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Wedding Destination Etiquette |
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In each and every culture there are certain customs, traditional rituals, and etiquette that the couple need to follow before and after their wedding. Wedding etiquette may change with the times but the newly wedded should always maintain modesty and gracefulness.
If a wedding ceremony is held at an exotic destination then it can easily adapt itself to the local traditions and cultures adding that extra bit of charm to the wedding. Here are some local wedding traditions which can be adapted by those who go for a destination wedding.
Caribbean Wedding Traditions: The couple wears their best dresses and walk to the church.
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The reception may go on all night with drum beats and exotic Caribbean music and numerous toasts of a happy married life to the couple.
Curried goat, fried plantains, and spicy chicken jerky are the special recipes that are enjoyed by all. An island wedding cake is a ‘black cake” full of raisins and cherries, served with hard rum sauce.
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Puerto Rican Wedding Traditions: During the wedding ceremony, the priest blesses a plate of coins and gives it to the bridegroom who then gifts it to his wife. It is considered to bring good luck to the newly weds. At the head of the main table a doll is placed which is dressed as the bride.
Bermudan Wedding Traditions: A tiny sapling is put on top of the wedding cake. The bride and the groom plant this sapling at their home. It grows along with their marriage.
Mexican Wedding Traditions: The bride and the bridegroom are encircled in a loose lasso made of beautiful twisted fabric, in the shape of eight or infinity.
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Italian Wedding Traditions: Almonds sprinkled with sugar are tied in pretty nets with a bow and are offered as an expression of gratitude to wedding guests. These are called “confetti” and wedding guests toss them around.
German Wedding Traditions: The bride and the groom hold decorated candles in their hands during the ceremony, which is then lighted up once the ceremony is over. They are the ones to dance the first dance which is usually a waltz. Friends of the couple try out funny things such as hiding alarm clocks in the couple’s room, to make the couple’s first night a difficult one.
Fiji Wedding Traditions: The groom presents the bride’s father with a precious gift such as a whale’s tooth, which stands for status and richness. A Fiji wedding is incomplete without Kava, the traditional drink of the island, which is made from crushed root of the kava plant.
Hawaiian Wedding Traditions: The bride and the bridegroom wear garlands made of Lei tied with a ribbon on their white dresses. The groom ties a red sash or waistband. The names of the couple are engraved on their wedding bands.
Greek Wedding Traditions: The bride wears a red or yellow veil that stands for fire and wards off evil. The bride may carry sugar for a sweet life or ivy for endless love. During the reception plates are broken for good luck.
These interesting wedding traditions can add a touch of exotica to your wedding making it a memorable one. Most often these destination weddings end up as “weddingmoons” as the couple set off for their honeymoon at the wedding destination immediately after the wedding ceremony. In any case, detailed planning well ahead of the wedding date will be useful and save the couple and the guests many a stressful times sorting out things.
Invitations
“Save the date” cards should be sent to the guests well in advance of the wedding date, at least four to six months in advance. Invite only those who are very close to you. This will ensure an enjoyable time for all and also keep your expenses under control.
Wedding Announcements
A wedding announcement could be sent to someone who won’t be attending the wedding ceremony. In this way, the person who is not invited to the destination will not feel left out of the wedding.
Wedding Gifts
Guests should send wedding gifts to a relative’s house they know or as specified by the couple as it won’t be feasible for them to send it to the wedding destination. They could also give money rather than gifts as most couples these days gather in advance whatever they want for their new home.
Bridal Showers
Bridal showers are traditionally a surprise to the bride. Usually they take place four to six weeks before the wedding. The maid of honor is responsible for hosting the bridal shower. It is beyond wedding etiquette for the bride’s mother to host it as then it appears as if they are asking for gifts. A sister may host the shower if she is also the maid of honor.
Parties before Destination Wedding
The bride and the groom can arrange bachelor and bachelorette parties before their marriage and have a great time with dear ones. They should also invite those who are invited to the wedding destination.
What the Couple Should Do
The couple should pay for hotel rooms of the guest. They could even contribute to the travel expenses but it is entirely their personal choice. An enquiry into bulk travel discounts would be a useful step. A nice party before the wedding day could be hosted by the couple. All the expenses of the ceremony and the reception should be done by the newly weds. They are advised to send a thank you card along with a small gift if possible, to all the guests who attended the wedding.
Expectations from the Guests at Destination Weddings
Guests are expected to behave in similar manner as they behave at other weddings. They should bring gifts for the newly wed couple and should be wise enough to leave the couple alone with each other after the wedding ceremony is over.
Duties of the Couple’s Parents’
It is completely up to them how they are going to share the expenses. In case of a traditional wedding, if the bride’s family is paying for the ceremony then the groom’s family could pay for the rehearsal dinner and other expenses too according to their wishes. In modern destination weddings expenses are shared on the basis of who can afford what.
The Reception
The couple could host a wedding reception after they come back from honeymoon for all those who were not able to attend the destination wedding. The guests would include those who were sent announcements of the wedding. Gifts are usually not expected at such receptions but some guests will bring gifts anyway.
Dgreetings.com offers you extensive information on Wedding Destination Etiquette.
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