North Americans, like all people, have many wedding customs. Some may be like the wedding customs in your country. Others may be new to you.
The bride’s family is supposed to pay for the wedding. If the bride is older and has a good job, she may pay for much of it herself. But her family often helps. Weddings can be expensive. Some people say they’re too expensive.
The bride usually wears a long white dress. She’s also supposed to wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. This is an old English rhyme. Wearing these things is supposed to bring the couple good luck.
Some of the couple’s friends may be attendants, who stand with them during the ceremony.
At the reception – the party after the wedding – some brides throw their bouquets to the single women. The woman who catches the bouquet is supposed to get married next.
At some weddings, the groom takes off the bride’s garter (the ribbon holding up her stocking) and throws it to the single men. This is supposed to show which of them will get married next. This custom is not very popular anymore.
A big, decorated cake is part of most wedding receptions. Often, there is also music and dancing.
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