There are as many different wedding ceremonies in world history as there are cultures, religions, and possibly brides. Technically, a couple may not really need a wedding ceremony. And yet, no one sends out invitations so everyone can come watch them sign some legal documents. There is a thrill to pretending that wedded life begins when someone says "I now pronounce you husband and wife" even if we all know that legally speaking it began with a signature a little earlier.
The wedding ceremony has a great deal of cultural significance. I cannot cover every culture's version, so I’m going to do a sample of only three: a pagan Roman ceremony, a Hindu ceremony from rural India, and then the evolution of the English ceremony that evolved into the one you've seen in countless Hollywood movies and maybe attended in person as well.
Visit the website (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures.
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