Wedding Facts for Kids

A wedding is a special ceremony where two people join together in marriage. It's often between a man (called the groom) and a woman (called the bride). In some places, two people of the same gender can also get married. During a wedding, the couple usually makes promises to each other, called vows, and often exchange rings. Weddings can take place in religious buildings like churches or temples, or in other beautiful spots like gardens or even at home.

Western Wedding Traditions
Bridal Shower
Images for kids
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Western Wedding Traditions

Queen Victoria was the first to wear a white wedding dress.

The Ceremony Itself

A typical wedding ceremony in Western countries involves the couple saying their vows in front of an official. This official might be a judge or a religious leader, like a priest or a pastor. After they say their vows, the couple usually exchanges rings. Then, they often share a kiss to seal their promises.

Where Weddings Happen

Traditionally, a bride's wedding would take place in her church, synagogue, or another religious center. Sometimes, it would even be held at her parents' home. Today, many couples choose different and unique places. Some adventurous couples have even gotten married while snorkeling underwater or skydiving! Wealthy couples sometimes have "destination weddings." This means they pay for their guests to travel to a beautiful, romantic place, like an island in the Caribbean, for the wedding.

What People Wear

The bride usually wears a beautiful white dress. She might also wear a thin white cloth over her head called a veil. Other head decorations can include a wreath of flowers or a sparkling tiara. The groom often lifts the veil either before or after they say their vows. The groom typically wears a formal suit or tuxedo.

The Honeymoon Trip

After the wedding, the newly married couple often goes on a special trip together. This trip is called a honeymoon. It's a time for them to relax and celebrate their new life together.

Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

The bridesmaids are usually friends or family members who walk down the aisle before the bride and her father. They often wear dresses that are the same color, or a similar style, to match the wedding's theme. They might also carry small flower bouquets, similar to the bride's. The groom also has close friends or family members, called groomsmen, who support him during the ceremony.

Bridal Shower

A bridal shower is a party held for the bride before the wedding. It's usually a gathering of women, where guests bring gifts for the bride to help her set up her new home. It's a fun way to celebrate with friends and family before the big day.

Images for kids

Many cultures have adopted the traditional Western custom of the white wedding, when the bride wears a white wedding dress and veil. Painting by Edmund Leighton (1853–1922)
Hindu wedding in India
Hindu wedding in India
A couple exchange vows on the church altar during a ceremony in a Catholic Church.
A girl with traditional gift of Gaye holud.
Bridegroom arrives on horseback at a Rajput wedding
Jewish wedding
Bridal Portrait
Henna on the hands of a bride in Tunisia
In traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies, bride arrives in a jiao
Saber Arch at Military wedding in 1955, Argentinian Naval Officer in Dress Uniform and Bride
White wedding
Formal family picture of a Royal Wedding.
Waiting for the bride. From left: priest, groom and ushers in Scotland wearing kilts.
A 2004 California wedding between a Filipina bride and a Nigerian groom.
The groom and one other in the wedding party wear a kilt with Argyll jacket and long tie.
A wedding party in 1918
Hindu wedding in India
A bride and a bridegroom in Rajasthan
A bride and a bridegroom in Nepal
Neopagan handfasting ceremony
A Muslim couple in India
Fire rituals at a Hindu wedding, India
Hindu wedding in India
Crowning during a Nasrani wedding in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
On the beach
Japanese bride and bridegroom
Traditional Armenian wedding dress
A Parsi wedding
Assyrian bride and groom
Chinese traditional wedding dress, Qing Dynasty style
Chinese traditional wedding clothing, Ming Dynasty style
Chinese traditional wedding attire, Zhou Dynasty style
Wedding at Burning Man
Wedding 1935 in Barcelona, Spain
Bridegroom, Bangladesh
Bride, Bangladesh
Minangkabau marriage in Indonesia
Japanese wedding at the Meiji Shrine

Wedding facts for kids

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