I am most familiar with the traditional Catholic wedding but there are many other ways of celebrating such a joyous occasion. In thirteenth century Scotland, the announcement of intended marriages was a process of banns of marriage. Although this has recently been outdated, it leaves its influence on announcing marriages. After announcing the marriage proposal there is a fourteen-day waiting period before any arrangements are made for the couple.

Like bridal showers held before a traditional Catholic wedding, a show of presents is held for the bride to be. Instead of wrapped gifts bidding the bride good luck, all gifts are unwrapped and displayed as necessary. A simple card or the guest who brought the gift accompanies these gifts. After this show of presents, the bride is dressed up in traditionally a long dress and train made from any fabric. She is then escorted around town with guests making loud noises announcing the wedding to be. The bride to be carries a baby doll, "plastic potty"

Like the Chinese wedding, there is a similarity in a Japanese wedding. A go-between is assigned to bring the couple and their families together. Gifts are exchanged between the bride to be and grooms' family. The gifts include as many as nine items representing happiness and fortune. Gifts include money, soup, hemp ropes and wine. This gift exchange also can last one to two years.

In a traditional Catholic wedding, the bride is escorted down the aisle by her father, but in a Jewish wedding the bride and groom are escorted by their parents. After a short reciting of wedding vows, the groom gives a plain uncut gold band to his bride resembling true value and purity. Instead of the left hand ring finger that most people are used to seeing, the ring is placed on the bride's right index finger. The wedding party then proceeds down the aisle and later joins guests for a feast and dancing. Plain and simple.

A Shinto priest first holds a purification mass to rid the bride and groom of evils. He will also officiate at the ceremony. Guests include close friends and family. During the actual wedding ceremony, the groom recites an oath of promise to be faithful and obedient to his bride. Just like in the Catholic religion, he pledges to love and honor, in sickness and in health. It is followed by the exchange of wedding bands. Both the bride and groom can exchange rings. In the Jewish wedding, only the bride receives a ring. A retreat to a scared "Sakaki" tree ends the main part of the wedding.

The very next day after the wedding is the first time the bride gets to meet her new groom's family and friends. Her in laws give her a title according to her husband's seniority in society. Three days after the wedding, the couple visits with the bride's family where she is now considered a guest rather than their daughter.

The go-between like in the Chinese religion does the introduction of the bride and groom, their parents and background at the reception. Traditional colorful costumes are worn by the bride along with ornaments in her hair. During the course of the reception, the bride changes her outfit to a different color and style Kimono. These dresses are passed down in the family and/or made into beddings later in life. Red and white are the main colors used just as in the Chinese religion. The reception itself is a very colorful event. Married guests wear black formal wear. The single guests wear more colorful clothing indicating they are available for marriage. At the end of the ceremony, as in the Catholic wedding, a honeymoon is allowed.

Like a bachelor party for a Catholic wedding, the groom to be in a Scottish wedding is dressed up similarly to the bride to be and escorted around town with his friends. There, they may find a bar and partake in excessive drinking. Harmless practical jokes are traditionally pulled on the groom, including being stripped (partially or totally) of his clothes and dropped outside his home. "Creeling the bridegroom" is also practiced. A large basket is filled

Some common words found in the essay are:
Latin Catholic, Heaven Earth, , wedding bride, bride groom, catholic wedding, wedding ceremony, jewish wedding, traditional catholic wedding, traditional catholic, bride's family, wedding go-between, brides' family, scottish wedding, jewish wedding bride,
Approximate Word count = 2067
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)