White wedding

A White wedding is a term for a traditional British wedding. This term refers to white used in the [wedding dress]?, which symbolises virginity and innocence.

A whole industry surrounds the provision of such weddings.

Such weddings are held in churches and people generally seek to be married in the most picturesque church they can find. This often leads to such churches attracting the attendence of unmarried couples, who are in the early stages of planning their wedding and wish to be married there.

For a wedding to take place preparations have to be undertaken dependent on the demonimation of the Church involved. Anglican and Roman Catholic churches needs only read the banns of marriage three times. Most other recognised dominations need to acquire a marriage license, while the remainder require a separate civil wedding.

Additionally people wanting to married sometimes also need to be confirmed? or converted? to the religion or denomination of the church. At the very least the vicar, minister or priest will want to interview the couple and possibly have them attend marriage classes of some sort.

These traditional wedding require, in addition to the bride? and groom?:

• [Best man]? - he supports the groom and by tradition marries the bride if the groom flees.
• Bridesmaid?s - a number of bridesmaids support the bride.
• [Maid of Honour]? - a mature or married equivalent of a bridesmaid.
• [Flower girl]? - the girl equivalent of a bridesmaid.
• [Page boy]? - the boy equivalent of a bridesmaid.
• Ushers? - helpers who formerly assist with the organisation.

Wedding guest are generally sent invitations to which they are expected to reply. The guests are generally invited to both the wedding and the reception afterwards, although sometimes reception places are limited. Often certain people are invited due to perceive family obligations, as to not receive an invite can be considered an insult.

The full white wedding experience means that an organist, a choir, flower arrangements, flowers for lapels and commerative wedding leaftets with the Order of Service need to be arranged and paid for. Also the hymns need to be selected and a reading from the Bible chosen.

When the guests arrive for a wedding the Ushers need to hand the people the correct mix of books, flowers and leaflets and ensure they are seated in the correct place. Traditionally which side people sit on depends on whether they are friends or family of the bride or the groom. The front rows are generally reserved for close family or friends, with the very first seats reserved for the bridal party.

The groom and his best man wait inside the church await the arrival of the bride and her entourage.

This entourage entourage generally arrives in cars, or horse-drawn coaches, specially hired for the occassion. The bride's entourage normally consists of the bride, the bride's father and all the various bridesmaids, maids of honour, flower girls and page boys that are intended to attend her.

The bride then proceeds down the alter with her entourage, to the accompany of music and the ceremony starts.

After the wedding itself completes the bride, groom, vicar and two witnesses generally go off to a side room to sign the wedding register.

When the ceremony completes people file out to the throw confetti or rice over the newly married couple for good luck and the photographic session ensues.

After this the events shift to a reception at which the married couple, the couple's parents, the best man and the wedding entourage greet each of the guests. At such events it is tradional to eat and drink.

During the reception a number of [Wedding speeches]? are made in much numerous toast?s are made.

Any dancing is commonly started by the bride and groom.

The final tradition is the newly married couple departing to consumate? the wedding or set off for their honeymoon.