Ha ha - that sounds like something very native… My cousin is getting married on Saturday, and it will be special, because weddings always are, but I’m sure both Americans and Brits would recognize parts of the ritual - both during the ceremony and afterwards, at the party!
One difference is the fact that here, the bride and groom stay for the entire reception - they don’t go off on their honeymoon on their wedding day. Many will plan it for some time after the wedding, some will go the next day, but they’ll definitely not miss their own wedding reception…
Also - bridesmaids. We have a best man and maid of honor, that also have the function of witnesses - i.e. they sign the wedding protocol along with the bride and groom. There may or may not be bridesmaids (and… is it ushers when they are boys?) , but they’ll traditionally be children from the bride and grooms families, bearing flowers in the church or whatever, and generally looking cute… As for bridesmaid gifts - there may well be a little something for the children, but that’s not a set tradition, like I believe it is in the States.
As for speeches - there are set rules for the order in which they occur, but as everyone isn’t a speaker, some people may also write a song to the happy couple, set on a well known tune, that everyone will sing - instead of a speech. There is dancing, usually, with the happy couple opening the ball with a bridal waltz, and later on, the cutting of the cake. (The cake, by the way, won’t have that rock hard icing that y’all seem so fond of…)
Any other differences? Plenty, I’m sure, and I know that my US cousin will educate me after she’s seen how we do it.
What’s international, regardless of ritual and tradition, is the celebration of two people’s love and commitment to each other. I’m looking forward to it!
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