Wedding Planning And Marriage

Bridal shower invitations provide guests with important information. Designing and sending those out is an important task. The bridal shower invitation etiquette demands for the execution of several major steps.

The invitation has to be aesthetically pleasing and informative enough. It sets the tone and it lets guests know what the party is all about. You need to do some preliminary work before designing and sending the invitations out. Knowing when to mail the cards and how to get RSVP information is essential, as well.

Finalize the Guest List
Before you start thinking about the design and invitation printing, you should focus on the guest list. It needs to be finalized and well-considered prior the next step.

In the beginning, you should simply sit down and write the names of all the people that the bride-to-be would love to see. Make sure you have a list of the wedding guest, in order to prevent embarrassing moments from happening.

Consult the bride-to-be, as well, unless you are throwing a surprise bridal shower. Inquire about the people she would love to see during the bridal shower. Edit the initial list you have created. Once you are done editing, you can move on to the next step.

Information to Include
The invitation needs to be both beautiful and informative. Think carefully about the bits of information to be included in it.

You will have to mention the type of party and the theme. Provide information about the venue. You can include a map or detailed directions if the place is difficult to find or in case you are expecting guests from another city.

The date and hour are essential bits of information, as well. Let guests know about the types of gifts that the bride-to-be will be expecting and whether she is registered anywhere. Finalize the presentation by including RSVP information.

These are all the essentials that the bridal shower invitation needs to contain. You can also include a creative line, a poem or fun quote that will set the tone and give guests a chance to understand whether the party will be elegant or more casual.

When to Send the Invitations?
The invitations need to be sent out early enough. Knowing who will be attending the party is important in terms of moving on with other preparation steps.

It will be most appropriate to send the invitations at least a month in advance. The earlier you decide to do it, the better. Early invitation sending gives guests a chance to respond on time and to get prepared.

The invitations can be sent out several weeks in advance, in case you are planning to have a small and very intimate bridal shower.

RSVP and Guest List Updates
Use the guest list to process the RSVP information. You can, for example, add a checkmark next to the names of the people who have confirmed their presence and a question mark next to the names of the people who have failed responding. You can then call potential guests who have failed to respond.

Once you have all of the RSVP information, you can finalize the guest list and move on to other important steps connected to the organization of the bridal shower party.

Misha Anatolia writes about relationships and party planning topics. If you are engaged and planning a bridal shower, then be sure to check out Misha’s articles on bridal shower invitation ideas and other bridal shower ideas.

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Panic stations! Red alert! Your wedding day is approaching, and the reality of walking down the aisle is sinking in. The ubiquitous cold feet have struck, and you are seriously considering growing a beard and running away to start a new life as a goat herder in Switzerland.

Stop booking those flights to Zurich. It?s perfectly natural for grooms to experience doubts about the long term commitment of marriage. But it doesn?t have to be a lonely burden. If you take the time to speak to married couples, more often than not they have both experienced the same fears you have now.

Perhaps you?re scared of losing the bachelor life style, fear you may have popped the question too soon, or maybe you are simply anxious about being the centre of attention at the wedding itself. Listed below are a few rules to keep you on the right path. And most importantly, keep you off that plane to Zurich.

Don?t spend every waking hour contemplating every possible mishap that could occur in a lifetime of marriage. Get outside and enjoy life. Play a round of golf with your pals, or release some tension by going paintballing. The more time you spend thinking about the big day, the more needless anxiety you will place on yourself.

Look Good, Feel Good

It may not be in your nature, but spending the morning of your big day getting pampered can really help. Feeling fresh will give you the boost in confidence you need to take your woman down the aisle. It?s almost a dead cert that your future wife will be spending a few hours in a health spa with friends, so why not follow her lead? A professional shave can instantly take you from hobo to hunk, and a professional massage will do wonders for pre-wedding nerves.

Go Crazy! (but not too crazy)

For many people, it is the fear of the day itself that gets to them. If you are a shy person, it is always a good idea to face a fear before the ceremony. In theory, if you can sky dive from 20,000 feet, walking down the aisle should be a piece of cake. There isn?t always time to do something quite that extreme on the morning itself, but other exhilarating activities such as sphereing or bungee-jumping really can take the fear factor away: you certainly wouldn?t be worrying about your speech when perched on the edge of a bungee platform!

Eat!

You may not feel like your usual blow-out, all-you-can-eat, full English but you do need to consume something to get you through the day. Most weddings are usually early afternoon time, which can make grabbing lunch tricky, so it?s best to stock up on the first meal of the day instead. Whilst planning and organisation skills aren?t always strengths of the male species, it?s a good time to pull out the stops and get your ushers and close family members together for a final bonding session.

The main point to make is that you are not alone. Millions of men throughout the world are in exactly the same boat as you. Not to get schmaltzy, but try to remember the reason you?re getting married in the first place. The love you share should be enough to persuade you that you have made the right choice. If not, I hear Switzerland is nice this time of year…

Written by Michelle Rider at Braxted Park Wedding Venue. Braxted Park is a licensed wedding venue in Essex, with capacity ranging from 50 to 300 guests. Braxted Park offers exclusive use for the day and boasts the highest level of service for wedding receptions in Essex.

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Your wedding could be the most special and memorable day of your life. As a result, you make every single effort to make it beautiful and unforgettable. When your wedding is finalized, from that really moment you start planning your wedding. Besides the hustle and bustle of wedding preparations, you may also be thinking concerning the best way to capture those lovely moments. The greatest challenge is usually to decide on from the varied and specialized wedding video services obtainable in the marketplace. Deciding on the top wedding photography and video service that suits your taste and budget is really a matter of appropriate planning and study.
Photography Style
There are a number of photography and video styles that you can pick from. In the event you prefer a modern day and unconventional style, you are able to opt for contemporary videos. If conventional style attracts you, then you are able to go for conventional photography and video. A blend of both classic and contemporary can also make for a distinctive style. Another widely accepted style in wedding video and photography is lifestyle portrait photography. Fashion video style is gaining great reputation inside the wedding circuit.
Producing a Selection
A church wedding photography may have a formal and standard flavor whereas a beach wedding will naturally break away from the classic appear. According to your style and the venue you pick to host your wedding, a wedding photographer can program your photo shoot in advance. The photographer may also go to the venue beforehand to decide on the most effective lighting and camera angle alternatives.
Preparing Your Photography and Video Session
You are able to strategy out a pre-wedding photo shoot just before the actual wedding ceremony. The booking can be completed on an hourly basis or for the whole day. You must talk about your budget along with other critical aspects of your wedding shoot just before finalizing the photographers. Some photographers offer excellent selection of albums with their photography package, which consist of amazing album covers in leather, silk, suede, and so on. They come in varied colours and prices, all crafted by talented artists. These albums might be customized as per your taste and preference. The cost of wedding photography packages vary from photographer to photographer according to their expertise, encounter and reputation.
Expert Videographers
Numerous skilled Photographers and Videographers are available in Australia. Many NSW wedding videographers offer their services all acrossAustralia. To make your wedding video Sydney a pleasurable encounter, they offer you specialized and customized services to suit your needs. You can browse by means of their Internet web site or check their portfolio to understand their video style.
Expert wedding photographers display their special method and aesthetic style to bring alive each and every moment at the wedding. Some blend journalistic and classic style while other people prefer contemporary photography employing reportage style images. Some function by way of mobile studios which can be created available as per your convenience. It is possible to e-mail them or call them and fix an appropriate date to discuss your specifications.
Passion for Wedding Photography
For some photographers, wedding photography is actually a passion. It’s their way of life. They continue to entice their customers with an artistic and modern touch in their photographs. They infuse plenty of passion into their photography to capture the true emotion and excitement of your special day. Be it a candid image of your beloved and you, or be it a loved ones photo or an image with pals, all shots are captured to make your wedding a memorable 1.

Onscreen Video Productions is a Sydney wedding video company. Each wedding video DVD we produce has it’s own unique style.Our passion and flair for wedding video production guarantees our wedding videos Sydney are of the highest quality.

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Source: http://bibika.articlealley.com/wedding-video-sydney–how-to-get-the-best-wedding-videos-2394355.html

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Asia is a land rich in literally thousands of cultures, all of which have their own traditions-especially when it comes to weddings. Each country, from Indonesia to Japan, Thailand to Korea all have customs and traditions each unique ad their own. Asia?s land mass is surrounded by oceans and mountains, making it breathtakingly beautiful, no matter where you are. Asian marriage traditions are also as unique as the landscape. They don?t simply connect the bride to the groom, but family to family. Wedding traditions in Asia are as varied as the many cultures and countries that make up the continent.

Let?s look at 5 customary traditions for brides-to-be in Asia.
1. In Japan, many brides wear kimonos embroidered with purple flowers because purple represents love. Most ceremonies are in the Shinto religion where the natural spirits are asked to bless the couple?s union. In traditional Buddhist ceremonies, a beaded string is braided together which symbolizes the two families becoming one.

2. In countries like India that have a Hindu culture, it?s bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other before the wedding and couples go to great lengths to avoid each other for days leading up to the ceremony. During the marriage service itself, it?s tradition for the bride?s parents to wash the feet of the bride and groom in milk and water. This is a symbolic act of purification to prepare the newlyweds for their life together. The couple will also hold items in their hands while the ceremony goes on ? grains of rice, oats, and leaves, which stand for wealth, health, and happiness.

3. Gowns worn by Chinese brides are not white. Chinese believe that white symbolizes death. So, brides in this Asian country wear vivid red which is thought to bring luck to the newlywed. In addition to the bride wearing red, she will also typically have designs in her gown depicting phoenixes and flowers to symbolize wealth and fortune. The Chinese groom will don a black silk coat over an embroidered robe with a dragon on it. Firecrackers are set off during the wedding to ward off any evil spirits. Afterwards, expect a feast of roasted pig, a gift from the groom?s family.

4. Back in the days in the Philippines, an intended groom would throw a large spear onto the front of the bride?s house to show that she belonged to him. Today, the Filipinos stick to the more western tradition of a gold engagement ring. Although most Filipinos are of the Catholic religion now, some still follow traditions of old where the wedding lasts three day, with the couple declaring their love for each other each day and then finally being bound together with a chord to symbolize the final rite of marriage.

5. In Korea, they go all out on the wedding festivities. Oftentimes, a palm reader or fortune teller will be hired to gaze into the couple?s future before they actually take their vows in order to see if they will live happily ever after. Because Korean weddings are so expensive and extravagant, they really want to make sure it?s forever before signing the check for the party.

As you can see, wedding traditions and customs in Asia are as varied as the countries themselves. Above everything else, all cultures seem to stress the importance of family, and they bless the couple, their new union, and their new life together?two hearts joining as one. And isn?t that what it?s all about?

Misha Anatolia writes about love and marriage and enjoys a happy ending. If you are engaged and planning a bridal shower, then be sure to check out Misha’s articles on bridal shower decorating and other bridal shower ideas.

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When it comes to wedding invitations, there are certain questions that are asked quite frequently. The goal of this article is to briefly answer several of them: Where to buy invitations for a wedding? Local bridal shops and printers have always made available to brides and grooms the big wedding invitation books that they can browse through or maybe even take home for a short time. Thanks to the Internet, the convenience of online wedding invitation shopping is becoming a well known choice with many websites to order from. You can browse their large online selections when it fits YOUR schedule. Shopping for wedding invitations no longer mandates that you physically visit a store to place and pick up your order. Be sure to reassure yourself on your final design selection since you are buying online by ordering samples before making your final choice and then requesting an online proof before placing your entire order, even if there is a small charge. How to print your own wedding invitations? There are many options when it comes to making your own invitations, from complete handmade kits to online templates and software programs using a computer printer. The question is will you truly save money or create more stress once you figure in all the time you will be spending making them on your own. Believe it or not, there are beautiful designs available from professional printers that are very affordable and time-saving since they do the tedious setup and printing while you wait for them to be delivered right to your door. How to write wedding invitations? The most important details that need to be listed in your wording are your names as the wedding couple; time of your ceremony, day of the week, month, date and year; and the location’s name and address. Depending on available space, your reception time and location may or may not be printed as part of your actual invitation. A separate card can be enclosed to share your reception details if space is limited. Whether you, the wedding couple, are paying for the wedding or parents are, that determines who is listed as hosting or inviting guests.The option of listing the names of parents who aren’t hosting is up to you. Any special wording or verse is up to you since there is an abundance of samples available online. How to address wedding invitations? Addressing invitations really depends on how many envelopes will be used to mail each one. Traditionally, they came with inner and outer envelopes. The inner envelope contains all the invitation pieces and is left unsealed. The outside is addressed to the names of the specific invited guests from that household. The outer envelope being the actual mailing envelope shows the formal names and address. More modern wedding invitations now include only one mailing envelope so all specific guest names should appear on there along with the address. Some invitations don’t actually come with a mailing envelope but instead have an outside wrap that folds around the invitation pieces to become its own mailing piece. If you are looking to follow proper addressing etiquette, the ink color and handwriting should be the same even if there are multiple envelopes. Non-professional titles such as Mrs., Mr., Jr., etc., are the only acceptable abbreviations. All numbers should appear in numeric format. It is also suggested that all hand addressing be done before the envelopes are stuffed. Remember to include a return address either when your invitations are printed or as you are addressing them. When to mail wedding invitations? It is suggested that invitations should be mailed a minimum of 4-6 weeks before your wedding date directly at a Post Office location and all at the same time. This is unless your wedding is planned around a holiday or if it will take place at an away destination. In these cases, guests will appreciate having more time to plan and possibly make necessary travel arrangements. You may even consider sending out save the date cards 4-6 months ahead of your invitations to give guests even more preparation time.
These are typically the most common questions that we have covered here about wedding invitations. There are many more resources you will find online that will be helpful as you shop for, design, order, assemble, address, and mail your wedding invites.

For many more tips and online shopping of invitations for a wedding, you can visit PrintedCreationsWeddingstore.com. Visit their wedding invitations blog for weekly tips and ideas.

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Not everyone has the spending power of wealthy famous people who may have luxurious wedding marquees for a wedding celebration. So, what might you do to make sure you get a great deal for your marquee hire price? Here are some tips on how to cut a little off marquee hire prices.

1.Look Around
Get hold of quotes from up to six marquee providers so you can get an understanding who seems to be providing the best prices. Nevertheless be certain that you’re comparing like for like. Decide on the marquee hire supplier carefully in order to find a professional company.

2.Keep Away From Peak Weekends
Lots of people choose to get wed in the UK on weekends at the end of May, June and July, which frequently coincide with popular public events with a resulting general shortage of marquees and consequently greater marquee hire prices. If you need to have a summer wedding party then go for August when discounted prices on marquee hire can be had. Or, why don’t you have a spring wedding marquee in early or mid May? Or even an autumn wedding, when October is often quiet for the marquee industry. A marquee may be transformed for a winter wedding celebration when the largest savings can be made on marquee hire prices.

3.Book Early On
Marquee hire companies prefer to plan their particular timetable well in advance and have as many of the weekends for the next year as is feasible booked early. Consequently, many offer you early booking discounts in the event you book over 1 year in advance. Not only can you receive a great saving on their standard prices but you will even lock in your price and safeguard yourself from inflationary rises in fuel and labour. Ensure that you look at small print to be sure the price you agree is fixed at the point of booking.

4.Book a Marquee Hire Package Deal and Stick to it
There are actually popular marquee sizing’s and combinations of accessories that many marquee hire providers present as fixed wedding marquee bundles which will include the marquee, carpet, linings, swags and drapes, chandelier lighting, furniture, dance floor, chair covers and sashes, and table linen. Don?t put accessories on at the last minute. It’s the entrance porches, separate bar marquees and outdoor furniture choices that will bump up the marquee hire price.

5.Take Advantage of the Marquee Area
It’s not unusual to have late changes to your wedding guest numbers and that usually means extra people instead of less. It?s not always needed to increase the size of the marquee. You can easily play about with the marquee plan and squeeze an extra small amount of dining tables to the dining area, or put them on the dance floor and take them away before the evening disco gets under way. Doing this you will simply pay for extra furniture rather than additional bays to the marquee.

6.Don’t Always Use the favorite Service provider of a Wedding Venue
All too often wedding venues will point you toward their favorite marquee supplier. But, normally they will do this to suit them, not you. When a marquee provider has regularly built there then your wedding venue can feel more comfortable. But, an established organization is not going to think it is a disadvantage to build a marquee at a new venue. They will carry out a detailed site visit anyway and by using a company that is wanting to build a relationship with a brand new venue you can receive a much better deal. Ask the venue if you’re able to use your own provider, virtually all will say “yes”, as it is often their site hire fee that they are interested in.

Try a few of these recommendations and I?m sure you will get a marquee hire price to fit your budget. Of course, if you select your marquee supplier properly you should have a problem free marquee wedding reception.

If you are planning a wedding with a marquee reception then visit http:/www.myweddingmarquee.com today to learn how to get the best marquee hire prices and for useful wedding marquee hire advice!

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Indian Wedding industry is not making news these days but is also attracting eyes balls from across the globe. Popularly know as Great Indian Wedding is not only a $ 20 Billion industry but is also considered as an integral party of our society, Today I will discuss a small experience with you that not only changed my way of looking at the Indian marriages but will help you understand the reason as to why it is called as Great Indian Wedding.

It was summer of 2010 when one of my friends was getting married and I had no plan to visit him as it was no where around my house and it was being planned in his ancestral village 30 km from Delhi where I live. But then we all know how difficult is it to say No to your close friend especially when you know it is his marriage. And finally I decided to travel through all the odds any say ?ALL THE BEST MY FRIEND IN YOUR MARRIED LIFE?. But know little about the surprise that were in store for me. I along with my two other friends reached the village that is little known to we who live in Delhi, my expectation were very little, I know I will have to settle for a small dump room and will have to share with other friends but all my expectation were shattered to pieces as their was a small cart waiting for on the Bus station some 5 km from his house, to my surprise it said ?Welcome ?? with my name and my friends name. I was filled with joy as the cart was a typical old fashioned one with bulls pulling it I had never travelled in one ever, when I reached and was just wondering that this is so well planned and will look so stupid to get down from it and go to a dump cold room to sleep but little I knew the arrangement for our stay was made in an artificially built tent houses in a Banjara style with lanterns for light and all close friend staying close by it looked like a different world.

The whole experience was so pleasing and wonderful that I have no words to describe. Even the traditional haldi rasam in which women of my friend?s family applied turmeric paste to his body was so well arranged that I guess I had not imagined it that way. He was at center and we all had uplifted seats where we could sit and laugh at our friend where as women were sitting at the center and applying the turmeric paste. And after the ceremony was completed the place was ready for us to serve food to village.

I was wondering what was it that made a marriage look so beautiful in a village like this, I know it was not just an effort but something else that made it such a big success. I could not help myself and asked my friend that how did he managed to get every thing work in such a great fashion the answer was simple wedding planner. What? How can you get a wedding planner in such a remote area? Well the answer is simple with growing business and demand of customers wedding planner are not only limited to just big cities only it has made it self available even to those who are willing to use their services in such remote area and we all know how important is marriage to we Indians and we generally have one marriage in our life, Well Generally, many have done it multiple times but I still guess generally we have one in a life time so why not make it grand irrespective of where we want it to be. Hat off to those wedding planner those made my friends marriage such a success. Not only wedding planners planned my friend?s marriage but they also helped him to cut down the unnecessary expenses with their expert advices. Wedding planning has at least given me a lesson that leaves the job to the experts and enjoys the occasion.

With the help of fnpweddings you can well decorate your wedding decorations. It also offers wedding flowers and decoration for any party.

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In Sindhi community, there are special priests known as Mehraj, specializing in matchmaking and a Guryanni, who is mainly known for carrying the horoscopes of eligible boys and girls from house to house.

Sindhi weddings usually take place on an auspicious day, like all other Hindu Indian weddings. It is believed that the Satyanarayan Chandsi and the New Moon day are some of the most preferred days. In this article let us explore the rituals followed by the Sindhis in general.

The Sindhi customs mostly begin right from the time the prospective bride and the groom’s family agree to the union, after matching the horoscopes of the two. A priest then fixes the date of wedding and both the families engage themselves in preparations and organizations for the marriage.

Kachchi Misri & Pakki Mishri Ceremony is the first pre wedding ritual conducted before marriage. Kachchi Misri, an informal engagement between the groom and the bride,where they are given coconuts and mishri as a symbolic acceptance that she/he is the one who belongs to the other family. One week prior to the wedding, the Pakki Mishri takes place.This refers to the formal engagement ceremony where rings are exchanged between the couple either in a temple or home in the presence of the priest.

Berana marks the start of the wedding ceremonies and is usually organized ten days before the wedding. Dev Bithani is conducted five to six days before the wedding after which the bride and groom are not allowed leave their homes. Ainars(marriage guards) are appointed to them who are generally their brother-in-laws.

Tih is conducted a day before the marriage where a priest, sent over by the girl’s family who conducts puja with the groom to the Lord Ganesha.

Saanth/Wanwas is Conducted separately in the homes of the bride and the groom a day before the wedding. As part of this event seven married women pour oil in the center of the head of the groom/bride after which they wear a new shoe on their right foot and try to break an earthern lamp with it. If the groom/bride succeeds, it is considered a good omen.

Next is the mehndi night where the ladies of the bride’s house sit together and beautify the bride. Sounds of music and dancing will be filling the air during this event. There will also be a sangeet party as part of this event celebrated with drinks and dance.

Saagri is a ritual, involves showering the bride with flowers to bless her. In the night the groom visits the bride’s house where he is showered with garlands. A feast is held for the family. Ghari and Navgrahi puja are some of the quite a long procedural pujas held simultaneously before the wedding day at the respective homes of the bride and the groom.

The wedding day begins the Haldi ceremony. This is followed by both the bride and the groom, this involves the family members pouring oil and haldi all over the body and hair as a form of purification.

Sindhi weddings take place either in a temple, a gurudwara or a marriage hall. A mild screen is placed between the bride and the groom when they sit for the ceremony, as they are not supposed to see each other’s face. They are asked to place their feet in a plate and it is believed that the partner whose feet is higher, will be the dominating one. Then the bride’s mother washes their feet with milk and the pundit begins the religious chants. Shortly, the sheet is removed and the married couple take seven perambulations, conducted as per vedic rites around the sacred fire.

The last of the Sindhi wedding rituals, Saptapadi is performed when the couple places their right foot on seven small piles of rice. Afterwards, they touch the feet of the elders to seek their blessings.

After the wedding, the bride and the groom arrive separately by different routes to the home. As they approach the house, drums are beaten to announce their arrival. The new bride on arrival sprinkles milk in all corners of the house, following which she places a handful of salt in her husband’s hand. This is with the belief that just as the salt mixes with everything and becomes invisible, the bride too mingle with her new family and become one with them.

The groom’s family holds a reception on the evening following the wedding. Traditionally, after a short visit by the bride’s father to her in-laws’ house, the couple, at an auspicious time fixed by the priest, pays a visit to the paternal home of the bride.

The author is a Matrimony Research Analyst(MRA) in Arathy.com Matrimonials. http://www.arathy.com is one of the leading online matrimonial services provider in asia adding over 3000 profiles every month. It has brides and grooms from over 32 countries across the world. Register at www.arathy.com to view 1000s of brides and grooms.

This article was intitially published at http://arathymatrimony.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-marriages-happen-sindhi-community.html

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Muslim marriages can be conducted in different ways, depending on the culture in which they are arranged. Muslim marriages are generally arranged by the parents, with the bride and groom themselves having the final say about who they will wed. Due to this fact the online matrimonial sites play a vital role to help the parents to find best match for their son or daughter.

The following are some of the examples of the impact on the muslim marriage rituals due to the native cultural values. Muslim Marriages in India predominantly follows the Islamic conventions followed by the middle east. It is believed that this is because the tradition was predominantly passed on by the Moghul rulers who ruled India for long time. In China the wedding happens with a Kuomintang flag in the background. Marriages in Muslims in China resembles typical Chinese wedding, excluding the Chinese religious rituals. Marriages among Muslim communities in the Philippines include the Tausug tribe, a group of people in Jolo who practice matrimonial activities based on their own ethnic legislation and the laws of Islam. Their customary and legal matrimony is composed of negotiated arranged marriage, marriage through the game of abduction , and elopement.

Though in the recent years the registration of the marriage is the legal approval for marriage, in Islam the Islamic ceremony is considered the most important than the legal agreement through registry office. Islam allows a man to have more than one wife at the same time as for as he can support them without compromising other partner. Women are also allowed to marry a different partner after a divorce. It has to be noted that though divorce allowed it is the least that god likes.

The article hereafter will look into the generic Islamic wedding ceremonies. The ‘Nikah’ Urdu word for marriage is a grand event celebrated over a five day period replete with rituals and customs. A Muslim wedding can happen at any time of the day and there is no such thing as ‘auspicious time’. The wedding ceremony usually takes place either in the bride’s or the groom’s house. But nowadays for want of space, it is conducted in marriage halls.

In all the arranged marriages a financial deal(Mahar) needs to be agreed with the prospective wife before marriage. It is intended that this Mahar is specifically given to the bride to spend how ever she wishes. In most of the cases, the bride spends on the family welfare. It has to be noted that even if the bride spends all the Mahar on her own, the husband has the responsibility to look after the wife and the family.

Though the wedding is given a high ritual values, people from all religious denominations can be invited to the wedding as guests.

On the day of wedding the bride wears a sparkling colourful dress. This differs based on the native culture. In the western world bride prefer white dress. In any case the groom goes for a traditional simple dress. The Nikaah or wedding ceremony can be conducted at the home of the bride or the groom, or at any other convenient venue. A Maulvi (priest) in the presence of close family members and relatives conducts the ceremony. In orthodox Muslim communities, the men and women are seated separately. The ‘Walis’ (the father of the bride and of the bridegroom) play an important role in the ceremony. The Maulvi reads selected verses from the Quran and the Nikaah is complete after the Ijab-e-Qubul (proposal and acceptance). The boy’s side proposes and the girl’s side conveys her assent. The mutual consent of the bride and groom is of great importance for the marriage to be legal. The ceremony ends with a prayer (Duoa) for the bride and groom, their families, and the Muslim community at large.

Dinner is a lavish spread. Usually, the women and the men dine separately. After dinner, the newly-weds sit together for the first time. Their heads are covered by a dupatta while they read prayers under the direction of the maulvi. The Quran is placed between the couple and they are allowed to see each only through mirrors.

After the wedding ceremony, the bride is brought to the house of her new husband. In the house the bride will be welcomed by her mother-in-law who will be holding a copy of the Quran over the bride’s head.

A lavish wedding reception is arranged after the wedding is known as the Dawat-e-walima. It is a joyous occasion that brings together the two families, their relatives and other well-wishers.

The author is a Matrimony Research Analyst(MRA) in Arathy.com Matrimonials. http://www.arathy.com is one of the leading online matrimony services provider in asia adding over 3000 profiles every month. It has brides and grooms from over 32 countries across the world. Register at www.arathy.com to view 1000s of brides and grooms.

This article was intitially published at http://arathymatrimony.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-marriages-happen-muslim-community.html

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The Maharashtrian Wedding Rituals follow the typical Hindu wedding rituals. Matchmaking in Maratha community is done within the community only. Once a girl or a boy becomes eligible for marriage, the parents start looking for the right choice among the people they know. The parents use marriage bureaus and matrimonial services to give advertisements for wide selection procedure. Horoscope plays a major role in deciding the match between the bride and groom. The stars should match in order to proceed further in the process.

Maharashtrian Weddings are performed in proper traditional way and all the rituals are performed by a priest. Each stage the wedding rituals are more of a homely affair than a stormy show.

Marathi bridal costume is very unique. The Maharashtrians believe that green is the auspicious color. So, the bride usually wear a green saree during the wedding ceremony. Also green glass bangles are worn by the bride.

As pre wedding rituals include Wang Nischay, Mahurat, Bangdi Bharan and Mehendi. Wang Nischay is the formal engagement ceremony. Bangdi Bharan is a unique ritual to maharastrian, where the bangle seller is called to the bride’s home and he is offered edible leaves, a coconut and a coin. Though Mehendi is not a traditional maharastrian event it is becoming a part of the rituals now a days.

A day before the actual wedding, it is essential for the bride and groom to take sandal and turmeric bath individually at their houses.Turmeric is a very positive ingredient and it acts as a kind of beautifying and purifying process. In case, the muhurta is at the evening, then this will takes place in the morning of the actual wedding day.

When the wedding day approaches, the following rituals are performed viz., Ganesh Puja, Seeman Puja and Gowrihar Puja. Seeman Pooja is a very traditional practice in which the girl’s parents welcoming the groom. As part of this even the bride’s father and mother wash the feet of the groom. At this point, the bride’s family may present the groom the gifts like the ring, watch, gold chain, etc.

Gouri-Har pooja is performed by the bride as the groom has his meal as a part of the Rukhvat ceremony. The bride worships the goddess Gauri.

Antarpaat ceremony is performed to separate the bride and groom until the actual moment of their marriage. The antarpaat served as a final curtain before they were revealed to each other.The bride and groom hold a garland, which they continue to hold throughout the ceremony. At the end of this ceremony the bride and groom exchange garlands. A traditional Marathi wedding involves the tying of the mangalasutra, the sacred necklace around the bride’s neck by the groom. The wedding rituals end up with the Karmasamapti, the concluding ceremony. This is also followed by the akshata, where rice grains mixed with a little kumkum is sprinkled on the newly weds along with some specific mantras. The wedding is completed with an arathy.

Post wedding, a grand feast and reception takes place where the new couple serve sweets to the guests. Grihapravesh is a general hindu ritual in many communities which is followed by maratha community as welll. It involves to bring the newly wed to their new home where the mother of the groom welcomes them on the threshold of the house and washes their feet with water and milk followed by an Aarti.

The author is a Matrimony Research Analyst(MRA) in Arathy.com Matrimonials. http://www.arathy.com is one of the leading online matrimonial services provider in asia adding over 3000 profiles every month. It has brides and grooms from over 32 countries across the world. Register at www.arathy.com to view 1000s of brides and grooms.

This article was intitially published at http://arathymatrimony.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-marriages-happen-hindu-maratha.html

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