When planning a wedding, it’s natural to focus on the bride and groom and their special day. However, let’s not overlook the importance of family and the role they play in a wedding. Family members have a special place in a wedding, whether in traditional roles or in more unconventional ways. In this blog post, we’ll explore what families typically do in weddings and how they add value to the big day.
The Bride’s Family
The bride’s family traditionally has a significant role in planning and organizing the wedding. They’re also responsible for some special responsibilities during and after the wedding. Here are some common roles for the bride’s family to play during a wedding:
1. Walk the Bride Down the Aisle
At the start of the wedding ceremony, the bride’s father or another significant family member typically walks the bride down the aisle. This moment is emotional for everyone involved, as the bride traditionally leaves her family to start a new life with her partner. It’s a sweet moment that sets the tone for the rest of the ceremony.
2. Welcome Speech at the Reception
After the wedding ceremony, the reception usually follows, where the bride’s family can give a welcome speech and thank all the guests for attending. This speech is an opportunity for the family to express their gratitude and share in the joy of the special day.
3. Father-Daughter Dance
The father-daughter dance is a special moment that usually happens during the reception. This dance is symbolic of the bond shared between a father and daughter. It’s a sweet and sentimental moment, and it’s something that the bride and her father will remember for years to come.
4. Provide Emotional Support
Getting married is a big step in anyone’s life, and it can be an emotional time for the bride and her family. As such, the bride’s family plays a vital role in providing emotional support throughout the wedding planning process and the wedding itself. They help calm the bride’s nerves and ensure that everything runs smoothly.
The Groom’s Family
While the bride’s family may play a more visible role during the wedding planning and the event itself, the groom’s family has an essential role to play too. Here’s what they typically do:
1. Attend the Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is an important pre-wedding event that typically happens the night before the wedding. It’s a time for the couple to get together with their family and close friends to enjoy each other’s company before the big day.
2. Support the Groom
Getting married is just as big a deal for the groom as it is for the bride. The groom’s family plays a vital role in supporting their son during the wedding planning process and on the wedding day itself. They offer a helping hand and emotional support to ensure that the groom has a memorable day.
3. Dance and Enjoy the Reception
Just like the bride’s family, the groom’s family typically participates in the reception, dancing the night away with the newlyweds and other guests. The reception is a time to celebrate the big day, and the groom’s family plays an essential role in the festivities.
The Extended Family
The extended family, including grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, also have a role to play in a wedding. Some of their roles include:
1. Provide Emotional Support
Depending on the family’s closeness, the extended family can provide emotional support during the wedding and afterward. They’re usually happy to see the couple get married and support them throughout their lives.
2. Participate in the Ceremony
The extended family can participate in the wedding ceremony in many ways. They might be bridesmaids and groomsmen, flower girls, or ring bearers. It all depends on the couple’s wishes and traditions.
3. Give Toasts and Speeches
At the reception, the extended family may also deliver toasts and speeches to celebrate the newlyweds. There’s usually an open mic time for anyone to deliver a message to the couple.
Conclusion
A wedding is a special occasion, and having family involved makes it even more special. The bride’s family, groom’s family, and extended family all have crucial roles to play in making the day unique. This day will stay with the couple and their families for the rest of their lives, so make sure you let your family know how much you appreciate their love and support.
FAQ
What is the responsibility of the groom’s family?
In Western culture, weddings are often viewed as a merger between two families. Therefore, both the bride’s and groom’s families have certain responsibilities when it comes to organizing and hosting the wedding ceremony and other related events. Traditionally, the groom’s family is responsible for the rehearsal dinner, which takes place the day before the wedding.
The rehearsal dinner is an opportunity for the bride and groom to rehearse their ceremony and for both families to get to know each other before the wedding day. The groom’s parents usually host this event and invite close family members, wedding party members, and out-of-town guests. The rehearsal dinner doesn’t have to be a formal event, but it should have enough seating and food for all the attendees.
Besides the rehearsal dinner, the groom’s family may also be responsible for organizing other pre-wedding events, such as welcome dinners or cocktail parties. These events are a great way to welcome and thank guests who have travelled long distances to attend the wedding. They offer an opportunity for guests to mingle and to get to know each other better, which can make the wedding day more enjoyable.
In addition to pre-wedding events, the groom’s family may also contribute financially to the wedding. This can include purchasing groomsmen attire and contributing towards the cost of the wedding planner, photographer, or other vendors.
The groom’s family has a key role to play in the wedding planning process. By hosting events such as the rehearsal dinner and welcome parties, they can help to unite both families and make the wedding day even more special.
Is family part of the wedding party?
The inclusion of family in the wedding party varies depending on different cultural and personal preferences. Traditionally, the wedding party consists of the bridesmaids, groomsmen, the maid of honor, and the best man. However, it is common for the bride and groom to add family members to the wedding party as well.
The parents of the bride and groom are often part of the wedding party, with the father of the bride walking her down the aisle and the mother of the groom lighting a unity candle or performing another special task. Other family members, such as siblings, cousins, or close relatives, may also be asked to stand alongside the bride and groom during the ceremony.
In some cultures, it is customary to include a large number of family members in the wedding party. For example, in a Filipino wedding, the wedding party may consist of many members of the bride and groom’s families, with the sponsors and attendants usually numbering at least ten or more. Similarly, in an Indian wedding, the wedding party often includes close family members who have specific roles and responsibilities in the ceremony.
The decision to include family members in the wedding party is up to the bride and groom. Some couples opt to keep the wedding party small and intimate, while others may choose to expand it to include family members to honor their close relationships and to make the wedding feel like a true family affair. Whatever the case may be, the wedding party is an important part of the wedding day and is meant to honor the bride and groom’s closest friends and family members who have supported them throughout their journey to marriage.
What do the bride and grooms family pay for at wedding?
Weddings are one of the most significant events in a person’s life, but they can also be one of the most expensive. Traditionally, there are certain expenses that the bride and groom’s families are expected to cover. These expenses can vary based on culture, religion, and personal preferences, but there are some general guidelines that can be followed.
According to tradition, the bride and her family should cover the majority of expenses associated with the wedding ceremony and reception. This includes the bride’s wedding dress, hair and makeup, venue hire, catering, cake, photography, videography, wedding invitations, flowers, decorations, and other necessary services. The bride’s family may also be expected to pay for the honeymoon, although this is not always the case.
On the other side, the groom’s family is generally responsible for covering some essential expenses. The groom’s main responsibilities are to pay for the engagement ring, the marriage license, the wedding officiant, and the wedding bands. Additionally, the groom’s family traditionally pays for the rehearsal dinner, which is typically a smaller, more intimate event involving the close family and wedding party before the big day.
the financial responsibilities of a wedding are different for each couple, and there is no absolute rule or law. Some families divide the expenses equally between them, while others negotiate and compromise depending on their financial capabilities. It is essential for both families to have open communication and come together to create a realistic budget and work out how the expenses will be shared in the best way possible.
Planning a wedding involves numerous expenses and can become quite overwhelming for both families. Through open communication, understanding, and cooperation, both the bride and the groom’s family can work together to make the wedding a memorable and joyous event. Examples of financial responsibilities provided in this answer are traditional and can differ from family to family, culture to culture.
What is the mom’s role in a wedding?
A mother’s role in a wedding is an important one as she is usually considered the hostess of the event. The mother of the bride plays an essential role in making the wedding day run smoothly and is also a crucial support system for the bride leading up to the big day.
In terms of wedding planning, the mother of the bride can offer support and advice to her daughter as she plans her wedding. She can assist with organizing logistics, such as helping with guest lists, tracking RSVPs, and ensuring that everything is in place for the big day. Additionally, she can help with decision-making and share contacts with the wedding planner or vendors to help save time, money, and effort.
On the wedding day itself, the mother of the bride often takes on a variety of roles. She may greet guests as they arrive at the ceremony and reception venues, ensuring that everyone feels welcome, comfortable, and knows where to go. She may also help guide guests and family members to their seats, and may even play a part in the ceremony by escorting the bride down the aisle or lighting a candle during a unity ceremony.
During the reception, the mother of the bride may traditionally sit at the parents’ table, along with the father of the bride. They will generally be seated towards the front of the reception hall, with a clear view of all the wedding festivities. As a hostess, it is also her role to ensure that guests are having a good time, making introductions, and ensuring that everyone is being well looked after. She might also take the lead when it comes to giving speeches, particularly if the father of the bride is nervous or doesn’t feel comfortable speaking in front of large groups.
Finally, as the reception draws to a close, the mother of the bride may have one last duty: to lead the charge on the dance floor. As one of the most important people in her daughter’s life, it is up to her to help create a joyous atmosphere where everyone feels comfortable getting up and dancing. By leading the way and showing her family and guests how to get into the spirit of things, she can help ensure that her daughter’s wedding is a truly memorable occasion.
