The Dress
White was the colour, the ancient Romans believed would ward off evil spirits. It had nothing to do with purity, but more with joy. The veil was also designed to protect from evil spirits seeing her beauty and being jealous.
The Cake
The cake is a very ancient feature of the marriage feast. The richer the mixture the richer the marriage. The first slice should always be cut by the bride and bridegroom.
The Honeymoon
Centuries ago, it was customary for the bride and bridegroom to drink mead (a honey flavoured wine) for a month after the wedding. A month was known as a 'moon' - hence honeymoon.
Tossing the Rice
Believing that newlyweds brought good luck, they were showered with nuts and grains to ensure a bountiful harvest. This has now become the throwing of confetti.
Wedding Etiquette
The Bride and Bridegroom
The Bride selects the type of service, decides on her dress and the bridesmaids' attire. The Bridegroom selects the best man and ushers, buys the ring and pays the church fees. He can also buy presents for the bridesmaids, best man and ushers as a gesture of gratitude for their help. He buys flowers for his bride, bride's mother, his own mother, bridesmaids and buttonholes for himself and the best man. He arranges and pays for transport for himself and the best man and for the bride and himself after the wedding.
The Best Man
The best man is the bridegroom's right hand man, who keeps the ring and ensures the bridegroom gets to the church on time. He pays the church fees on behalf of the bridegroom. He checks and ensures transport for all guests to the reception and any travel arrangements for the honeymoon.
The Chief Bridesmaid
The Chief Bridesmaid assists the bride to dress, holds the bouquet during the ceremony and organises the other bridesmaids.
The Bride's Father
The father gives the bride away and receives guests at the reception. He pays for the wedding dress, bridesmaids' dresses, cars (except the bridegroom's), photographs, church and reception flowers, invitations and press announcements.
The Bride's Mother
The bride's mother is traditionally in charge of all the proceedings. She decides on the guest list together with the Bridegroom's mother and the venue for the reception. She handles any catering arrangements and ensures the wedding cake is ready. After the wedding ceremony, the bride's mother and father, together with the bride and bridegroom and his parents, greet the guests at the reception.
Toasts and Speeches
These would normally take place at the end of the meal and would accompany the toast wine plus the cutting and distribution of the wedding cake.
The following is the usual order of proceedings:
The Bride and Groom cut the cake;
Toast to 'The Bride and Bridegroom' as normally proposed by the Bride's Father;
Toast to 'The Bridesmaids', is always proposed by the Groom following his response to the first toast;
The Best Man would then respond to the Groom's speech on behalf of the Bridesmaids. He would also read special messages to the Guests.
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