5 Common Wedding Traditions

A wedding is all about the bride and groom and the love that they have for one another, but it''s also very much about tradition. As friends and family gather to watch two lives joined together as one, there are several traditions that most couples enjoy incorporating into their wedding. Below is a list of several of the most commonly celebrated traditions for a wedding ceremony.

Walking the bride down the aisle. In most traditional weddings, the father of the bride proudly walks his daughter down the aisle and symbolically ''gives her away'' to the groom. If this is not possible, an acceptable alternative would be a brother, other close relative or a friend of the bride.

Wedding vows. The exchange of wedding vows can either be done using the traditional verse or they can be personally written by both the bride and groom. The latter often provides a more personal touch to the ceremony and gives the couple an opportunity to speak from the heart in front of their guests.

Giving & receiving of rings. It is customary for both the bride and groom to wear a wedding ring on their left hand''s ring finger. This may be a solid band in either gold or silver or it could be one featuring diamonds. The wedding ring symbolizes a circle of unbroken love with no beginning and no end, which makes it perfect for a marriage.

The kiss. Following the ceremony, the bride and groom will share their first kiss as husband and wife in front of their guests. The appropriate kiss would be short and sweet, but last long enough for the photographer and guests to snap a few memorable photos of this cherished moment.

Tossing of the bouquet and garter. Just before leaving the reception, it is customary for the bride to toss her bouquet into a gathering of single women. It is said that the woman who catches the bouquet will be the next to be married. The groom may sometimes choose to toss his bride''s garter into a gathering of his single friends. The same traditional belief applies that he who catches the garter will be married next.

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