Wedding Ceremony Types

By Geraldine Dimarco

For those of you who do not know, a wedding is a legal ceremony that commences a union between two people; once the province of only a male/female relationship, changes to the law have made this concept obsolete in some places. Whatever the background and history to marriage, it is still a legal union between two people; the law requires that the couple sign the marriage certificate in front of witnesses before the marriage can be legally accepted. The man getting married is called the groom or bridegroom to give him his full title and the woman the bride; after the ceremony they become a wife and a husband, respectively.

Marriages in a Church

Of course we all know and love the white wedding (which can be associated with various religious traditions, including Christian, Jewish and Muslim) but this is not the generally accepted form of ceremony in every country. Although it may seem like the world has turned away from religion generally, it has not stopped the popularity of a Church ceremony, a Synagogue ceremony and so on. Many people love to have traditional wedding ceremony music in their church wedding, together with wedding ceremony readings that are often religious in nature. And because churches and synagogues host so many weddings, having your wedding ceremony decorations put up will not be an issue.

Twin Ceremonies

A different type occasion often difficult to arrange is where two couples are married simultaneously, usually called a double wedding. If twins or two sisters or two brothers happen to be considering marriage at around the same time, they may consider a double wedding, particularly if they are close. It can also save some money, of course, since many of the guests would be invited to both weddings if they occurred separately. And of course, there's only one set of wedding ceremony decorations, and wedding ceremony music to arrange (unless the couples have consecutive ceremonies rather than simultaneous, in which case the wedding ceremony music can be different).

Weddings in a Foreign Country

These days it is easy for couples to arrange a wedding in another country and have the guests travel to them with the honeymoon continuing afterwards. It doesn't matter exactly where you travel to, whether it is in Egypt or just to Las Vegas it will still be considered a destination wedding, but the planning, and the type of wedding ceremony you opt for, may be considerably different. While wedding ceremony music and wedding ceremony decorations are commonly present in wedding ceremony venues in Las Vegas, you'd be less likely to find them in an Egyptian destination wedding. Wedding ceremony readings can occur anywhere, if you choose to have them. And wedding ceremony music may be able to be organized, particularly if you are prepared to use recorded wedding ceremony music. And as for your wedding ceremony decorations, if you want them at all, you can probably keep them simple and yet still look effective.

Weekend Break Weddings

Some couples decide to have their wedding over the course of a weekend and this can ensure the occasion is less stressful for all concerned. Themed occasions can involve golf, hang-gliding, shooting or any type of venue you can imagine. Lodging is usually at the same facility and couples often host a Sunday wedding ceremony and meal for the weekend's finale, where the traditionalists still opt for wedding ceremony music and some form of wedding ceremony decorations for the occasion.

An Online Wedding Ceremony

Although it has not really caught on yet, a few bold and different people have decided to tie the knot online but it may be sometime before this style of wedding really becomes more popular; internet based specialists are already available to help organize your ceremony. Marriages that are broadcast live online are also referred to as online weddings.

Town Hall Weddings

Despite the term civil wedding, most services that take place outside of a Church, wherever that may be, are civil weddings which have to be carried out by appointed or elected judges, mayors or a justice of the peace. Religion doesn't normally play a part in these ceremonies because they can be purely for the purpose of fulfilling the legal requirements. Many civil ceremonies take place in local town or city halls or courthouses in judge's chambers, in which event wedding ceremony decorations and wedding ceremony music or readings are unlikely to play a role. - 30299

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here