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| Ceremony Traditions |
There are many wedding ceremony traditions you may wish to include in your event.
The bride being walked down by an escort is a ceremony tradition. First choice is the father of the bride, but I have seen the brother, step father, both parents, and even the bride's son walk her down the aisle. Of course, walking down the aisle alone is always an option. When using an escort, the bride should take the escort's LEFT ARM.
Another tradition that the bride and groom consider is the "first sight of the bride by the groom. If photos will be taken before the ceremony, a private moment may be arranged for the “first look”.
If the bride and groom are not to see each other before the ceremony, it is the responsibility of the groomsmen to ensure the groom does not see the bride.
The bride’s ring may be held by the best man and the groom’s ring may be held by the maid or matron-of-honor. The best man can hold BOTH rings - most likely he has a pocket to place them in. It is not recommended that the ring bearer have the actual rings on his pillow, unless he/she is 8 and older.
The maid or matron-of-honor is responsible for holding the bride’s bouquet during the part of the ceremony where the couple is asked to join hands or right before the exchange of rings. Other bridesmaids may adjust the bride’s train and veil as needed.
The ushers may be responsible for a variety of activities: seating the families, pulling the aisle runner, ushering guests to the proper exit. In general, ushers have the MOST duties to perform and their attendance at a rehearsal is important.
The introduction of the lighting of a Unity Candle into the marriage celebration is a ritual being requested by couples. Unification ceremonies of this type first started appearing about 15 years ago as a way of expressing unity of the couple. It can signify the joining of their families and also be used as a way to include children from previous marriages.
Along with the unity candle you will find other forms of unification ceremonies such as the rose ceremony, the sand ceremony, the hand washing ceremony, the wine ceremony. The list may go on and on, limited only by the couples' imagination. The common thread throughout all these ceremonies seems to be a desire to acknowledge that the couple has truly become one.
In lieu of throwing rice or bird seed, use flower petals (1 gallon per 50 guests) or bubbles.
Carolyn Burke specializes in ceremony planning. She has resources for everything you need to make the ceremony unique and all your own. She thinks of ideas that make a difference between the ordinary and extra-ordinary.
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