Hawaiian weddings are usually held outdoors. It can either take place on a sailing boat off beautiful Waikiki, in a tropical garden or on the beach. There are church weddings in Hawaii as well. The Hawaiian wedding dress for a bride is a long dress which is called a ‘holoku’. The word ‘holoku’ is Hawaiian for mantle or cloak.

A Hawaiian style wedding dress is mostly made from silk, white satin or cotton. The bridesmaid’s dresses are in bright colors like yellow, blue and green. An island flower garland called ‘haku lei’ is worn instead of a veil, and a bouquet of white orchids is carried. A colored and long sash is wrapped around the groom’s waist, which is usually red in color. The bride and groom exchange wedding bands that bear the couple’s names in Hawaiian.

Wedding gowns, evening dresses, beachwear, prom dresses, knit tops, camp shirts, tank tops and Hawaiian t-shirts in plus size are available for women and teenage girls. Big size Hawaiian shirts, shorts and t-shirts for men are also available in the market.

Marriage rituals start with the bride and groom entering the ‘mandap’ or the Dias where different rituals take place one after the other. Father of the bride then gives the hand of his daughter to the groom which is called as ‘kanyadaan’. Acceptance of her hand by the groom is called ‘paanigrahan’. One of the most important among these rituals is the seven steps walked by the bride and groom reciting a prayer in each step representing seven promises to stand by each other.

The wedding reaches its final stage when the groom ties a holy necklace or ‘mangalsutra’ around the bride’s neck after a series of rituals where the priest or ‘purohit’ chant holy words. A symbolic knot is tied between the bride’s veil and the shawl carried by the groom, to indicate completion of the wedding. The bride and the groom look towards the direction of the Sun and the Polar star for a lifetime of stability and love at the end of these ceremonies. Elders proffer their blessings and exchange of gifts and sweets ends the wedding ceremony.

Togetherness and love is marked by auspicious rituals of a wedding that bonds a couple in to holy matrimony. Rituals and procedures of weddings differ from one religion to another depending on individual customs and conventions. Like all the other religions, Hindu weddings are distinguished by their distinctive features and rituals which have given them an identity and importance of their own.

Rituals of Hindu weddings are also called ‘vivah sanskars’ or vivaah, marking the beginning of the second stage of life known as ‘Grihistha Ashrama’ involving a new family set up. The two companions are sworn to a lifelong companionship and unity. Hindu way of getting married involves many holy rituals, following intricate details and takes hours to complete.

Certain rituals are mandatory without which most weddings are incomplete. Some of these rituals include Jayamala, where the groom is welcomed by the bride’s parents when the groom reaches her house. This is performed in the bride’s house where the wedding takes place. The groom is greeted by adorning his forehead with a red paste called ‘kumkum’ after which the couple exchanges garlands or ‘Jayamala’.

Couples often tend to get inspired by celebrity weddings that have created their individual identities and uniqueness while planning for their own weddings. Often celebrities try to make their weddings a matter of discussion by doing something extra-ordinary and attracting the attention of general public as well as media. Such weddings could be fascinating due to exorbitant expenditure and luxurious arrangements.

Wedding of Britney Spears has been one of the most prominent weddings in recent times. This wedding is famous for being the shortest Hollywood wedding where the bride and the groom got separated within hours of their marriage. An example of extravaganza is the custom made diamond rings that were designed by the famous actor Brad Pitt for Jennifer Aniston during their wedding and also for Gwyneth Paltrow when they got engaged.

The ten carat diamond ring adorning the fingers of Catherine Zeta Zones was yet another topic of discussion at the time of her engagement to Michael Douglas. Some may invite the press to affirm their vows whereas others may want to retain utmost secrecy.