Carry Me over the Threshold: A Christian Guide to Wedding Traditions Book

Acknowledgments 11
Introduction: Let Your Light Shine! 13
Part One Pre-Ceremony Traditions
1. Announcements and Banns 21
2. Bachelor Parties 23
3. Betrothal 25
4. Bridal Attendants 27
5. Bridal Registries 29
6. Bridal Showers 30
7. Bride Price 32
8. Bridesmaids' Tea 33
9. Bundling 34
10. Capturing the Bride 36
11. Counseling 38
12. Dowries 40
13. Engagement Parties 41
14. Engagement Rings 43
15. Flower Girls, Pages, and Ring Bearers 49
16. Invitations 50
contents
17. Location and Time 52
18. Marriage Contracts 56
19. Parents' Dinner 58
20. Promise Rings 59
21. Proposals 60
22. Transportation to the Ceremony 62
23. Trousseaux and Hope Chests 63
Part Two Ceremony Traditions
24. Aisle Runners 66
25. Bridal Accessories 67
26. Bridal Gowns 71
27. Communion 75
28. Electronic Weddings 76
29. Flowers 78
30. Gifts for the Wedding Party 82
31. Groom's Attire 83
32. Jumping the Broom 84
33. Kissing at the Ceremony's End 85
34. Leaving the Ceremony 86
35. Music 89
36. Processionals 91
37. Standing on the Left 93
38. Taking the Husband's Last Name 94
39. Unity Candles 95
40. Vows 98
41. Wedding Bells 102
42. Wedding Rings 103
Part Three Post-Ceremony Traditions
43. Anniversaries 106
44. Bedding 108
45. Cakes 110
46. Carrying the Bride over the Threshold 114
47. Dancing 115
48. Favors 117
49. Honeymoons 118
50. Receiving Line 120
51. Receptions 121
52. Shoes 123
53. Toasts 125
54. Tossing the Garter and Bouquet 127
55. Wedding Gifts 129
Epilogue 131
Selected Bibliography 133
Index 135