What Happens in an American Wedding
Living in America makes one feel free - free to do anything,
free to live, free to love, free from traditions. While this is
true, there are still many wedding practices that flavor this
memorable event with a distinct touch of Americana. Here are
some:
Starting from the engagement, Americans can think of unique ways
to personalize their wedding. As there really isn't any
engagement tradition, the more unique and memorable the marriage
proposal is, the better.
For most weddings, the engaged couple visits their parents to
inform them of their engagement. Then, at times, the engaged
couple hosts an engagement party. The engagement party costs
less than a wedding reception since most of the time, the menu
will only include cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Therefore, if
the couple is on a tight budget, they can just invite more
guests to the engagement party if they plan to limit the number
of guests during the wedding.
Most wedding preparations include a bridal shower hosted by the
maid of honor and the bridesmaids. The groom may also have a
bachelor party the night before the wedding, but he has to be
careful not to drink too much.
Wedding invitations should include response cards to quickly
inform the couple whether the person has accepted or declined.
Also, the wedding invitations should be sent four to six weeks
before the event.
Usually, there is a rehearsal dinner in which the wedding party
and guests come from near and far to be present. The groom's
parents usually pay for this dinner.
A bridal luncheon may be hosted for the bride's attendants
during the wedding day. However, time constraints may not permit
this to be part of the schedule for the wedding day. Likewise,
the groom may also host a groom's dinner for his groomsmen.
Interestingly, even if the couple is not very religious, they
often still prefer a religious ceremony. However, this may pose
a problem since in America people of different faiths and
religious backgrounds get married. Sometimes, because of this,
people get married twice, once in the bride's religious
tradition and once in the groom's.
Even if there are few people who believe in bad luck, some
couples still ensure that the groom does not see his bride until
she starts walking down the aisle.
It is still practiced that the groom and his groomsmen enter the
church through a side door. The bride will then walk down the
aisle with her father. In some cases when both her father and
stepfather brought up the bride, she may ask them both to escort
her.
During a formal reception, there is usually a bridal table where
the couple and the attendants sit. Also, food and drinks should
be served as the guests appear at the reception.
Before, gift giving used to depend on what the guest thinks
would be useful for the couple. Now, it is better to register
for gifts so the guests will know what to bring that the couple
will need and this also minimizes duplication of gifts.
Upon receiving an engagement or wedding gift, it is better to
send a thankyou note apart from saying "thank you" to the giver.
This should be sent within two weeks upon receipt of the gift.
Make a personalized thank you note, instead of using an
impersonal generic thank you note.
These are just some of the many American wedding practices that
make each one unique. Whether one chooses to be more traditional
or prefers to have a very different wedding, the most important
thing is that Americans still believe in the wedding vow, "For
better or worse, 'til death do us part."