"Depending on your ancestry and your religion, there are so many different directions you can go."
When it comes to your big day, traditions and symbolism can be important to incorporate in your wedding. Depending on your ancestry and your religion, there are so many different directions you can go. There are many classic American traditions that are customary to today's weddings. Everything that we know comes from a culture. Â
“Tradition is a guide, not a jailer." W. Somerset Magham
Classic American traditions.
The white dress came from Queen Victoria herself. She wore a white silk-satin dress that started all the trend! Soon, people were stating that it was a "fitting hue" for a bride that represents purity and innocence. Most of the traditions came from the Egyptians and the Romans. The Wedding Rings were presented to the bride to symbolize love and commitment. The belief was that the vein on the fourth finger lead straight to the heart.  Some say that the veil also came from the Ancient Romans that incorporated veils to protect her from evil spirits; bridesmaids were also used to protect the bride. The bridesmaids would be dressed in the same dress as the bride to confuse bad spirits from finding her.  In addition, Romans wished good fortune on the happy couple, they would included flower girls in the ceremony who were young virgins that would carry sheaths of wheat to cast it upon the brides walk to the groom. They would also cast wheat upon the newlywed couple to symbolize fruitfulness and prosperity.  The wedding cake in Rome were originally cakes of wheat that they would stack on top of another. The Bride and Groom would then be challenged to kiss overtop the tower without knocking it over for good fortune.Â
Religion traditions.
For Muslim weddings, many differ depending on cultures, but the generally there is  gender separation during the event. Sometimes in many countries would require men and women be separate during the ceremony and reception.  Henna parties are held before the ceremony to adorn the bride and protect her. There is the classic, giving a way of the bride to the groom; however, there is a contract with a money security agreement for the bride. In the last part of the ceremony, there would be a reading of the Qur'an.
Buddhist weddings can differ between couples but the tradition is that the ceremony would focus on a mediation or moments of silence for inner peace. There might also be love poems to signify their commitment for each other. At a Buddhist wedding, you might also find an image of Buddha surrounded by candles and flowers.
In the Hindu tradition, the wedding would last for multiple days and the ceremony would be outside under a canopy with a sacred fire. Family members would be invited to make offerings in the fire and the couple would walk around it while vows are said.
Jewish weddings is considered "rich in tradition and symbolism". The bride and groom wouldn't see each other for a week before the wedding day. At the ceremony, the couple would be under a canopy where a contract would be red of the grooms responsibilities to his wife. Besides the wedding rings to make the marriage official, there were no other jewelry worn so that the focus wouldn't be on material possessions. In addition at the end, there would be the "breaking of the glass", the number of pieces would symbolize the number of years together.
For Latin weddings, the expenses would be divided up among the family members. A large rosary would be draped around the necks of the couple to affirm unity and commitment. The money dance is also a tradition that is widely known where the guests were allowed to pay to dance with the bride.Â
In Christian weddings, the focus of the event is the uniting the couple. It is customary to include worship songs and focus on God and to ask for a blessing. There is the traditional wedding vows to declare their love and also the exchanging of rings. Â Some couples choose to have Communion as their first act after marriage, or a Unity candle to symbolize the union.