Catholic Wedding Ceremony
Catholic wedding ceremony includes many procedures which can be categorized into pre wedding, wedding and post wedding procedures. These procedures are carried with joy in catholic wedding ceremony.
First groom and his family visit bride's house. Bride and groom exchange rings and are blessed by parish priest. This ceremony may not culminate in wedding. Boy and girl begin to get to know each other. If they decide to marry, it will be held within six months.
When they decide to marry, wedding ceremony venue, date and time are fixed. Then bride and groom attend a marriage preparatory course in which they have to fill a form declaring their details and take an oath on holy bible that they have not hide any information. After this, priest declares that a boy and a girl are to marry for three consecutive Sundays. After that couple can marry.
Bridal shower ceremony is take place at bride's house. It is a gift giving ceremony to bride before wedding for their home. A bachelor's party is given by groom on the eve of wedding which is a stag party. This is groom's last party as a bachelor.
On wedding day, groom reaches church first and waits for bride. Bride is greeted with a kiss and bouquet. Then couple with priest lead into the church and are welcomed by song. Priest begins wedding ceremony and offers his good wishes to them. Wedding ceremony begins with hymns and readings from bible. Priest delivers a lecture which emphasis on sanctity of marriage.
Priest asks bride and groom whether they love and respect each other as husband and wife. They have to say yes. Then couple exchange vows and also exchanges rings. Then couple gives offerings and gift to church.
After wedding ceremony reception is held to celebrate wedding. Newly wed couple cuts the cake. Friends and relatives are invited for grand feast. The bride and groom perform first dance which follows bride and her mother dance and groom and his mother dance. After dinner bride and groom leaves reception. While leaving, she throws throw flower behind. The girl who catches it will marry next.