Questions about Wedding Customs

Reference code: FOL.QUES/41
Level of description: Series
Title: Questions about Wedding Customs
Scope and content: 1. Do married women in your area always wear a wedding ring?
2. On which finger of which hand is the wedding ring worn? Of what is it made?
3. (a) Do men in your area wear a ring to show that they are married?
(b) Is it the same as a woman's wedding ring?
(c) Do they receive it during the marriage ceremony?
4. Is there a difference in age or religion between men who wear a ring to show that they are married and those who do not?
5. Is it customary for a man to give a woman a ring when they become engaged?
When did this become general?
6. (a) How does this ring differ from the wedding ring?
(b) On which finger of which hand is it worn?
7. (a) Does the woman give the man a ring when they become engaged?
(b) Does he subsequently receive a wedding ring?
(c) What then happens to his engagement ring?
8. Do the couple exchange any other gifts when they become engaged? What are these?
9. If no rings are worn, is there any other indication that the couple are engaged?
10. How long does the engagement usually last?
11. Do the bride and bridegroom exchange gifts at the time of marriage? What are these?
12. What was the usual wedding present from (a) the bride's parents?
(b) the bridegroom's parents
13. What other people gave wedding presents? What were these?
14. Was it customary for the bride to receive a gift of clothes or money for clothes, from her parents at the time of marriage?
15. What is normally worn for the marriage ceremony by (a) the bride
(b) the bridegroom
16. Who provides these clothes? What happens to them afterwards?
17. What was worn for the ceremony before these clothes?
18. (a) What attendants do the bridal pair have?
b) Do they wear special clothes?
(c) If so, who provides them?
19. Do the bride and bridegroom give gifts to their attendants? What are these?
20. Is it customary to wear flowers or other favours at a wedding? Do all guests wear them?
21. Do the newly married pair go away for a honeymoon? When did this become general?
22. (a) Is there always a wedding feast after the marriage ceremony?
(b) Where is it held?
(c) Who provides the food? The Bride's Parents.
(d) What does it normally consist of?
23. (a) Is there always a wedding cake?
(b) Is any part of it kept? If so, why?
24. Are practical jokes played on the bride or bridegroom before the day of the marriage? Who participates in these? (Describe overleaf)
25. Are there any special customs associated with the ending of bachelorhood or spinsterhood?