America is a big and diverse country with its population having different origins, religions, ethnicities, cultures, lifestyles, and preferences. There is no one “correct” way to perform a wedding by a New Jersey Wedding Officiant. Similarly, New Jersey also has people with diverse origins and traditions, and they want to leave their own stamp on their wedding ceremonies.
But there still are time-honored traditions and most New Jersey residents adhere to these traditions. At end of the day, whatever tradition or faith one may align with, a wedding ceremony celebrates a sacred union of two souls and ought to be a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Let me list a few common wedding traditions that I have observed as an experienced New Jersey Wedding Officiant.
Brides wear white wedding dress
Wearing a white wedding dress or gown is one of the most popular traditions of a wedding in New Jersey. The tradition actually has a historic significance. It has been practiced since the Victorian era. Queen Victoria, in the mid-1800s, used to wear a white dress made of British silk and lace at royal weddings. Since then, it has been captured in the public imagination. Besides, white also symbolizes chastity. Though in modern times, brides also like to accent their wedding with other colorful shades and accessories in their wedding dresses.
The wedding party as the witnesses to the event
The wedding party is yet another staple for any wedding ceremony. But do you know the wedding party’s origin goes back to the Ancient Roman tradition? Today brides or grooms have the right to choose who would be part of their wedding ceremony or who could be the bride maids. But this was not always the case, Earlier, it was mandatory to have at least 10 witnesses of the marriage and they necessarily did not mean to be the wedding couple’s close relatives or friends. Besides, the similar color-dressed women standing near the bride were to confuse the evil spirit and save the newlywed couples from them.
The wedding processional through the aisle
The wedding processional is also a common tradition in almost all marriages in New Jersey, Typically, a wedding processional starts with the New Jersey Wedding Officiant leading the processional, followed by the bride and groom walking along the aisle. Then the flower girls and ring bearers close in and the last to follow is the bride’s father in a traditional setting, but in modern times both the parents also walk the aisle. Again, this marriage processional traces its origin to the tradition started in England during a royal wedding, this time Queen Victoria’s oldest child.
The first dance of the couple
The first dance is the most anticipated event of a marriage ceremony. It is the first time that the couple enters as married partners. They nowadays choose the type of dance they want to perform from a slow customary dance to complex choreographed moves. The tradition started in the 1700s when royals and noblemen used to throw lavish parties and the guest of honor or the person with the highest rank or social standing would kick off the party with their dance move. Now, this responsibility has been shifted to the newlywed couple!
The wedding cake of the celebration
The wedding cake takes center stage in many wedding ceremonies. A beautiful cake embellished with accessories is kept in the center of the hall and the newly married couple cut the cake together and share a piece of cake. Becoming the main event of a marriage ceremony, a cake cutting event also turns into the smushed cake on the other’s face. In ancient Rome, guests use to crumble a small barley cake or a wheat scone over the bride’s head. It symbolized fertility and good fortune.
Throwing rice for the newlyweds
In many traditions, rice symbolizes prosperity and fertility. Guests used to throw rice and wheat after the couple when they got into their carriage to leave. Today we don’t see too many weddings where they throw rice but now rice has been replaced by blowing bubbles, waving sparklers, tossing dried lavender, or ringing bells all signifying good luck and happiness.
If you want to know more about the traditions and conventions of a wedding ceremony in New Jersey, ask our experts at Nautical Wedding Bells. We are the best New Jersey wedding Officiant.