Catholic wedding cards speak of elegance. Here’s what makes them different!

God brought you two, to join as one/ blessed and sanctified, through God’s dear son/ today and every day, and for many years ahead/ may your love be like a strand, of a strong woven thread”, as quoted by M.S. Lowndes, marriage is the strongest bond for people of all communities across the world. They believe, in a marriage, not just two individuals, but two families and friends come together. Vows made on this special day are taken for a lifetime.

Right from the Biblical days, Catholic wedding has been considered a sacred and happiest event. Catholic Weddings like any other wedding believe in the traditions and culture of their respective religion and therefore, all the rituals in a catholic wedding are performed as per the Christian community.

A catholic wedding ceremony consists of at least three biblical readings, followed by an exchange of rings and vows, the Prayer of the Faithful, appropriate music and food, and nuptial blessings. However, prior to this, there’s a lot of preparation and planning that needs to be done. One of the most important thing for the couple is preparing and sending wedding invitations to their respective friends and families.

Talking about the Christian wedding card, they are done in a unique fashion. Unlike the Hindu wedding cards, they are subtler. They have different ways of sending invites to their guests. They just do not send the invitation card in an envelope, but along with it send a gift like a perfume, a soft toy, dry fruits, flowers, or a box of chocolates, etc.

Instead of traditional catholic wedding cards, many people prefer stylish customized ones. The exclusive designs create a style statement that has a blend of traditional design with a tinge of modern elegance. If you too are looking to buy catholic wedding cards or wish to suggest some designs to a friend, you can now do it online. You can simply visit the online portal of Indian Wedding Card and you’ll have several amazing, incredible and unique options to select from. With just a few clicks, you can select the size, style, color, and the design. Moreover, you can customize your own design at no extra cost.

TOP 7 RITUALS OF A MANIPURI WEDDING

Synonymous to any other Indian wedding, a Manipuri marriage ceremony features a unique blend of colors and traditions. The wholeheartedness, enthusiasm and joy of families never fade an inch away while they continue to follow customs and rituals even after the nuptial ends. While the bride flaunts herself in the rich textured Rasila Skirt, the groom dresses to impress himself in Dhoti-Kurta and a big turban worn round his head. Before the day when the boy and the girl ties knots, the first pre-wedding ritual, Hinaba helps the families to know if the bride and the groom would have a steady married life through their horoscopes. Finally after the engagement, Heijapot, the date of marriage is decided by the priest. The traditions of choosing their better half differ from tribe to tribe of Manipur. Here are top 7 rituals that make the wedding memorable.

1. Usually, when a wedding ceremony is conducted in “Meitei” house situated in Imphal, a woman gives a warm welcome to the guests, bride and his entire family by offering them Betel Nut, Pan, and Tamul from a Thali.

2. The bride and the groom are then seated next to the Tulsi plant in the shed or ‘Pandal’ that sprawls across ample space. Here, the boy and the girl are greeted with ‘Grass’ or ‘Durva’ and rice. The relatives and friends who have been invited through an appealing wedding invitation card enjoy the colorful ambience.

3. Next, the ‘Pradip’ is lit and the water is poured by a young boy to wash the bride’s feet. One could find the latent beauty of this custom while it is accompanied by singing hymns on the tunes of conventional music.

4. As the refreshing sound of the Shahnai rings in the Pandal, the couple takes seven rounds with the bride placing her foot in rhythm of the notes of the sweet music.

5. Interestingly, the release of the pair of ‘Taki’ fish in water follows to signify the relationship. It is believed that if the ‘Taki’ fish swim in harmony with each other, then the boy would have a symbiotic relationship with the girl for many years long. If luck fails at this point of time, then the omen is tried to get rid of a prayer along with chanting of the mendicant, ‘Khamal’.

6. As soon as the nuptial comes to an end, the family members offer special recipes to their god or goddesses and ask in prayer to shower abundant blessings and prosperity on the couple as they pace ahead with new chapter in life.

7. On the fifth day counted from the day of the marriage, Manipuris savor a sumptuous feast that comprises of fish.

Unlike many other weddings, it is not a hard and fast custom to give dowry. ‘Tshere’ gives the freedom on the money that one wishes to spend on the ceremony. As the bride’s parents bid her farewell, they give her essential household items such as utensils, clothes, etc to start off a new phase in her life.