america There are some weddings memorable in the American culture Here are some: Right from the

engagement, Americans think of different unique ways to personalize their wedding engagement. As there is no specific wedding engagement tradition, Americans always like to have their engagement in a more unique and personal way and different from other occasions. The couples more usually inform their close ones about their engagement. They at times host a special engagement party. In America, an engagement party is usually cheaper when compared to a wedding reception. The party mostly constitutes cocktails and junk items. Therefore if an American couple is on a tight budget, they can invite more guests for their engagement party and invite only those special and privileged personalities for their wedding reception. This way they can work around their budget accordingly. In America engagements are solely done and they inform the parents before wedding party and they also give a party, which includes cocktails and hors d'oeuvers. The guests can be limited according to their budget. In the USA most of the wedding preparations would constitute a bridal shower. It is given by the maid of honor and the bridesmaid. The grooms also host a small party the night before the wedding. Its called as the bachelors party. The groom must make sure that he doesnt get drunk. The couples must make sure that their invitations have a response card. This would confirm whether their wedding invitation has been accepted or turned down. It is advisable to send the wedding invitations well in advance. An ideal time would be four to six weeks before the wedding.

There would also be a rehearsal dinner before the wedding engagement. People coming from far off places attend this party. Usually its a practice for the grooms parents to pay for this dinner. The bridal shower will take place in the wedding by the maids in respect. There will be a bachelor party the night before given by the groom. The couple must get a response from the people. There will be a rehearsal dinner after the invitations are sent to the people from far places. The groom's family pays for this. Sometimes if time and budget permits, there might also be a bridal luncheon arranged on the wedding day. This may be included in the schedule only if time and budget permits. Similarly the groom may also host a grooms dinner part There will be a bridal and groom luncheon for their people arranged by them. The most interesting fact is that, the couples always would prefer a religious ceremony even if they are not too very religious. This sometimes is baffling as America usually comprises of people from different faiths and different backgrounds.

There are a few people who believe in badluck and superstitions. As a result they make sure that the groom does not get to see his bride until she starts walking on the aisle with her father. Its even a practice that the groom and groomsmen enter the church through the side door. The bride walks down the aisle with her father. The groom does not see the bride until then. In some cases when both her father and stepfather brought up the bride, she may ask them both to escort her. The couple may not be religious but this creates some problems because of different backgrounds and faiths. In some families the bride and the groom may not meet till she enters the passage with her father and stepfather. The grooms and his men enter through the side doors of the church,In a formal reception a bridal table is usually organized. In a bridal table, the couple and important attendants sit and they are served food and wine. In America gift giving is a very famous practice. People select gifts that would be useful to the couples. The bride table will be there for the couple and the attendants to sit and they will be served some drinks and food at the reception time and the gifts will be useful to the couple. Its now a practice in the United States to register their gifts. In one way its a good practice as the guests will know what the couples would need and there also would not be a repetition of gifts. The couples also usually leave a thankyou note to the guests who gift them. A thankyou note is given to those who offer gifts and given after acceptance of the gift.This should be sent within two weeks upon receipt of the gift. Make a personalized thank you note, instead of using an impersonal generic thank you note. These are some of the practices followed during American weddings. Whether couples choose to follow this way or whether they would want to organize in their own personalized manner is purely upto their choice. However the couples vow to each other that they would always stay besides each other till death.

Americans strongly believe in this marriage vow. The note should be common and it should be sent within fifteen days from the receipt of the gifts which is a practice in American weddings. They believe a vow, for good or bad we need not part till death.

India
Traditionally, Indian wedding extends to be a week long affair and speaks of the tradition, culture and heritage of the country. In Indian wedding, there is an event for almost everything. Generally, the wedding is divided into three parts - pre wedding, wedding and post wedding. Rituals like 'Haldi', 'Mehandi' 'Sangeet' and 'Tilak' are pre wedding rituals. Before the wedding, the to-be bride and the groom's families visit each other and exchange costly gifts to each other along with sweets, fruits and dry fruits. The parents of the bride and the groom exchange gift in the form of dress for the bride or the bridegroom and display them to the other family, as a part of their love and honor. The pre-wedding ceremonies are followed by the main day wedding ceremony, when the nuptial knots of the bride and the bridegroom are tied. There is an elaborate wedding feast for all the family and friends that are invited. The wedding itself is a long, stretched out process, when all the Hindu deities are called upon and asked to bless the new couple. The bride and the bridegroom take seven steps around the fire, vowing devotion and love to each other and agreeing to take care of each other in all circumstances. Amidst such rituals and customs, there are various events that bring about a chuckle and laughter in the wedding ceremony. One such instance is when the younger sister of the bride tries to steal the shoe of her new brother-in-law and asks money as ransom. After the wedding ceremony, there are the post wedding functions alike 'Vidaai' or 'Doli', when the bride leaves for her new home. This is the most emotional moment of any Indian wedding, when the bride take leave of all her family members to start a new life in her husband's home. However, remember India is a diverse land and the rituals practiced would vary from region to region.

Pre-Wedding Traditions India devotes a special importance to weddings and all the traditional rituals that surround the whole ceremony. Therefore the bride and the groom as well as the guests will benefit of a three-day or longer feast of love. The symbolic elements are fused with modern customs and create an overwhelming experience for the couple as well as family and friends. In order to have a detailed insight into the world of Indian weddings it is advisable to read through the most important culture customs that are related to the pre-wedding traditions of this country.

Engagement Ceremony: Similarly to other cultures in the world, Indians also practice an engagement ceremony before the day of the wedding. Indeed this is just as complex as the rituals during the big day and line up a multitude of symbolic and cultural elements. During this ceremony the couple exchanges the rings and the families offer various gifts to each other. The value of these varies according to the financial situation of the families. The engagement feast takes place at the house of the groom. This is the day when the date of the actual wedding is settled. These traditions aim to provide a chance for entertainment as well as pay tribute to the spiritual heritage of India.

Mehendi Ceremony: This is one of the rituals that is chiefly popularized and kept by the family of the brides. Therefore these are held in the home of the girl and the main essence is to celebrate the happiness and love of the bride by the relatives and friends. Henna is used as the main instrument to create the various pictures and temporary tattoos on the hands as well as feet of the bride called 'mehendi'.

Whether they appeal to the help of a professional henna tattooist or a relative uses her professional skills, the point is to create the traditional motifs as the peacock, flowers as well as cronchshell and also the name of the groom but hidden in the shape of natural and cultural images.

This ritual also means that the bride is not allowed to leave the house until the wedding day. It is also a common thought that the darker the color of the henna turns on her skin the more the love of the husband and in-laws will increase through time.

Sangeet: It is also one of the most frequently practiced pre-wedding rituals that is held at the groom's place, his friends and family,gather to sing wedding songs and praise the love of the couple. There is a specialized menu and amusement that reveals the importance and sacred quality of the wedding.

Wedding Day Ceremony The great day in all cultures echoes some of the popular traditions shepherded all throughout the centuries. Indeed those who participate are just as intensely involved in the celebration of the love feast as the couple. The various customs illustrate the respect of India for the cultural heritage and spiritual values. These are some of the most important wedding day rituals in the Indian society.

Sapta-Padi: As the name suggests the 'sapta-padi' or seven steps is one of the main rituals done by the couple that symbolizes their strong bond and the spiritual and emotional background that this relationship is based on. A fire is made as the center of the whole atmosphere that surrounds the practice.

The groom and the bride are supposed to walk around the fire for seven times and sing hymns as well as take the vows that would pledge their relationship. This ritual is held to be done under the supervision of Agnideva, the god of fire who'll secure the eternity of their love.

The couple in their vows asks for earthly goods as food and a generous life as well as health and strength. Moreover they also pray for the well-being of their future children as well as the whole Universe. Moreover in the house of the bride or the place near where the ritual takes place a canopy is decorated with flowers with symbolizes the day of the wedding.

Kanyadaan: The name of this ritual means 'the gift of a girl'. As one of the central rituals of the Indian wedding it is practiced all over the country. The ceremony presupposes that the father of the bride gives the hand of his daughter to the groom. This is done through a symbolic act, namely placing the right hand of the girl on the right hand of the young men. The mother has the role of sprinkling or pouring sacred water on this bond. This is considered one of the greatest gifts of the

family of the bride to that of the groom. Then the groom will touch the right shoulder of the bride this way revealing that he'll accept the gift.

These are some of the most spectacular and representative wedding customs in India. Tourists will be overwhelmed when spotting a similar ceremony that invited millions to celebrate love and happiness.

Jawa Usually, the parents of the would-be-bride have a greater say, as they are the ones who will organise the ceremonies (a big wedding will require a Pas Agung (kings make-up), a small one will require a Pas Kesatrian (knight's make-up)). They are responsible for the wedding ceremonies that will be followed, such as Siraman (bathing ceremony), Midodareni (ceremony on the eve before the wedding), Peningsetan (traditional engagement ceremony), Ijab (religious marriage consecration) and other Javanese ceremonies following the wedding celebration. They will also organise the wedding reception to give family and friends the opportunity to send their blessings to the newly wed couple.

In Indonesia there are many kind of wedding ceremony, for example in Java. Traditional Javanese wedding symbolizes the meeting between a beautiful woman and men of the mighty in a special atmosphere so that the men and women as they become "king and queen" a day. Marriage is usually held in homes of parents of women, parents of the woman who organized this wedding ceremony. The groom's wedding ceremony in order to help this can take place with both. Before the ceremony there are something to do: 1. If they have a match, the parents of male purpose the woman. From both parents have agreed to the marriage application. The woman parents, who will manage and prepare the marriage feast. Those who choose the device and form of marriage. Each model is different wedding makeup and clothes for the groom and bride. Both bride should plan to follow any order and weddings, as Peningsetan, splash of water, Midodareni, Panggih. 2. "Preparation"

All preparations must be made. In marriage it is the most dominant set the wedding ceremony is the way the shaman Pemaes the woman who became leader of the wedding, He was the makeup and clothing the groom and the bride of the different forms during the wedding reception. Because the wedding ceremony is a great show, so in addition to leading the Pemaes weddings, also formed a small committee consisting of close friends, families of both bride. 3. Usually one day before the wedding feast, the gate of the house decorated with a parent women Tarub (decoration plants), consists of the banana trees, bananas, sugar cane, fruit and coconut leaves Beringin which has the meaning that the pair will live well and happy wherever. Declaration of mutual love for one another and their families will be cared for. Decorating the other is prepared Mayang flowers, that is a bouquet that consists of a banana tree and coconut tree leaves. 4. "Siraman" "Siraman" or splash of water is the main of the festival, it is used to clean the soul. "Siraman" or Splash of water party is usually held in the afternoon, one day before the wedding. Splash of water held in the house of the parents of each. Splash of water is usually done in the bathroom or in the garden. Usually people who do splash of water that is close to parents and families. 5. "Midodareni ceremony" Usually, the woman must stay in the room from the afternoon until six o'clock and midnight accompanied by family or close female relatives. Usually they will give suggestions and advice. Family and close friend of the woman will visit, and all must be women. 6."Seserahan" Both families agree to the marriage. They will be the "besan". Family of the male visit the family of female and bring a gift. 7. "Ijab Kabul" Javanese usually speak of birth, marriage and death is the destiny of God. The ceremony is a consent requirement in the most important hallmark wedding. Implementation of final offer in accordance with the religion of the declaration. 8. "Panggih Ceremony" The meeting between the beautiful women and the handsome man in front of home in the tub with plants Tarub. The groom is between his family, arrived at the home of the parents and the woman stopped in front of the gate. The woman, in between two women who old, walk out of the room. Her parents and close family walk behind.

9. The women met with the groom. They approached each other, about three meters distance. They began to throw betel leaf with lime in it, together with white thread. They do so with passion and happiness, all the happy smiling people. According to ancient belief, betel leaves have the power to reject interference from the bad. Throw betel leaf with one another, is that they will try really a sincere person, not the devil or any other person who considers himself as a man or woman. 10. "Wiji dadi ceremony" The man turn the eggs with the right foot. The women wash the feet of men using water mixed with various flowers. Interpret it, that the groom is ready to become a father and a responsible husband and bride will faithfully serve her husband. 11. "Exchange ring" Exchange ring is a symbol of love. 12. "Dahar Kembul ceremony" The pair eat together and give to one another. First, the groom to make three small sphere of rice with the right hand and give it to the woman. After the women ate, he was doing the same for her husband. After they finished, they drink sweet tea. Delineate the ceremony that the couple will use and enjoy a happy life with one another. 13. "Sungkeman" Both bride prostration to please both parents for blessing prayer from their parents respectively. First woman to the parents, and parents to the groom. During Sungkeman on going, Pemaes take a "keris" from the groom. After Sungkeman, the groom wearing back the "keris". 14. "The Weddings" After the wedding ceremony is complete, the next end with weddings. Receive congratulation from the guests, and invitations. Maybe this part of the happiness to the bride with two guests, family and the invitation.