Weddings In Rockford

Ethnic Wedding Traditions - Swedish

Before the bride leaves for the church, her mother gives her a gold coin to put in her right shoe, and her father a silver coin to put in her left.  This ritual is intended to suggest that she will never go without.  After the bride and groom have exchanged their vows, the new bride wears three bands on her wedding finger; her engagement, wedding and her third for motherhood.

Ethnic Wedding Traditions-Jewish

In a Jewish wedding, the bride's veil is a deeply symbolic part of the ceremony.  "Bedecking" involves the groom veiling his bride, and it takes place either before the ceremony or before the couple enters the chupah.  The ritual originates from Genesis 24:65.

Ethnic Wedding Traditions-Greek Orthodox

The "Dance of Isaiah" is performed by the bride and groom by walking around a central table or altar three times, while the best man follows behind holding crowns over their heads.  The priest leads the way, holding the Book of the Gospels, from which three hymns or blessings are chanted.  The unbroken circle represents eternity and the cross at the center represents Jesus Christ.

Ethnic Wedding Traditions-Indian (Hindu)

In some southern Indian marriages, the "seven steps" are an integral part of the ceremony.  The couple walks toward the south while the groom holds the bride's little finger.  In other parts of India, the groom holds the hand of the bride and leads her around the fire seven times.  With every step, a blessing is chanted to bring prosperity and harmony to the newlyweds.

Ethnic Wedding Traditions-Japanese

In a small ceremony(traditional Shinto style) before the wedding takes place, the priest cleans and blesses the four corners of the room, to honor the kami (the spirits of the natural world), and then lays rice paper down on the floor.  The bride and groom then come in, and sit or kneel before the priest who begins to recite prayers.

Ethnic Wedding Traditions-Latino

In Latino weddings, the gentlman always escorts the lady on his left arm because it puts her closest to his heart.  In Anglo tradtion, a gentleman escorts a lady on his right arm, that way he was able to draw his sword quickly if the need arose.  A gentlemans' sword was always on his left side.

The mother of the bride is escorted to her seat before the mother of the groom, symbolizing that she is the main hostess of the wedding.