A wedding is basically a religious ceremony in which two persons known as bride and groom are united in matrimony. Wedding traditions and practices vary widely between societies, cultures, religions, regions, and other social groups. Some of the more important elements of a wedding include the dress and the jewelry worn by the couple. Historically, the veil worn by the women at a wedding was used to hide the face and identity of the bride.
A wedding ceremony usually starts with a recital of prayers by a priest. This ritual concludes with the marriage contract, which officially makes both partners husband and wife. The wedding vows written on paper or in a document known as a marriage pledge makes the wedding official. These vows declare the couple’s commitment to each other and their love for one another, as well as their intentions to lead a happy married life.
In some cultures and religions, it is customary for the bride and groom to wear a wedding ring during the wedding ceremony. This ring is made up of yellow or white gold and has three or more diamonds on it. Sometimes, these rings are embedded with lucky figures like peacocks, birds, or elephants. Some weddings also involve the exchange of garlands or flowers between the bride and groom.
In some Eastern and Western cultures, it is common for the bride and groom to get married right after the sun sets. This practice is believed to make them stronger because the sun’s warmth keeps them warm during their wedding ceremony. Some Asian countries also believe in the ritual that the groom’s hands should be washed before the bride gets married because washing the hands allows him to overcome the evil eye. It is believed that if the groom touches the hands with holy water before the bride gets married, then the evil spirit will pass from him to her.
Another tradition is for the bride and groom to kiss each other before they exchange the sacred vows at the wedding ceremony. During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom hold each other’s hand as they walk down the aisle. If there are no grooms in the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom both may hold each other’s hand and walk down the aisle. They can repeat the kiss and get married after the kiss.
Most of the traditions mentioned above are followed by most of the couples. However, there are some exceptions like the use of veil in Indian marriages. Many people believe that a veil protects the bride and the groom from evil. In Arab and Islamic weddings, women are not supposed to wear the head-dress. Sometimes, the customs regarding wedding dress vary from country to country, but many of the major wedding ceremonies are still carried out the same way in most parts of the world.