Weddings are traditionally (but not exclusively) a religious ceremony between two people who are forming a union; although the traditional marriage ceremony have seen a decline, there are now many other methods to confirm your union. Although the service may be quite lengthy and involved, it is not complete until the legal aspect is fulfilled; the legal act of marriage only occurs once the signing a marriage license or other legal document is complete. The names bridegroom and bride extend around the world; they are then referred to by the title husband and wife, once they are married.


The White Wedding


Of course other wedding traditions can be much more complicated as soon as you look into different race, social classes and ethnic groups to name a few. Although it may seem like the world has turned away from the Christian religion generally, it has not stopped the popularity of a Church ceremony. Primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States and the British Commonwealth, these ceremonies are known as white weddings.


Twin Ceremonies



A different type occasion often difficult to arrange is where two couples are married simultaneously; typically, a person with a brother or sister might plan this type of occasion with that sibling.


Weddings in a Foreign Country

A destination wedding is where the engaged couple and often guests travel to attend the ceremony; whether this happens for an intimate beach ceremony in the Caribbean, or extravagant nuptials in Las Vegas, it will qualify as a destination wedding.


Themed 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. Special activities, such as spa treatments and golf tournaments, are scheduled into the itinerary for guests' enjoyment throughout the weekend. This is quite a good idea especially if the bride and groom have similar interests as both they and their guests can stay at the same location.


Ceremonies Online


An online wedding is conducted on the internet which can resemble a normal ceremony; internet companies specializing in this type of ceremony are there to help you with your marriage. Strangely, if you decide to have your marriage shown online in real time it is called an online wedding.


Civil Weddings

Local civil authority services are called civil weddings as they do not take place in a church and must be performed by a locally elected or appointed official. Civil ceremonies may use references to God, but they do not generally make references to particular religions or denominations. Many civil ceremonies take place in local town or city halls or courthouses in judge's chambers.

This brief article has tried to explain what a wedding as carried out in the Western world.