American Wedding Customs

(406 Words)
There are many beautiful American wedding customs that can make your big day a truly special day. You may want to include the following customs in your wedding.
In most American weddings, the ceremony is first. The bride usually wears white, although many do wear an off-white dress nowadays. Some will even add a splash of color. It is customary that the groom not see the dress before the wedding day. One or both of the parents usually walk the bride down the aisle. The couple will usually have a wedding party consisting of a maid of honor, a best man, bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers, etc. The actual ceremony will depend on the wedding, but vows are usually spoken by each. The bride and groom are usually asked whether they take the other as their spouse, to which they will (hopefully) reply “I do.” In some ceremonies, they ask whether anyone objects to the wedding. Once the bride and groom are wed, it is customary that they kiss. They walk back down the way they came the congratulations of their loved ones.
There are many different customs that occur during the reception following the wedding. The bride and groom are introduced. They will often go into their first dance, moving to a song that is special to them.
During the reception, toasts will usually be made. The maid of honor and best man typically make speeches and others may as well such as the parents of the couple. These speeches may be long and most are heartfelt. In some religions other blessings will be made as well. For instance, in the Jewish religion a blessing is made over the bread.
There is also fun built into the traditions during an American wedding. The bride will usually toss her bouquet to all of the single ladies. Legend has it that the one who catches it will be the next to marry. The groom will then remove the garter from his bride’s leg and toss that to the single groomsmen with the same intentions.
The cutting of the cake is special in an American wedding ceremony. Everyone usually gathers around to watch as pictures are taken. The bride and groom will then often feed each other from the cake.
Following wedding traditions can make you feel connected to the past on your special day. The above customs are some that you will see at American weddings.