Tradition of British Wedding

            As we know that British people is very strict following their traditions. It can be seen when they celebrate their wedding. They follow many superticions and customs which is very complicated but can make the wedding is memorable. They believe that if they do not follow the tradition they will get bad luck and evil spirit for future. They hope that follow the traditions will give them good luck and happiness for their live as couple marriage. The wedding ceremonies are not only in the church and Registry Office that has been licensed to hold ceremonies, but other place such as in the garden, beach and etc is also allowed to hold wedding ceremonies, if they have a strong reason why it should be held in that place. There are some different traditions of the wedding between in early age and present day. In this essay i am going to give you some explanation about traditions, customs and superstitions of British wedding in common. I will divide that  explanation with before wedding, at wedding and marriages.

            From the first i will tell you the activity before marriages. In the beginning of wedding the man traditionally proposes the women. It has quality ritual and a ring as symbol of engagement ring. An engagement ring is usually in gold that is given by the man as ‘intent to marry’ and choose Diamond stone to decorate the ring. Diamond is choosen stone either in a wedding ring or engagement ring because it is represented innocence and the symbol of love and courage. They believe that Diamond is the tears of God which is crystalized by lightning or hardened dew drops. The proposal ritual is when the man asks the question such as “Will you marry me?” and then he goes down on knee. If the women accepts his propose, they will become engaged and should wear the ring on the third finger of the left hand. The woman may also propose men although it can be allowed on 29^th February.

            Before Wedding day  Hen Parties are the parties that is  held by the bride, in which the women friends take part. The party is her way to leave her old life but assure her friends that she would still remain their friends. Her woman’s friends also gathered to offer advice and support to the new Bride Stag parties are parties that celebrate the wedding that will be held. The groom gather with his male friends on the night before his wedding to celebrate leaving his days of bachelorhood (the time in a man’s life before married) but he also swear continued allegiance to  his buddies. His friends also give him money to ensure that he would still be able to go drinking with them because after wedding the bride control the money. The bride should never wear her wedding gown because it can bring bad luck. And for good luck the bride should wear ‘something borrowed, something blue, something old and something new’. It was thought unlucky for a woman to marry a man whose surname began with the same letter as hers. The bride should not practice writing her new name before the wedding. This is thought to bring bad luck by tempting fate. They should tie shoes to car that symbolize fertility and assign of passing responsibility for his daughter onto her husband.

            The wedding ceremonies usually is held at Saturday although it bring back lucky in the past. It is also bring bad luck if they have married on Friday 13^th. The ‘Best Man’ usually someone who would stand by the groom to protect him and look after him. Most brides today marry in white dress which symbolizes maidenhood and she wears veil that it would disguise the bride and therefore outwit male violent spirits.. Bridesmaid wear dress quite similar to to the brides because they believe that it make confuse evil spirits and protect the bride. It is unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress and wear her outfit before the wedding day. The placing of a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe was to ensure wealth in the couples married life and today some brides substitute a penny in their shoe during the ceremony as silver sixpences are less common. Flowers have been always used for decoration at weddings. When the bride is ready to leave the house for the wedding ceremony a last look in the mirror will bring her good luck. However returning to the mirror once she has began her journey will result in bad luck.The bride and groom must not meet before wedding ceremonies until they meet in altar because it will bring bad luck. They take photograph immediately after ceremony.

            At the wedding ceremony, the bride stands to the right of the father and the father gives his daughter to the groom. The groom puts the wedding ring on the ring finger of the left hand of the bride.    

            After the ceremony, they are invited to attend a meal and further celebrations that called as “Wedding Reception”. They leave present for the bride and groom on the table in the room that the reception takes place. The gifts and presents are not usually opened until after the honeymoon and then thank you cards sent after that. Commonly the Best Man, Brides Father, the Groom and close friends give a speech. In the wedding reception there is often a cake with two more tiers-each tier may be made in different type of cake to satisfy the tastes of all your wedding guests. The Features of wedding cake is rich of fruits. The fruitcake made from cherries, ground nuts, and other sweet ingredients. The top layer of the fruitcake is sometimes called the "christening cake" which is the couple saves for the christening of their first child. Cutting the wedding cake is now part of the ritual celebrations at the reception. The couples make the first cut together to symbolize their shared future.

            After the reception the bride throws her bouquet back over her shoulder where the unmarried female guest group together. Tradition holds that the one who catches the bouquet will be the next to marry. After all the ceremonies, the Bride and the Groom go away together privately that called a Honeymoon. The couple would remain in hiding for a further cycle of the moon after the wedding. During this period they drank honey wine.

            There are just a few traditions and superstition, there are still many more which are all very charming. From the explanations below are able to conclude that British has special characteristic of wedding ceremonies. We can realize that it is very different with the Ceremonies in Indonesia. So by reading this essay we can recognize British Society and Culture subject.