The Changing World of Weddings: A Comprehensive Report

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving world of weddings, examining the historical influences, cultural impacts, and legal changes that shape modern marriage ceremonies. It explores the shift in wedding venues from traditional churches to destination weddings and unique locations, reflecting the increasing demand for creativity and individuality. The report delves into Western wedding traditions, including fertility cakes, white veils, bouquet tosses, bridesmaids, rice showers, and hand-fasting ceremonies. It also addresses how societal changes, such as evolving family dynamics, same-sex marriages, and divorce regulations, influence wedding planning. Furthermore, the report emphasizes the importance of understanding diverse cultural perspectives on marriage and how these perspectives impact wedding traditions worldwide. The conclusion highlights the need for wedding planners to adapt to changing stakeholder expectations and incorporate both tradition and modernity to create memorable and personalized wedding experiences.

Running head: CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author's Note:

1CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Executive summary
This report has analyzed the changing world of wedding that mandates the wedding planners to
know more about the cultures and traditions followed and understand the demand of the
stakeholders. The wedding from the beginning of the human civilization has been considered
important as this is the legal process of propagation and continuing life on the earth. Despite the
fact that all the marriage ceremonies are based on the religious platforms but the traditions and
celebrations are direct due to different culture. This is the reason why the couples expect
something memorable in their special day and ask to incorporate creativity by the wedding
planners. This report has discussed history of wedding, changing idea of venues, traditions and
changing legal situation of wedding.

2CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Table of Contents
Introduction:....................................................................................................................................4
Historical influences on wedding practices:....................................................................................4
Amazing venues for wedding:.........................................................................................................5
Traditions in most western weddings:.............................................................................................5
Changes, creativity and individuality in recent weddings:..............................................................6
Legal changes in western wedding ceremony:................................................................................7
Cultural impact on wedding:...........................................................................................................7
Conclusion:......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

3CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Introduction:
The aim of this report is to discuss the importance of knowledge of the wedding planner
regarding different ways of weddings in different cultures as well as at different times. As the
marriage has been performed in every culture from the ancient times, it has historical influence
that has become the traditions identifying different cultural background. With changing
perspectives of the couples, the location, fashions and themes of the weddings have changes so
that the weddings can have the creativity and individuality incorporated in the weddings. All of
these depend on the efficiency and planning of the wedding planner who effectively arrange all
the associated objects for perfect celebration of the wedding. There are some contemporary
issues in relation to marriage and weddings which have been detailed in this particular report.
For these reasons, the responsibilities of the wedding planners are increasing in recent times.
Historical influences on wedding practices:
Wedding in the world has a log and in-depth history that reflect upon the socio-cultural
structure of the communities as well as region. The wedding traditions are different in different
countries. Each of these traditions has particular symbol and connotations that connect the
families and communities associated with the wedding. In Australia the history of wedding has
indigenous references. The smoking ceremony and stone ceremony are somewhat aboriginal
tradition in the country but these have been replaced by the western Christian culture of wedding
(Pelikan, 2018). In other parts of the world like China, India and the countries of middle east
have different rituals with wedding. Most of these are related with the religion and geographical
situation of the countries. However, wedding is practices in all the species be it civilized or
uncivilized and granted to be one of the most important customs for maintaining population
balance in the society.

4CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Amazing venues for wedding:
Traditionally, the Christian weddings used to take place within the church where the
members of the families and other relatives used to gather but now a days, the couples are
preferring different places for wedding. Most of the western high budget wedding are taking
place in distant places which is referred as destination wedding. In this regard also, the
importance of venue selection and presenting them becomes challenging for the wedding
planners (Halpenny, 2016). According to the new trends of searching wedding values, the
couples are showing some preferences such as historic venue, hotels, restaurant receptions,
covered rooftops, translucent tents, different views, vaulted ceilings and houses of worship. The
main trend in this present context has become the destination wedding. The big budget couples
are trying to visit new places which can be sea shore, memorable buildings, historical places and
mountainous regions (Cohen, 2018). These are quite unique that make their wedding special. In
addition to this, they asking for creating theme according the natural beauty of the destination.
Therefore, the wedding planners are trying to offer destination wedding preferred by the
customers.
Traditions in most western weddings:
For arranging proper western marriage, the wedding planners get an ample amount of
customs and traditions which the couples celebrate during their wedding. First of these traditions
of western marriage is re fertility and good fortune cake which is associated with luck and wealth
in the western wedding culture. Secondly, the bride is expected to wear white vail with wedding
dress to hide face so that groom does not change his mind. According to western culture, this is
also used to keep the evil spirits away from the couple. Thirdly the bouquet Toss is essential in
the western wedding ceremony which is considered to be the good luck token for the unmarried.

5CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Fourthly, the importance of bridesmaids in the wedding have increased with time. Historically,
these women were needed to be unmarried who mainly protected the bride from evil by dressing
same as the bride and to confuse others (Carter, 2016). Now a days, these bridesmaids throw
bridal shower as well as bachelorette party, help the family members with the wedding set-up
and offer emotional support to bride before the wedding.
Another most important tradition celebrated in the western wedding is the rice shower
which has historical as well as symbolic connotations. Initially the tradition aimed to bless the
couples with fertility as rise is the symbol of crops in one hand and dissuade the birds from the
couples. Now a days, the guests shower candy, nuts, confetti and flower petals over the couples.
In the Indian wedding also, this tradition of throwing of rice and flower can be seen. Another
tradition in western wedding is associated with the hand fastening of the couples during marriage
that symbioses the marriage engagement. This tradition dates back to the ancient Celts and
spread all over the world through British (Johnston, 2015). In the Asian weddings also, this ritual
of hand fasting is seen. Finally, the tradition of giving away the bride by her father to her soon to
be husband has centuries of history. It initially referred to the giving away responsibilities of the
bride to her man who will protect and support her. With changing time and changing
perspectives regarding women rights and activities, this giving away ceremony by the father is
considered to be the confirmation of blessings to the daughter.
Changes, creativity and individuality in recent weddings:
With the change of social and cultural outlook in the western countries regarding
marriage, the instances of creativity and uniqueness can be seen in the recent weddings. First of
them is the selecting the venue. In this regard many of the couples are now preferring for
destination wedding where the wedding planners along with teams visit the place selected to

6CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
celebrate marriage away from their home (Halpenny, 2016). In recent time, destination wedding
has become vogue as this makes the marriage wonderful and memorable. This make the wedding
more special as this take the bridegroom away from their place and let them explore as well as
enjoy the setting completely unknown. Moreover, destination wedding allows the couple to
incorporate the culture of that place during their marriage (Taplin, Nguyen, & Lee, 2016). The
wedding planners also get new themes and amazes the guests. Now a days, the couple are
demanding the dresses and fashions perfectly matching the theme of the wedding so that this
adds to the creativity more.
Legal changes in western wedding ceremony:
Changing time and perception of the societies regarding wedding has affected the
demands of the couples for wedding planning. These stakeholders are having changing family
dynamic as the definition of family and responsibilities or role of the women in a family is
constantly changing. The wedding planners are focusing in the female workforce dynamics and
increasing same sex marriages in the western marriage culture. These are transforming the views
of the people regarding cohabitation and marriage, wedding rates, divorce and intercultural or
interfaith marriages (Fetner & Heath, 2016). The regulations and acts supporting the same sex
marriage and recognizing any type of marriages equal have incurred the creativity and
individuality of the wedding planners. Moreover, the regulations worldwide regarding the
arrange of the divorcees have become more open which is completing the wedding planners to
rethink the receptions and ideas. They are now amalgamating tradition with modernity in the
perfect presentation of marriage.

7CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
Cultural impact on wedding:
As mentioned before, the process and traditionality of wedding has been changing with
the change of perspectives of the people in the societies. The traditionality associated with the
marriage are different in different cultures. Most of the weddings in this world is particularly
associated with the religion as this plays a vital part in the development of the culture. All the
wedding around the world. From the time immemorial, people have seen marriage to be the
connection between two families, cultures, societies and sometimes countries. In the ancient
times, marriage was considered to be the treaty among kings as their daughters were seen to be
the property. Now the perspectives have changed, the legalities and customs of different cultures
supporting marriage has changed (Halpenny, 2016). In the modern era, culture does not see
marriage as treaty or commitment but allow the couple to lead their lives freely. Initially there
were some essential traditions in every culture that aimed of protect the couple from misfortune
and evil now with tome the strictness of those customs has loosened allowing more space for
enjoyment and experience of the couples.
Conclusion:
Therefore, it can be concluded that there are different cultures in the world which
effectively impact on the traditions of their marriage. This is the reason why the wedding
planners effectively arrange all the associated materials and people for the perfect celebration of
the wedding. However, in the recent times the demand of the stakeholders in the wedding have
changed as the outlook and style of celebration of the marriages have changed a lot.
Traditionally, the western Christian marriages used to take place in the churches but now the
destination wedding, hotels and other places are replacing church.

8CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING

9CHANGING WORLD OF WEDDING
References
Carter, J. (2016). Something old, something new: Bricolage and wedding traditions.
Cohen, C. B. (2018). Whiteness, Weddings, and Tourism in the Caribbean: Paradise for Sale.
Nieuwe West-Indische Gids, 92(1/2), 185-186.
Fetner, T., & Heath, M. (2016). Editor’s Pick: Do Same-sex and Straight Weddings Aspire to the
Fairytale? Women’s Conformity and Resistance to Traditional Weddings. Sociological
Perspectives, 59(4), 721-742.
Halpenny, E. A. (2016). Motivations for a destination wedding in Canada’s mountain parks.
Mountain tourism: Experiences, communities, environments and sustainable futures, 44-
57.
Johnston, J. E. (2015). Doctor Who-themed weddings and the performance of fandom.
Transformative Works & Cultures, 18.
Pelikan, J. (2018). The Christian Tradition: A History of the Development of Doctrine, Volume
5: Christian Doctrine and Modern Culture (since 1700). University of Chicago Press.