Weddings in the United States

Written by: Jamal Parpia on March 20, 2021

Over 2 million couples are married every year in the United Stats which means over 6,000 per day! There are all types of weddings, some which last a day and some which last a week. At Grand Tuscany Hotel, we cater to all types of weddings. No wedding is too big or too small for us and if you’re looking for a wedding venue in Houston you won’t find a better place. Check out some of the different types of weddings common in Houston below!

Christian Weddings

In this type of wedding, the groom and bride invite all their friends and family. Most of these weddings take place in a church with a religious leader who officiates the event. The couple may add a list of desired gifts which are mainly household items. During the ceremony, the couple vow commitment and love for each other with church-provided vows. The officiant will ask if there is anyone who does not want the couple to get married. If there is no objective, the couple then exchanges rings to symbolize their commitment and love. The couple is pronounced wife and husband and, for the first time, kiss publicly to seal their union. As the couple leaves the building, family and friends throw wheat or rice on their way, which symbolizes fertility. It is common for a wedding reception to be available where the maid of honor and best man propose a toast. The couple is then given gifts and lastly goes on honeymoon to celebrate their union for several days or weeks.

Christian weddings are not always held in churches but instead in other buildings or outdoor, officiants are always not religious leaders but other licensed by state individuals. The couple’s vows can replace religious vows.

Muslim/Islamic Weddings

An Islamic wedding is a bit similar to a Christian wedding, where the couple exchange vows in a mosque with friends, family, and religious leaders (Imam). There are no restrictions on the color of dressing, but they should be modest. Before entering the mosque, everyone removes shoes and places them in a shoe rack. I thought these were a religious custom but a sanitary one, for worshippers pray while touching the floor. Those present will end the ceremony by saying Salaam Alaikum (peace be with you) to one another.

Their wedding receptions are mainly in wedding halls or hotels; they are similar to Christians; one expects no alcohol served, and the food is of Islamic dietary laws.

Hindu Weddings

Hindu weddings are lively, intricately planned, culture-rich ceremonies full of tradition and celebration. A Hindu wedding is about celebrating the union of two people spiritually, emotionally, and physically. It is also about the unity of two families through celebration and prayers.

Most guests wear Indian clothes such as lenghas or saris for women, pants, and long-sleeved tunics for men. If you plan to attend a Hindu wedding, women should cover their shoulders, arms, and legs while men should wear long sleeves and long pants. Both should also cover their heads during the celebration. Vibrant, bold colors are encouraged but should stay away from black (associated with bad luck), white worn in funeral and red, the color the bride wears.

A Hindu wedding takes place in three days; different events take place every day. Most of the guests attend the ceremony on the second (Sangeet) and third day. The first-day ceremony (Ganesh Pooja) is a day where only close family members attend. Hindu weddings are based on lucky signs provided and predetermined by the priest. A Hindu wedding is usually significant, with an average of 150 to 200 guests in attendance.

Unlike in a Christian wedding, there is no kissing in a Hindu wedding ceremony due to their conservative cultures. However, this may vary on the couples as well as their families. It is also important to note that alcohol is not brought or served in the ceremony. The ceremony mostly follows religious customs and traditions starting from 1 1/2hr to 3hrs long ceremony. Gifts are not usually brought; only monetary gifts are accepted, given in an envelope at the reception.

Chinese Weddings

During the wedding proposal, the groom’s family will come with different gifts, usually cakes and food. Both families send to their friends and families “Double Happiness Cakes” together with wedding invitations. The bride’s family provides a dowry list, and the groom’s family performs a setting bridal bed ritual. Both families introduce each other during the Tea Ceremony, where they came together and drink a Chinese tea, Tsao Chun. After the Tea Ceremony, the couple is given a red envelope by their families filled with sometimes jewelry and money. 

A bride wears a red dress (qipao) and a red veil to cover her face. Red in Chinese culture represents prosperity, good luck, and happiness. A Chinese wedding banquet is all about lavish and expensive affairs. For the guests to present their gifts, they sign their names on a scroll or book. When dinner begins, the bride changes to a red traditional Chinese wedding dress. Parents of the couple will have separate wedding feasts, and food in China is symbolic. For example, whole fish symbolizes abundance, and sweet lotus for dessert symbolizes a wish for fertility. During the banquet, there are six courses, and the couple will change their clothing between the third and sixth courses. The day after the wedding, the bride prepares breakfast for both families; she is given a small gift from older relatives as she is formally introduced to the groom’s family.

Three days after the wedding, the couple visits the bride’s family, and the groom is expected to present a roasted pig to enjoy a meal with the bride’s family. During this time, the bride is not considered part of her family but is welcomed as a guest. In a Chinese wedding, both modern and traditional elements can be used and exciting for family members and fun for your friends of a different generation. An official modern Chinese wedding ceremony takes place in a city hall lead by a government official. Still, the main celebration takes place in a private banquet reception paid for and hosted by the groom’s family. Religious Chinese may prefer exchanging their vows at a religious ceremony; either way, the banquet reception is necessary attended by families and friends.

About Different Weddings

There are so many different cultures and types of weddings that we still have not listed. Even what we have listed so far is just scratching the surface of the customs and rituals that go on during a wedding. If you have information that you’d like us to add let us know! Meanwhile, if you are looking for the best wedding venue in Houston, give us a call!