The Kettering Conference Centre is a multi-functional sports and conference centre located in Kettering , Northamptonshire . It was also the location of Volleyball England 's National Volleyball Centre until i2023.
84-499: The Kettering Conference Centre is a part-government, part council, part privately funded multi-functional business, sports and arts venue and facility, run and managed by Balance Health Clubs on behalf of itself and Kettering Borough Council. As such, parts of the centre are privately operated, and parts are funded or subsidised by the council. The conference venue can accommodate meetings from 5 to 1,500 attendees in fully serviced rooms, supplied by associated catering facilities, plus
168-524: A church , synagogue , mosque , or other place of worship. A civil wedding is a ceremony presided over by a local civil authority , such as an elected or appointed judge, Justice of the peace or the mayor of a locality. Civil wedding ceremonies may use references to God or a deity (except in U.K law where readings and music are also restricted), but generally no references to a particular religion or denomination . Civil weddings allow partners of different faiths to marry without one partner converting to
252-542: A marriage license from a local government authority and can be married by Christian or other clergy authorized by law to do so. Since the beginning of the 21st century, same-sex couples have been allowed to marry civilly in many countries, and some Christian churches in those countries allow religious marriages of same-sex couples, though some forbid it. See the article Same-sex marriage . Hindu ceremonies are usually conducted totally or at least partially in Sanskrit ,
336-433: A " care cloth " or "nuptial veil" ( velatio nuptialis ) "signifying a marriage yoke joining the bride and groom together" may be held over the kneeling couple during the nuptial blessing given by the priest. Pre-marital counseling may be recommended or required for an engaged couple. In some Christian countries or denominations, a betrothal rite , as well as the reading of banns of marriage may also be required before
420-450: A binding union between themselves for a year and a day. The original handfasting was a trial marriage. A Highland or Scottish wedding has the groom, with some or all of the groom's men wear a kilt . The bride may wear a sash or other tartan clothing. The Scottish basket sword is used for any Saber Arch . A collective or mass wedding is a single ceremony where numerous couples are married simultaneously. A microwedding or minimony
504-596: A check is always the best gift. This tradition is the same in traditional Italian weddings. In addition to the check, in Chinese weddings some elder relatives might also give gold jewelry. The check should be in a red envelope or red pocket with the givers' names on it, and it is always given when signing in at the restaurant. In choosing the amount of money to give, givers scrupulously avoid unlucky numbers, such as 4 and favor combinations of lucky numbers, such as 8 and 9. Also, white envelopes are never used to wrap gifts for
588-401: A choreographed dance routine or other forms of dancing, like club, disco or hip hop. Top 40 chart hits becoming an increasingly popular option for the first dance – the most popular first dance song at UK weddings in 2020 is You Got Me Thinking , a soft rock ballad by Joshua Radin . Before the wedding, the newlyweds choose a DJ and agree on a playlist with them. As a rule, the performance of
672-407: A church building", as holy matrimony is a sacrament; sacraments normatively occur in the presence of Christ in the house of God, and "members of the faith community [should be] present to witness the event and provide support and encouragement for those celebrating the sacrament." Bishops never grant permission "to those requesting to be married in a garden, on the beach, or some other place outside of
756-420: A civil ceremony. Johann Pachelbel 's Canon in D is an alternative processional. Other alternatives include various contemporary melodies, such as Bob Marley's One Love , which is sometimes performed by a steel drum band. The music used in modern weddings is usually left completely up to the bride and groom, and it is becoming increasingly popular for couples to add their own twist to the song they walk down
840-549: A declining influence of the Catholic Church. Since 2015, Irish humanists have conducted more weddings than the Church of Ireland . There are many ways to categorize weddings, such as by the size or cultural traditions. A wedding may fall into several categories, such as a destination microwedding, or a civil elopement. A white wedding is a term for a traditional formal or semi-formal Western wedding. This term refers to
924-414: A dress); and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or celebrant . Special wedding garments are often worn, and the ceremony is sometimes followed by a wedding reception . Music, poetry, prayers, or readings from religious texts or literature are also commonly incorporated into the ceremony, as well as superstitious customs . Some cultures have adopted the traditional Western custom of
SECTION 10
#17327727834411008-419: A fiancé with a sibling or cousin who is also engaged, or four close friends in which both couples within the friendship are engaged might plan a double wedding where both couples legally marry. Elopement is the act of getting married, often unexpectedly, without inviting guests to the wedding. In some cases, a small group of family or friends may be present, while in others, the engaged couple may marry without
1092-585: A grand ball for a wealthy family, a luncheon for middle-class families, or an afternoon tea, featuring cake and lemonade, for working-class families. The choice depended primarily on the family's economic situation, and in some cases, mass weddings were favored as a way to share costs. At the beginning of the 20th century, dance halls became common, and were rented by those planning a celebration beyond what their homes could hold. Typical locations for wedding celebrations now include hotel ballrooms, banquet halls , wedding venues, community halls, social halls at
1176-588: A groom and his mother. In some countries there are restrictions on where a wedding may take place, for example before the Marriage Act 1994 , marriages in England and Wales could only take place in authorized religious buildings or civil register offices , but the Act extended the options available to allow weddings in other "approved premises". Cretney identified a wide range of venues which sought approval after
1260-480: A lakeside terrace and bar. A licensed civil wedding facility, the wedding and reception venue can accommodate up to 200 people. The Arena Sports and Leisure Centre is a council-funded sports facility for local people, run and operated by Balance Health Clubs. It provides: An integrated 15,000 square feet (1,400 m) fully air-conditioned children's activity centre, with activities across four levels that include: rides, slides, climbing wall, and trampolines. It
1344-424: A nod to an ancient Roman wedding rite , may feed a bite to one another and perhaps sip a glass of wine or other drink with linked arms. Then the cake is served to the guests. Like being asked to pour tea at a formal tea party , being asked to serve the cake is generally considered an honor. In most Western countries, either before or after food is served, toasts are made by members of the wedding party, wishing
1428-501: A person if they had a good relationship with him or her. Most Christian churches give some form of blessing to a marriage, which is seen as a sacred institution in some sense, although terminology and associated theological meanings vary widely from one denomination to another (e.g., "holy matrimony", "sacrament of marriage", "holy ordinance of marriage", or "holy union"). A celebration of Holy Matrimony typically includes mutual vows or solemn promises of lifelong love and fidelity by
1512-456: A wedding is also viewed as a legal contract particularly in Islamic jurisprudences. However, most Muslim cultures separate both the institutions of the mosque and marriage; no religious official is necessary, but very often an Imam presides and performs the ceremony, he may deliver a short sermon. Celebrations may differ from country to country depending on their culture but the main ceremony
1596-435: A wedding is hosted, often in a vacation-like setting, at a location to which most of the invited guests must travel and often stay for several days. This type of ceremony could be held on a beach, in a metropolitan resort, a hotel, a banquet hall, a mountain, or at the home of a geographically distant friend or relative. During the recession of 2009, destination weddings continued to see growth compared to traditional weddings, as
1680-452: A wedding or other joyful event, as the color white is associated with death. There are two times listed on the invitation: 恭候 (gōnghòu/greeting) and 入席 (rùxí/reception). Typically, they are at least two hours apart (some may be four hours). The first one is the time the groom and bride, along with their family, will be ready to receive guests and greet them; the second one is the time the reception/banquet will start. The gap between those hours
1764-513: A wedding, including both the ceremony and reception, has generally outpaced the rate of inflation. In the United States, as of 2016, the average price is $ 35,329, steadily rising year over year, as it also has in the UK where the average cost was £25,090, rising roughly 7000 pounds from two years prior. In Australia, the cost is $ 36,200 (AUD). Approximately 50% of a couple's entire wedding budget
SECTION 20
#17327727834411848-492: A yellow thread applied with turmeric is knotted around the bride's neck 3 times at marriage. The first knot represents her obedience and respect to her husband, the second one to his parents and the third represents her respect to God. Several other rituals may precede or follow these afore-mentioned rites. Then the bride formally departs from her blood-relatives to join the groom's family. A traditional Jewish wedding usually follows this format: In more observant communities,
1932-403: Is a ceremony in which two people are united in marriage . Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures , ethnicities , races , religions , denominations , countries , social classes , and sexual orientations . Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marriage vows by a couple; a presentation of a gift (e.g., an offering, rings, a symbolic item, flowers, money, or
2016-407: Is a £2 million extension to the existing facility, with a £250,000 subsidy from Kettering's Council Tax payers. The theatre provides a 562-tiered-seat auditorium and balcony (400 tiered seats at ground-floor level; 138 tiered in the balcony; six private boxes each with four seats and a fridge), complemented by modern lighting and sound equipment. With a larger than normal designed stage, the theatre
2100-846: Is accessible via a one-price ticket for up to two hours, from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm daily. Made possible with a grants from Kettering Borough Council, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd, the East Midlands Development Agency and the Kettering Conference Centre, the four-year agreement came into place in November 2010. The 2,000 square metres (22,000 sq ft) facility houses both National Volleyball Centre - as well as home of Volleyball England's national men's, women's, junior men's and women's, as well as cadet boys' and girls' volleyball squads, and several national competitions. The Lighthouse Theatre
2184-427: Is defined by the small number of friends and family members present. The number of guests is usually understood to be no more than 10 or 15 people including family members, although some sources will use this label for a small wedding with up to 50 guests. Compared to an elopement or a civil wedding with no guests, a microwedding is planned and announced in advance and may incorporate whatever traditions and activities
2268-501: Is followed by a Walima (the marriage banquet). In Islam, polygyny is allowed with certain religious restrictions. Despite that, an overwhelming majority of Muslims traditionally practice monogamy . It is forbidden in Islam for parents or anyone else: to force, coerce, or trick either man or woman into a marriage that is contrary to the individual will of any one of the couples. It is also necessary for all marriages to commence with
2352-561: Is no requirement that any particular people dance at all, much less with any particular person, and no absolutely required order for the bridal couple, their families, or the bridal party to begin dancing in. Wedding receptions are often the time when couples want to ensure their family and guests will be entertained, and a variety of options such as disc jockeys, live bands, professional dancers such as ballroom dancers or belly dancers , magicians, fire artists, electric violinists, comedians and more unusual entertainers are brought in to heighten
2436-515: Is often a multi-tiered layer cake that is elaborately decorated with white frosting. Some couples have a smaller display cake, which is supplemented by sheet cake . The groom's cake is a tradition observed mainly in the southern United States. In the Colonial and Victorian eras, the white-iced bride's cake was considered "too light" for male tastes, and a second cake choice—usually a dark, liquor-soaked fruitcake—was also offered. Today, chocolate
2520-406: Is often followed by a wedding reception or wedding breakfast , in which the rituals may include speeches from a groom, best man, father of a bride and possibly a bride, the newlyweds' first dance as a couple, and the cutting of an elegant wedding cake . In recent years traditions have changed to include a father-daughter dance for a bride and her father, and sometimes also a mother-son dance for
2604-410: Is popular, although the groom's cake may be in any flavor and is usually shaped or decorated as something significant to the groom, such as a favorite hobby or sport. If a full meal is served, the wedding cake is usually served after the meal. Otherwise, the cake may be served as soon as the family has received all of the guests. Commonly, the couple ceremonially cut the first piece of the cake, and in
Kettering Conference Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
2688-465: Is rarely, if ever, found in weddings of other low-church Protestant denominations (e.g., Baptists ). A Quaker wedding ceremony in a Friends meeting is similar to any other meeting for worship , and therefore often very different from the experience expected by non-Friends. In some Western countries, a separate and secular civil wedding ceremony is required for recognition by the state, while in other Western countries, couples must merely obtain
2772-406: Is referred to as entertainment time. Very often, the restaurant will provide poker and mahjong (麻將) for gambling; the time can also be used to socialize with other guests and take photos with the bride/groom and their families. Nowadays, for Chinese couples' weddings in the U.S., you are less likely to see mahjong being played before the banquet; it is often replaced by a cocktail party. However, if
2856-460: Is spent on the reception alone. This is primarily due to the cost of food and alcohol. The wedding industry is a huge industry grossing $ 161 billion annually, according to Rebecca Mead, author of One Perfect Day . Wedding traditions vary between countries, and between regions of the same country. Some shared traditions include: Unless the wedding couple has a wedding registry, it is best not to give gifts or gift certificates. For Chinese weddings,
2940-462: Is the only legally recognized form of marriage (most countries in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and The Pacific). In this case civil weddings are typically either a mandatory prerequisite for any religious ceremony or religious weddings have no legal significance at all. See Civil marriage . Not to be confused with an elopement, a destination wedding is one in which
3024-482: Is usually introduced by a master of ceremonies , toastmaster , disc jockey , or band leader. It may be done in the same manner as they walked down the aisle during the wedding ceremony. This is generally much faster than a receiving line and guests may be seated before the arrival of the wedding party. In addition, it can be an event in itself and be as entertaining as wished. Introductions may be accompanied by music and information about each person to introduce them to
3108-680: The Eastern Orthodox Church , it is one of the Mysteries and is seen as an ordination and a martyrdom. The Christian wedding ceremony of Saint Thomas Christians , an ethnoreligious group of Christians in India, incorporates elements from local Indian traditions. Protestant weddings may be elaborate (as with Lutheranism and Anglicanism) or simple (as with Baptists). For example, in the United Methodist Church ,
3192-465: The Holy Bible and reflect the church's teachings about the spiritual significance of marriage, as well as its purpose and obligations. The wedding service often includes the reception of Holy Communion , especially in the context of Mass (as with Catholicism, Lutheranism, and Anglicanism). In some traditional weddings of Western Christianity (especially Catholicism, Lutheranism and Anglicanism),
3276-566: The Midland Main Line of 59 minutes. St Pancras also provides an interchange with the Eurostar service to France and Belgium. Kettering is linked to Corby , Leicester , Nottingham , Derby and Sheffield to the north and Wellingborough , Bedford , Luton to the south. 52°23′14.78″N 0°44′8.36″W / 52.3874389°N 0.7356556°W / 52.3874389; -0.7356556 Civil wedding A wedding
3360-461: The Quran , in a married Muslim couple, both husband and wife act as each other's protector and comforter and therefore only meant "for each other". All Muslim marriages have to be declared publicly and are never to be undertaken in secret. For many Muslims, it is the ceremony that counts as the actual wedding alongside a confirmation of that wedding in a registry office according to fiqh . In Islam
3444-454: The Vedas and subsidiary texts while the couple is seated before the fire. The most important step is saptapadi or saat phere , wherein the bride and the groom, hand-in-hand, encircle the sacred fire seven times, each circle representing a matrimonial vow. Then the groom marks the bride's hair parting with vermilion ( sindoor ) and puts a gold necklace ( mangalsutra ) around her neck. Or
Kettering Conference Centre - Misplaced Pages Continue
3528-512: The white wedding , in which a bride wears a white wedding dress and veil . This tradition was popularized through the marriage of Queen Victoria . Some say Queen Victoria's choice of a white gown may have simply been a sign of extravagance, but may have also been influenced by the values she held which emphasized sexual purity . The use of a wedding ring has long been part of religious weddings in Indian sub-continent, Europe and America, but
3612-687: The 19th century, first recorded in the 13th century in the Book of Aneirin , a custom known as a 'Neithior' or 'Neithor' was observed by the Welsh , it consisted of a great feast being held the following Sunday after the Wedding at the bride's parental home, the guests would pay for the meals and entertainments so that the new couple could afford a new home. While many wedding traditions and rituals have origins in religions and are still performed by religious leaders, some marriage traditions are cultural and predate
3696-527: The DJ takes place after the official traditional part. Traditionally, shortly after the dance begins, guests would promptly join in the dancing, in order of precedence , exactly like at any other ball . In very recent times, some families have told guests to not start dancing until after watching a sometimes lengthy sequence of "special" dances. For example, after the first dance, the newly married couple might dance with their parents and/or in-laws. However, there
3780-576: The Service of Christian Marriage (Rite I) includes the elements found in a typical Sunday service, such as hymns, prayers, and readings from the Bible, as well as other elements unique to a wedding, including taking marriage vows and an optional exchange of wedding rings , as well as a special benediction for the couple. Holy Communion may be part of the wedding service in liturgical Protestant churches (e.g., Lutheran , Anglican , or Methodist ), but
3864-526: The United States of America, a groom's wedding band has not appeared until the early 20th century, while in Europe it has been part of the tradition since the ancient Romans, as witnessed by the jurist Gaius . The exit from the wedding ceremony is also called the "send off" and often includes traditional practices; for instance, in Ethiopian weddings, newlyweds and the rest of the wedding party bow and kiss
3948-552: The aisle to. Many brides and grooms use songs that hold special value for them. In the United States, approximately 2 million people get married each year, and close to 70 million people attend a wedding and spend more than $ 100 on a gift. In the United Kingdom, according to a survey, the average minimum amount spent on a wedding gift is £24.70, and the average maximum amount spent is £111.46. Eighty-five percent of people said that they were more likely to spend more money on
4032-605: The aisle, either before or after the marriage service. An example of such use is reported in the 1878 wedding of Nora Robinson and Alexander Kirkman Finlay . The " Bridal Chorus " from Lohengrin by Richard Wagner , commonly known as "Here Comes the Bride", is often used as the processional. Wagner is said to have been anti-Semitic , and as a result, the Bridal Chorus is normally not used at Jewish weddings. UK law forbids music with any religious connotations to be used in
4116-460: The best of intentions. At traditional Chinese weddings , the tea ceremony is the equivalent of an exchange of vows at a Western wedding ceremony. This ritual is still practiced widely among rural Chinese; however, young people in larger cities, as well as in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore, tend to practice a combination of Western style of marriage together with the tea ceremony. When
4200-414: The bride gifts such as jewelry or a red envelope . The tea ceremony is an official ritual to introduce the newlyweds to each other's family, and a way for newlyweds to show respect and appreciation to their parents. The newlyweds kneel in front of their parents, serving tea to both sides of parents, as well as elder close relatives. Parents give their words of blessing and gifts to the newlyweds. Prior to
4284-426: The bride leaves her home with the groom to his house, a "Good Luck Woman" will hold a red umbrella over her head, meaning, "Raise the bark, spread the leaves." This "Good Luck Woman" should be someone who is blessed with a good marriage, healthy children, and husband and living parents. Other relatives will scatter rice, red beans, and green beans in front of her. The red umbrella protects the bride from evil spirits, and
SECTION 50
#17327727834414368-559: The bride's. Then the best man and the maid of honor will direct ushers to escort guests to their seat. Typically, the banquet will include a speech from the parents, the best man, the maid of honor, and the guest speaker. There will be cake cutting, toasts, a tea ceremony , and dancing. The two tables at the center of the room are for the groom's and bride's families. A Chinese wedding reception typically has nine or ten courses. Expensive dishes such as shark fin , abalone, lobster, jumbo shrimp, squab, sea bass, or sea cucumber are common on
4452-456: The church or other sacred place where the wedding ceremony took place, and, particularly for smaller weddings, restaurants and garden parties at home. There are also many small businesses that specialize in providing places for wedding ceremonies and celebrations. In a receiving line, newly wedded couple, the hosts, and often their parents and any honour attendants, stand in order of precedence and greet every guest in turn. Each guest greets
4536-414: The church" and a dispensation is only granted "in extraordinary circumstances (for example, if a bride or groom is ill or disabled and unable to come to the church)." Marriage in the church, for Christians, is seen as contributing to the fruit of the newlywed couple regularly attending church each Lord's Day and raising children in the faith. Wedding ceremonies typically contain prayers and readings from
4620-429: The cleaning staff. As the newlyweds are the guests of honor, the other guests are expected to remain at the reception until they leave them, and consequently, it is an imposition on the other guests for the newlyweds to stay unreasonably long at the party. On occasion, the newlyweds will stage an official leave-taking, so that guests feel free to leave, and then quietly return through another door. The median cost of
4704-413: The color of the wedding dress, which became popular after Queen Victoria wore a pure white gown when she married Prince Albert and many were quick to copy her choice. At the time, the color white symbolized both extravagance and virginal purity to many and had become the color for use by young women being formally presented to the royal court. White weddings often take place in a place of worship, such as
4788-406: The consent or knowledge of parents or others. While the couple may or may not be widely known to be engaged prior to the elopement, the wedding itself is generally a surprise to those who are later informed of its occurrence. A handfasting is an old pagan custom, dating back to the time of the ancient Celts . A handfasting was originally more like an engagement period, where two people would declare
4872-587: The country since the 1980s. These have been legally recognized since 2005, and became more numerous than church weddings in 2018. Humanist wedding ceremonies are carried out in a variety of countries like the U.S., Canada and recently Brazil, having legal status in only a few of these countries. Humanist celebrants are able to perform valid civil marriages and civil partnerships in the Republic of Ireland. Secular weddings are becoming more popular in Ireland due to
4956-597: The couple may opt for a luncheon, brunch, or even afternoon tea. Ultimately the married couple chooses the details and location of the reception. In some cultures, separate wedding celebrations are held for the bride 's and groom 's families. Before receptions – a social event that is structured around a receiving line, and usually held in the afternoon, with only light refreshments – became popular, weddings were more typically celebrated with wedding breakfasts (for those whose religious traditions encouraged morning weddings) and wedding balls (for those who were married in
5040-460: The couple well. Commonly, toasts are proposed by the bride 's father, the groom , the best man , and/or the maid of honor , although there is no absolutely required list of people who must make toasts, or indeed any requirement to offer toasts at all. A new trend involves the addition of a DVD slideshow or photo montage video, featuring pictures of the new spouses growing up and meeting. These are created using home movies and photos taken over
5124-564: The couple will celebrate for seven more days, called the Sheva Brachot (seven blessings) during which the seven wedding blessings are recited at every large gathering during this time. A wedding is typically a happy time for families to celebrate. In the Middle East , there are colorful, cultural variations from place to place. Two male witnesses who are the members of the family in most cases are required for Nikah. According to
SECTION 60
#17327727834415208-412: The couple's life, edited and set to music. The montage is shown either on a large TV or monitor or with an LCD projector . If there is dancing, the newly married couple typically open the dancing with their first dance . When waltzing was popular, it was sometimes called a "bridal waltz" to a love song, although other dance styles are more commonly used now. The bride and groom might decide to choose
5292-481: The couple, and may include some sort of pledge by the community to support the couple's relationship. A church wedding is a ceremony held in a church and presided over by a Christian pastor . Traditionally, Christian weddings occur in a church, as Christian marriage ideally begins where one started his or her faith journey. (Christians receive the sacrament of baptism in church in the presence of their congregation .) Catholic Christian weddings must "take place in
5376-463: The elders' knees. In most of the Western world , as well as in countries such as India and Malaysia , the send off often includes the practice of throwing rice (a symbol of prosperity and fertility) or other seeds at the newlyweds. Despite popular belief, using uncooked rice for this purpose is not harmful to birds. In several cultures, people toss shoes instead of rice. The wedding ceremony
5460-417: The evening). The popularity of receptions, rather than breakfasts, dinners, and balls, during the 20th century led to the name reception being applied to any social event after a wedding, whether it is brunch, tea, dinner, or a dance. Until after World War II, wedding celebrations were most commonly held in the bride's home, in whatever style of entertainment was within the means of the family. This might be
5544-415: The family wants to maintain, such as a wedding cake, photographs, or religious ceremonies. Although the cost per guest may be higher, the overall cost of a microwedding is usually significantly less than a large wedding. Wedding reception A wedding reception is a party usually held after the completion of a marriage ceremony as hospitality for those who have attended the wedding , hence
5628-564: The festivities and make the wedding stand out. Typically, including lavish entertainment at the wedding reception is a luxury. Wedding DJs have been increasing in popularity in modern cultures as has hiring a live band. A ceremony is often made of the newlyweds' departure. Rice or birdseed, signifying abundance, may be thrown at the departing couple, with birdseed preferred by facility managers, since it requires less clean up work than rice, and new, mess-free substitutes, such as blowing soap bubbles or ringing small bells being even more favored by
5712-442: The first (lowest precedence) person in the line and, if necessary, introduces him/herself. The first person then introduces the guest to the next person in the line, and turns to the next guest. As each guest properly speaks little more than his/her name (if necessary) and conventional greetings or congratulations to each person in turn, the line progresses steadily without unnecessary delays. Western etiquette requires at least one of
5796-402: The guests. However, unlike a reception line, it does not give the guests an opportunity to speak to any of the people being presented. The food served at a wedding reception is determined by the time of the wedding and local customs. Food may range from a non-alcoholic drink with wedding cake to elaborate, multi-course dinners. The type of food is chosen entirely at the discretion and budget of
5880-431: The guests. Most guests witness only this short ceremony and then socialize, have food, and leave. The religious part (if applicable) comes hours later, witnessed by close friends and relatives. In cases where a religious ceremony is present, a Brahmin (Hindu priest) arranges a sacred yajna (fire-sacrifice), and the sacred fire ( Agni ) is considered the prime witness ( sākshī ) of the marriage. He chants mantras from
5964-442: The hosts and the newly married couple, as the guests of honor, to welcome and greet the guests, but the other members of the wedding party, parents who are not hosting the party, siblings, etc., are not required to stand in the receiving line. It is increasingly common to feature only the couple, since more modern couples host and pay for their own weddings rather than their parents. After formally receiving each guest in this fashion,
6048-543: The hosts as costs for catering weddings have soared. Some receptions, especially if the wedding party's culture or religious faith prohibits alcohol or dancing, focus on dessert. Hosts may also choose to honor regional or local customs, such as by serving a culturally important cake like croquembouche in France, or featuring a cookie table as is celebrated in Pittsburgh and some surrounding areas. The wedding cake
6132-532: The implementation of this legal change, including hotels , stately homes , football grounds , beaches , and former warships . Related outdoor locations could also be approved for weddings after the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved Premises) (Amendment) Regulations 2022 were adopted. Music played at Western weddings includes a processional song (e.g., the Wedding March ) for walking down
6216-515: The language of the Hindu scriptures . The wedding celebrations may last for several days and they can be extremely diverse, depending upon the region, denomination, and community. Mehendi ceremony is a traditional ritual in Hindu weddings, where Henna application takes place on the bride's hands and legs, before the wedding. On the wedding day, the bride and the bridegroom garland each other in front of
6300-426: The name reception: the couple receive society, in the form of family and friends, for the first time as a married couple. Hosts provide their choice of food and drink, although a wedding cake is popular. Entertaining guests after a wedding ceremony is traditional in most societies, and can last anywhere from half an hour to many hours or even days. Most wedding receptions are made in the evening for dinner; however,
6384-514: The origin of the tradition is unclear. One possibility is the Roman belief in the Vena amoris , which was believed to be a blood vessel that ran from the fourth finger (ring finger) directly to the heart. Thus, when a couple wore rings on this finger, their hearts were connected. Historian Vicki Howard points out that the belief in the "ancient" quality of the practice is most likely a modern invention. In
6468-441: The other partner's religion. They can be either elaborate or simple. Many civil wedding ceremonies take place in local town or city halls, courthouses in judges' chambers, in attorneys offices, in the mayor's office, or in the governor's office. The relevance of civil weddings varies greatly from country to country. Some countries do not provide any form of civil wedding at all (Israel and many Islamic countries), while in others it
6552-511: The prevalent religions in those regions. Non-religious people will often want to have a wedding that is secular (not religious) in content. In order to meet this demand, secular ceremonies carried out by humanist celebrants first developed in the 19th century. Humanists UK members pioneered humanist weddings in the 1890s, and its weddings continue to be popular with couples across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, Humanist Society Scotland (HSS) has carried out secular ceremonies in
6636-485: The receiving line is finished and the people who had been duty-bound to stand in it can mingle with guests, eat, and enjoy more extended conversations. Another option, especially popular on the East and West Coast of the United States, is having a grand entrance instead of a receiving line. The grand entrance might involve presenting some or all of the wedding party, the parents, and/or the bride and groom. The wedding party
6720-404: The rice and beans are to attract the attention of the gold chicken. The newlyweds kneel in front of parents presenting tea. A Good Luck Woman making the tea says auspicious phrases to bless the newlyweds and their families. The newlyweds also present tea to each other, raising the tea cups high to show respect before presenting the tea to each other. The attendants receiving the tea usually give
6804-537: The typically smaller size results in lower costs. Destination weddings are prohibited in certain denominations of Christianity, such as the Catholic Church , which teach that Christian marriages should take place in the presence of God at church , where Christians began their journey of faith in the sacrament of baptism . A double wedding is a double ceremony where two affianced couples rendezvous for two simultaneous or consecutive weddings. Typically,
6888-474: The wedding date. In the Roman Catholic Church , Holy Matrimony is considered to be one of the seven sacraments , in this case, one that the spouses bestow upon each other in front of a priest and members of the community as witnesses. As with all sacraments, it is seen as having been instituted by Jesus himself (see Gospel of Matthew 19:1–2, Catechism of the Catholic Church §1614–1615). In
6972-428: The wedding reception takes place in southern China, Hong Kong, Macau, and even parts of Canada (where there is a large Cantonese population), mahjong might still be played before the dinner. Two people will be at the sign-in tables (one from the bride's family and one from the groom's) to register guests and receive gifts/red envelopes. Often, they will have two separate guest lists, one from the groom's side and one from
7056-592: Was designed as a flexible space for use either as a theatre or to accommodate conferences, presentations, award ceremonies and product launches. The Lighthouse Theatre opened on 6 March 2008. Situated alongside the A14 road at Junction 8, which links the A1, M1 and M6 , the centre has over 600 car parking places. Rail services operated by East Midlands Railway depart every 30 minutes from Kettering to St Pancras International railway station , with an average journey time on
#440559