The Ceremony
When the guests arrive for a wedding the ushers' duty is to ensure the guests are seated in the correct places. Traditionally, the side on which people sit depends on whether they are friends or family of the bride or of the groom. The front row is reserved for the bridal party.
The groom and his best man wait inside the church for the arrival of the bride and her "entourage".
The bride's entourage normally consists of the bride, the bride's father and bridesmaids. Sometimes flower girls and page boys attend her. The page boy's task is often to carry the wedding rings on a cushion.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the grandparents of the bride and groom to their seats.
The ushers and/or groomsmen escort the mother of the groom and mother of the bride to their seats.
The bridesmaids enter, escorted by the groomsmen.
The maid or matron of honour enters, either by herself or escorted by the best man.
The ringbearer or page boy enters.
The flower girl enters. (In some ceremonies, the ringbearer will accompany the flower girl.)
The bride then proceeds down the aisle, escorted by her father, to the accompaniment of music, and the ceremony starts.
During the ceremony the bride and groom make their marriage vows. Marriage vows are promises a couple makes to each other during a wedding ceremony. These promises have traditionally included the notions of affection ("love, comfort, keep"), faithfulness ("forsaking all others"), unconditionality ("for richer or for poorer", "in sickness and in health"), and permanence ("as long as we both shall live", "until death do us part").
After the vows have been spoken the couple exchange rings. The wedding ring is placed on the third finger of the left hand, also called the "ring" finger. The wedding ring is usually a plain gold ring. In the past people believed a vein ran from that finger, straight to the heart - modern anatomy books havel put paid to that theory though.
After the wedding ceremony, the bride, groom, officiant, and two witnesses generally go off to a side room to sign the wedding register. Without this the marriage is not legal and a wedding certificate cannot be issued.
Afterward, guests file out to throw flower petals, confetti, birdseed, or rice (uncooked for obvious reasons) over the newly-married couple for good luck.
The bride stands with her back to all the guests and throws her bouquet over her head to them. Whoever catches the bouquet is the next person to get married.
Bridesmaids
Traditionally, bridesmaids were used to help ward off evil spirits, dressing similarly to the bride.Dance
Etiquette dictates the groom should also dance with both mothers, the bride with both fathers, the mother of the bride with the father of the groom and vice versa and the best man with the chief bridesmaid, too!
Favours
Traditionally, five prettily-wrapped almonds would be given representing fertility, longevity, wealth, health and happiness.
Rings
No rings should be worn aside from the engagement ring, worn on the right hand, leaving the wedding ring finger free. The engagement ring goes back on the left hand after the ceremony.
Morning coat
Once upon a time, weddings took place in the morning and gentlemen wore their morning attire, hence the ‘morning suit’.
Speeches
The first wedding speech is given by the father, ending with a toast to the bride and groom. Make sure the groom then thanks the bride’s parents and the guests, before making a toast to the bridesmaids. Finally, it’s the best man!.
Table plans
Wedding etiquette dictates that the top table should be, from the left: Chief bridesmaid, groom’s Father, bride’s Mother, groom, bride, bride’s Father, groom’s Mother, best man.
Accessories
"Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue, And silver sixpence in your shoe."
The bride usually choses accessories to cover the first four things in the tradditional rhyme above. Placing a siver sixpence in the brides shoe for wealth is less popular.
Cake
At the wedding reception an elaborate, tiered, wedding cake is often served. Traditionally this is a fruit cake. Often there are a couple of little figures on top of the cake, normally they are a representation of the bride and groom in formal wedding attire.
It is considered lucky for the couple to cut the cake together. It symbolises them working together during their marriage. A tier is usually stored, and eaten by the couple at their first wedding anniversary, or at the christening of their first child. The cake can be frozen and if the top tier of the cake is fruitcake, it can be stored for a long time, because it's so full of sugar (and often alcohol) that it's very well preserved.