world. Make certain that you are in compliance with the law and that you do whatever is required by your state's laws.

Decide on a wedding budget:


Everything you do in planning your wedding will be dictated by the size of your wedding budget, so take the time to practically work out an accurate wedding budget based on what you can afford and what you believe is reasonable to spend on this one special occasion. Parents of the bride and groom may be able to provide financial assistance. This is not something to take for granted. It is likely that your parents will set the wedding budget for you if they have announced that they will cover the costs. Make certain that you adhere to the time limit.

Once you've established a budget, you'll need to divide it up in order to cover the numerous expenses associated with wedding planning and implementation. Consider:


  • List of Guests
  • Who is going to be there?
  • How many people do you think you can afford to feed?
  • Whether they should attend the wedding ceremony, the cocktail hour, and the wedding party reception, or simply the reception, is up to them.

Some people invite only close friends and family to the wedding ceremony, while others invite a larger group of people to the evening reception entertainment, which may include work colleagues and casual friends as well as close friends. In terms of children, some couples prefer not to have children at their wedding while others are more than happy to encourage a family wedding environment. If you are including children on your guest list, keep in mind that they will have special dietary requirements and that you will need to plan entertainment for them.


Decide on a Wedding Theme or Colors


The majority of brides prefer to have a 'theme' for their wedding, even if it is simply to establish that it will be a traditional white wedding theme, as described above. When choosing a theme for your wedding, think about what will best reflect the personalities of you and your groom, as well as what can be easily accommodated within the constraints of your wedding budget.

Rustic weddings, shabby chic weddings, country garden (tea party) style weddings, and all things vintage are among the most popular and trending wedding themes for 2022 and 2023.


There are numerous resources available to you, both online and offline (wedding magazines), for inspiration on how to plan the perfect themed wedding. Create a wedding mood board' with your favorite colors, fabrics, and flowers to set the tone for the wedding and to assist you in organizing your thoughts and planning. If you are hiring a wedding planner, she or he may collaborate with you to create a mood board.


Wedding Location - Venue


Knowing your wedding theme will assist you in deciding where you want to exchange wedding vows. Choose a location that complements your themed wedding's overall theme. A small chapel or church for a traditional wedding with close family and friends, or an outdoor garden ceremony for a more rustic, country-themed wedding with an outdoor garden ceremony. The weather, as well as the number of guests and the budget, will all play a role.

Wedding Reception


Considering how your guests will travel from the ceremony venue to the reception venue and how long they will be at a loose end between the two is important when deciding where to hold your wedding reception, evening party, or cocktail hour.

It is possible that you will need to budget for transportation for your guests, provide ample parking, and prepare detailed directions. You may also need to arrange overnight accommodations for guests who will be traveling a long distance to attend your wedding, or provide a list of nearby hotels for those who will be traveling a short distance.

Your budget, theme, venue, and guest list will all have been determined by this point, and you can now focus on selecting the details that will make your wedding truly unique. These are some examples:


  • Wedding invitations 
  • RSVP (Response Cards)
  • Save-the-date
  • Programs 
  • Menu
  • Table cards 
  • Seating chart

You can either purchase a wedding stationery suite that includes coordinated items for all of the items listed above, or you can create your own! There are numerous online resources available to assist you in designing your own wedding invitations. Templates for wedding invitations, printables, and craft supplies are among the options. When creating handmade wedding invitations, make sure to allow yourself enough time to complete the task.


  • Catering and Bar
  • Flowers for the wedding, such as the bridal bouquet, ceremony venue flowers, and centerpieces for the center table
  • Ribbons, flowers, bunting, and balloons are used to decorate the ceremony and reception.
  • Dress for the wedding, underwear for the reception, shoes, jewelry, and accessories
  • Groom suit, cuff links, accessories, and shoes are all included.
  • Dresses for bridesmaids, shoes, and nails
  • Paige boy suits are available.
  • Outfit for the best man
  • Fees for hairstyling and makeup
  • Car rental for the bride and groom, as well as for their guests
  • Wedding cake is a delicacy that is enjoyed by all.
  • Bobonierre
  • Favors for the wedding
  • Gifts for the bride's mother, bridesmaids, best man, and so on.
  • Reservation of a hotel room
  • Honeymoon

The wedding planning checklist can be lengthy, so I've compiled a list of the most important items for you to consider. Please share any additional information in the comments section below to assist our brides-to-be in planning their dream wedding.

source LeahG

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