Western Wedding Tradtions

Western marriage traditions share a lot in common with wedding traditions from almost anywhere in the world. In fact, it’s somewhat surprising how similar almost all cultures are, really, when it comes to marriage.

Marriage is a solemn vow to love one person and to stay true to that person for the rest of your life. Marriage is not something that is entered into lightly.

It’s your special day, and it should be exactly the kind of day that YOU want it to be.

That said, the wedding ceremony itself does not have to be the somber and humorless event that many people seem intent on making it. A light hearted approach to the wedding ceremony does not imply a frivolous attitude toward marriage.

For many people a western-style wedding, complete with white laced-up cowgirl boots for the bride and a ten gallon hat for the groom, adds a touch of lighthearted romance to the ceremony. For others, a cowboy-themed wedding is a lifestyle commitment that’s just as serious as the button-down world of Madison Avenue.

Why not have the bride and groom arrive in a horse-drawn carriage?

For those who have chosen to tie the knot western-style there are a few special traditions that you should be mindful of, whether you choose to follow all of them or not. It is traditional for the bride and the groom to arrive at the ceremony and to leave the ceremony in a horse-drawn conveyance, such as a buggy or a carriage. It is also acceptable for both the bride and the groom to simply arrive on horseback and to leave the horses tied near the site of the ceremony.

Give me open skies and plenty of wide open spaces.

The location of your Western marriage should, if possible, be outside under the wide open sky, or in a barn or other large building with a barn motif. Hay bales are traditional for seating.

Wear the wedding gown that makes you the happiest and you’ll always be the prettiest woman around!

The bride should make some attempt to look western, through a period dress, often embroidered, or white laced-up boots or by a hair-do that attempts to recreate the look and the feel of the 1880s Wild West.

The groom should wear shinned cowboy boots, possibly new ones especially for the wedding. He should be wearing new or pressed denim jeans, a checked or embroidered shirt, a vest, a string tie and quite possibly a black or a white cowboy hat.

Bridesmaids, ushers, ring bearers, flower girls and the like should be dressed in similar attire. Guests should be encouraged to dress more casual than they might for a more “traditional” wedding, but guests should be allowed to feel comfortable with what they wear.

The person officiating at the ceremony should be included in the Western theme.

An alter with woven wheat or corn stalks is not only western in appearance it’s also making a traditional statement that’s thousands of years old.

The alter may be hand-made and may include woven stalks of wheat and/or corn. Not only are wheat stalks symbolic of the old west, they are also traditionally symbolic of fertility and the continuation of life, dating back to at least the ancient Romans.

The releasing of one or more white doves at the conclusion of a Western ceremony is also highly symbolic.

Don’t be afraid to include western themes in your wedding vows.

The bride and groom may wish to write their own vows and their vows may contain western themes. Some couples go so far as to quote cowboy poetry or their favorite verses from popular country western songs. As the bride and groom share their first kiss it is often traditional for many of the guests to whoop and shout cowboy fashion to wish the happy couple well.

What western wedding reception could be complete without an open-pit Bar-B-Q and plenty of hickory or mesquite smoke?

It is common for the reception following a Western Wedding to be held at the same outdoor location or the same barn location as the wedding itself. One reason for this is that an open-pit Bar-B-Q is also traditional, complete with plenty of mesquite wood or hickory for that good old smoky Bar-B-Q flavor.

Steaks, ribs, chicken, lamb, hot dogs, burgers and corn on the cob are all traditional Western wedding reception fare. Sides include refried beans, cole slaw, and potato salad. It is not uncommon for bear to be served straight from the bottle, kept cold in a big bucket of ice.

Your reception is where the country music can really fill the air as your guests have a good ‘ol time square dancing and line dancing.

Traditional music, either from a live band or prerecorded with a DJ, includes a variety of country western, blue grass and soft rock favorites, with ballads and slower songs for specific dances such as the mother/daughter, mother/son and father/daughter dance, and then faster and more up-tempo material for your traditional square dancing and line dancing.

It is considered a good idea to have a professional dance instructor to help guests learn square dance moves and line dance steps.

Remember, this is your wedding. What makes you happy is the most important thing. Do not be stifled by traditions, simply use traditions as guideposts and allow the details to make the day your very own, ya’ hear?