These days there are no real rules for a western wedding; even religious ceremonies can be held at a couple's venue of choice, or outdoors. Many people like to stick to traditional ways though, so here are some aspects of a Western wedding. The ceremony This is often held in a religious building such as a church, chapel, synagogue or mosque. If the wedding is a civil ceremony, the Registry Office of the local government offices becomes the venue. In church, the friends and family of the bride sit on one side of the aisle, and those of the groom on the other. The bride arrives last, and the Groom and the best man wait for her at the end of the aisle, near the altar. The bride is 'given away' by her father, a custom with roots in the idea of women being men's property! During the ceremony, the couple exchange marriage vows and gold rings, guarded until this moment by the best man, and the broom is given permission by the person marrying them to kiss the bride. As they leave the church, their guests throw rice or paper confetti and may tie old shoes and lucky horseshoes to the back of their car, which is also decorated. They drive to the wedding reception in a hotel, pub or garden, or at home.

The white dress and trimmings
Bridal gowns of ancient times were brightly colored to signify joy, but many brides wear white, supposedly to represent purity or virginity. In fact, Queen Victoria is commonly credited with being the first bride to wear white as a sign of wealth. Long ago the bridegroom would cover his bride's head, to conceal her identity if he had capture her, or as protection from evil spirits, resulting in the bridal veil, usually made of net or lace. Brides may also wear a garter, originally intended to keep her stockings up, and carry a bouquet of flowers. These last are given away after the ceremony; the garter is torn off and given to a lucky bachelor, or even auctioned, while the bouquet is thrown by the bride to her single female friends: the person who catches it will marry next. These traditions actually have roots in England when guests would tear at the bride's clothing and flowers to share in her happiness. While fleeing from her attackers, the bride would toss her bouquet into the mob to placate them.

The wedding cake
Traditionally in England, wheat cakes were broken over the bride's head to bring good luck and fertility. During the reign of King Charles II of England, a baker stacked these cakes and frosted them, creating the wedding cake we know today. The bride and groom kiss over their tall cake for luck and then cut the first piece together. Feeding cake to each other is a symbol of how they will always trust and provide for each other, and feed and nourish their relationship.

The honeymoon Back
when a bride married by capture and not by choice, the groom would take her away following the wedding, and keep her in hiding for a full cycle of the moon (28 days). During this time, they would drink a fermented honey beverage called mead to ease inhibitions, in the hope that by the time the bride's family found her, she would be pregnant, hence the term honeymoon. Hopefully these days, most couples look forward to a romantic holiday to get to know each other better ... and to get over the stress of the wedding!