With the drastic changing of times, many of us are left wondering if the traditional concept of a wedding ceremony remains as relevant as it was in days gone by. However, most of us accept it as something of a constant cultural fixture regardless. While there’s no arguing the relevance of tying the knot, if you are contemplating the details of your wedding in hopes of showcasing an exceptionally unique event, you may find the perfect destination among Wedding Venues in Utah.
Before planning all the vivid details of your big day, it is quite essential to keep in mind that the options are endless, even when traditions are taken into account. However, if you are not entirely sold on the ideals of the wedding ceremonies traditional aspects, we decided to look into the origin of the wedding ceremony, how that relates to us in the modern age and what we are trying to achieve with the idea. We do all this in the hopes of helping you make an informed decision as to whether it is the right option for you when marrying your significant other.
It Really Is An Ancient Practice
The earliest records of a wedding ceremony date back to 2350 B.C in Mesopotamia. In the centuries that followed, the practice became more widespread. Interestingly, some isolated peoples seem to have started practicing their versions independently of the initial original ceremony. Suppose you are inclined to believe, like many of us. In that case, that the foremost wedding ceremonies all consisted of larger than lie white flowing dresses and immaculate church receptions, you might be surprised to discover that traditional weddings vary drastically according to religion and several other factors. Therefore, while the English may have adapted the big white wedding specifics, Muslim wedding unions are vastly different according to culture specifics.
The Hebrews, Greeks and Romans were the main proliferators of the practice in its early inception. The original approach forked off into distinct, culturally specific methods that embraced the religious practices of the people adopting it. The historical significance of the way is not to be dismissed without consideration. Perhaps it makes for an argument for its continuation, the mere fact that it speaks to our shared human heritage. Depending on your personal feelings regarding the validity of tradition, the exhaustive history alone may merit the practice.
The Rules Were Tacked On
For many, traditional marriage as a concept is tarnished by a history of intolerance. Not only has same-sex marriage long been a taboo, but there is also the matter of interracial marriage as well as inter-religious unions. If these ideological failings are not enough to put you off, there is also the matter of children being wed, often young girls to older men. However, many such customs may be taboo to the western world while remaining a cultural norm to participants in their host regions.
While all of this is a true demerit to the institution of marriage, one may also consider that such men added absolutely all of that as it benefited, either directly or ideologically. We don’t know very much about the precise rules for the very earliest marriages and doubt that they were a beacon of civilized tolerance, but we do suspect there were at very least far fewer impositions.
The Original Intent Wasn’t For Love
You need not be attracted to the same sex to appreciate the rights of such people who are. The reason that we believe that it was most likely never pro-same-sex marriage is not because there is direct evidence of bigotry in this regard. The same goes for women’s rights. The earliest practice was never directly sexist as far as we can tell, but it was massively patriarchal by implication.
So, what then was the original intent behind the wedding ceremony? It turns out that the primary motive was to publicly bind a man and woman together so that the man could be certain any children born of the union were his true heirs. A very patriarchal concern indeed, a bit on the nose even. In addition to this, many customs point to the notion that a secondary validation for marriage was the union of families with the intention of maintaining wealth.
The maintaining of family wealth was the original reason families in decades gone by approved arranged marriages that specifically focused on binding first cousins or biological family members via marriage. While marrying into your own family has since become an absolute taboo as a result of genetic interbreeding results that are less than ideal, keeping wealth in the family remains a notable reason to tie the knot in many cultures.
So What’s The Conclusion?
The decision to tie the knot with your significant other should remain a profoundly personal matter. It will be up to you to take the facts upon yourself and reflect on your personal feelings on the subject. We recommend doing your research into the history of the tradition so that you have all the info you need to inform your own opinion. In addition to this, it is vital to keep in mind that the specifics of your ceremony do not entirely need to accommodate traditions as countless couples opt for small intimate weddings that are often void of cultural components.
Regardless of traditions, ceremonies can vary drastically according to the desires of the couple. Therefore, there is absolutely no reason why you can’t showcase your union in a coffee shop setting or even a vibrant beachfront location. When it comes to defining the details of your big day, traditional requirements can be determined by you and your partner. The idea of a wedding ceremony in today’s day and age is notably different from wedding settings showcased decades ago. Your wedding ceremony, vows, attire, reception, and other details are all changeable components that require careful consideration of your and your partners’ personal preferences and current family customs.
