Aweddingisaceremonythatcelebratesthebeginningofamarriageorcivilunion.Weddingtraditionsandcustomsvarygreatlybetweencultures,ethnicgroups,religions,countries,andsocialclasses.Insomecountries,culturesandreligions,theactualactofmarriagebeginsduringtheweddingceremony.Inothers,thelegalactofmarriageoccursatthetimeofsigningamarriagelicenseorotherlegaldocument,andtheweddingisthenanopportunitytoperformatraditionalceremonyandcelebratewithfriendsandfamily.Awomanbeingmarriediscalledabride,amancalledabridegroom,aftertheceremonytheybecomeawifeandahusband.

　　Theushersenterfirst,walkinginpairs.Thebridesmaidsfollow,walkinginpairsiftherearesixormore.Iftherearefewer,orifthere'sanoddnumber,it'sbettertohavethemwalkinsinglefile.Next,themaidofhonorenters,waitinguntiladistinctspacehasopenedupafterthelastbridesmaid.Afterthat,thering-bearerenters,carryingacushionwiththeringsewntoit.Itisbesttouseafakeringratherthantherealone,topreventembarrassmentifit'sdropped.Theactualringshouldbecarriedbythebestmanandbythemaidofhonor,ifitisadoubleringceremony.Nowtheflowergirlenters,closelyfollowingthering-bearer.Youmighthavethesechildrenwalkinsidebysideiftheyareparticularlyyoungornervous.Atthispoint,theorganistbeginsplayingtheweddingmarchatfullvolume.Andthenthebridestartsdowntheaisle,herfatheronherleft.Meanwhile,thebridesmaidsandushershavearrivedorareabouttoarriveatthealtarwheretheceremonywilltakeplace.Theymayhavefiledintothefrontroworpew,inwhichcasethemotherofthebrideandthebridegroom'sfamilywilloccupythesecondrowonbothsides.Ifyouwantthemseatedinthefrontrow,thebridesmaidsshouldbeontheleftandtheushersontheright.Thebrideandherfatherarriveatthefrontoftheseatingsectionorthealtar.Nowthebridetakesthebridegroom'sleftarm.

　　Afteramomentortwo,theclergymanorjusticeshouldbegintheceremony.Theusualpracticeisforbothparentstothentakeseatsinthefrontpew,althoughsomeauthoritiesholdthatthefathershouldremainatthealtar.Atthispoint,youshouldrelax,takeadeepbreath,andimmerseyourselfintheexperience.Afterall,itissomethingyouwillprobablyremember,indetail,fortherestofyourlife.