Traditions and customs complete a wedding while giving it more essence and significance. Weddings in America are just as diverse as the couple who comes together to share their lives forever. Weddings often take place in a church with family and friends in attendance to help celebrate the joyous occasion, also they can take place in chapels scattered throughout the U.S., most renowned in Las Vegas. Whatever location you choose for your wedding ceremony, scroll down this page to know more about the wedding customs in America to offer your wedding a richness and completeness.
Something Old, Something New
A very common American wedding tradition, brides generally make it a point to wear or carry something old with their wedding attire. A probable wear will be a family necklace or bracelet. The American brides generally follow a blend of old with the new. It is also typical to carry with her something borrowed from family member and wear something blue.
White Wedding Dress
For an American bride it is a must to wear the color white for her wedding. A white wedding dress symbolizes purity. The custom of wearing a white dress for wedding was popularized since the Victorian age. It was worn to represent affluence ass it will be worn only once. The color ivory is also accepted for wedding dresses presently. Some brides even opt for the color black which however, was considered a taboo in the last decades.
Bridal Bouquet
The bridal bouquet also forms a significant part of American wedding as the flowers signify the emotions of the bride towards the wedding. In earlier times the bride use to carry herbs and spices instead of flowers. It was believed that the strong fragrance of the flowers will ward off the evil spirits in and around. However, presently beautifully designed flower bouquets have replaced the bouquets of herbs and spices. Some bride even carries significant things with her like, rice stalks and small branches of a special plant.
The Veil and the Bridesmaids
The veil along with her wedding dress is a must follow wedding custom of the Americans. In earlier days, the bride use to cover her face with the veil to distract the evil spirits from her way. The bridesmaid also surrounds the bride to keep the evil spirits at bay. Some couples still flow this age-old tradition for her wedding.
The bride can choose what color that the bridesmaids will wear. The color usually coordinates with the other themes of the wedding, such as similar to the color of the flowers chosen. The bride should also think what color flatters the bridesmaids. These days, it is customary for the bride to decide what color and fabric the bridesmaids will wear, and the bridesmaid will then choose the most flattering style for herself. Some brides choose the other way around, they choose what style the bridesmaids will wear, and the bridesmaids wear different colors of the same style dress.
Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes are not just dessert to be served to guests during reception. The wedding cake is cut together by the couple during the wedding reception. Then the husband and wife exchange bites of the cake. This is the first act the couple does together as husband and wife.
Fruit cakes stand up better because of the volume added by the fruit. Fruit cakes are especially great for multi-layered tiers as it can hold the weight of the tiers.
Chocolate cakes can present a problem. Couples are expected to exchange bites of the cake and smile for the photographer right after. Brown smears on the teeth or face will not be flattering on pictures.
Fondant cakes also hold up better, even during warm weather.
Three-tiered cakes can be practical. Bottom layer can be eaten at the reception, middle layer can be distributed for give-aways, and the top layer can be saved and frozen for the next big occasion, such as the first wedding anniversary or the baptism of the couple's first child.
Enjoy the bliss of wedding with American wedding customs and entwine the spirit of traditionalism with the new beginning.