Different cultures and religions have different wedding ceremonies. We will only discuss the traditional American wedding ceremony in this article, since it is fairly consistent with ceremonies in most English speaking countries.
Some of the traditions are far from complicated. What is basically needed, are a bride and groom in love, and an official to perform the ceremony, which is either a priest, a rabbi, or even a civil officer.
In addition, it is usually a legal requirement that there are two or more witnesses to the marriage. Just as the signing of many legal documents requires witnesses, so does a wedding.
Beyond that, it is usual for the bride and groom to have several attendants and to invite their families and friends. Most brides have a male figure who can give them away, a maid of honor (or a matron), bridesmaids and a flower girl. The groom usually has a best man and a few other groomsmen. The ring bearer is often a young boy who carries the wedding rings on a cushion.
There will also be ushers who help with the organization, show guests to their seats, hand out the order of the ceremony, etc. Guest sometimes seat on one side or the other, depending if they are part of the groom's family and friends or the bride's. If one side of the family is much larger than the other, seating may need to be rearranged.
The groom should be ready at the church early and wait for the bride. Even if the bride is late, the groom must be on time.
Family members are often seating near the front, and the first row of seats is customarily reserved for the wedding party. Sometimes the attendants remain standing all through the ceremony. In that case the parents and grandparents of the bride and groom will sit in the front row on each side.
In traditional American weddings, the bridesmaids enter first, along with the groomsmen. Next, enter the maid of honor and the best man. The ring bearer and the flower girl are usually behind. Finally, the bride enters on the arm of her father or the male family member who is giving her away.
In other countries such as the UK, the bride and her father will walk ahead of the procession, with the attendants coming in right behind. The bridesmaids are in charge of carrying the bride's train if her dress trails.
After the ceremony, the marriage license or register must be signed by the bride, groom, officiant and witnesses. This one final step is necessary to make the ceremony legally recognized.
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