American Weddings

Student guest blogger Lydia gives us an insight into a few American traditions.

Recently I travelled to San Francisco to be a bridesmaid in a very American wedding. Whilst many elements of the ceremony and reception were similar to a British wedding, it is easy to distinguish between American and British weddings. The subtle differences were a new experience for me, and I think some would be interesting to incorporate into our own weddings over here.

THE DRY RUN

First off, in America, on the night before the wedding, a rehearsal dinner is held. I love this idea because it makes everyone feel more comfortable on the wedding day. It is a formal introduction of the two families, a chance for them to get to know each other before the actual ceremony. The guests at the dinner are usually close friends and relatives, much more relaxed in comparison to the wedding day itself. The rehearsal dinner was also an opportunity for speeches, from the best men and friends (something we English had not prepared for!)

SPEECHES FREE FOR ALL

Whilst we all love a good speech, our American cousins differ from our usual block format, on the wedding day, at the top table after the wedding breakfast. You never knew when the next speech was going to be, or if any speeches would actually take place at the wedding itself. The father of the groom said his speech at the rehearsal dinner while the father of the bride said his at the drinks reception!

MORE HATS SIR!

One thing I noticed was missing from the wedding guest’s attire was the prevalence of hats. In Britain it’s almost mandatory to wear a hat to a wedding but this tradition seemed to be overlooked in the US. I think hats are festive yet elegant, and always add a touch of fun and flair to an outfit. If you’re ever wondering whether to wear a hat to a wedding and stick with the British tradition-the answer is yes!

A BIT MORE COLOUR…

However, not following tradition can be fun and add personality to a wedding. In San Francisco, the bridesmaids wore short, black dresses with multi coloured shoes and matching nails. The maid of honour still wore black, but had a different dress and shoes. This completely differs from the usual matching bridesmaid dresses we see. Why not mix things up and have some colourful quirky touches?

SNAPS BEFORE CHAT

The wedding photographs in the US are taken before the ceremony, allowing the wedding couple time to enjoy the drinks reception with their guests. In the UK, the photos are after the ceremony as it is tradition for the couple to not see each other before walking down the aisle!

MAKING YOUR ENTRANCE

The ceremony itself was fab. Each bridesmaid walked down the aisle partnered with a groomsman before the entrance of the bride and groom. Unfortunately I didn’t see this wedding which brings a smile to my eye every time…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Whether you groove down the aisle like Jill and Kevin, or wander down in a slightly more traditional way, the wedding party then end up standing either side of the bride and groom throughout the ceremony unlike in England, where they sit down. It’s certainly a nice tradition having your closest friends and family standing by your side in support of the wedding.

YOU SAY POTATO…

The couple chose to have a seafood buffet. The meal is often the focal point of a reception however having a buffet throughout the evening leaves more time for everything else. American weddings tend to be later in the day and so casual dining allows more time for socialising and dancing! Having fewer tables at the reception encouraged everyone to get on the dance floor - which was definitely a perk, and lets face it, there is nothing worse than an empty dance floor…

So, from my experience, both British and American weddings are great fun and have interesting traditions. Nowadays, however, couples seem to be incorporating the traditions that suit them and that can only be a good thing…

Whether your wedding was true to your culture or a mix with your own style, we’d love to hear about it! Have you noticed any other differences in weddings from around the world?

By Lydia Buffery - guest blogger at Wasing