A wedding is traditionally a service that is a voluntary union between two people; although the traditional marriage ceremony have seen a decline, there are now many other methods to confirm your union. Marriage is still a legal contract despite the religious background; the legal act of marriage only occurs once the signing a marriage license or other legal document is complete. A woman taking part in the ceremony is called a bride, a man called a bridegroom; the terms husband and wife are then the traditional terms to use after the ceremony. Religious Marriage Services Other wedding traditions vary according to the religion, race, ethnic group and even class the couple may belong too. Many people, whether religious or not, still prefer to have a traditional ceremony performed by a recognized religious minister in a Church of their choice. The traditional white wedding as we know it is really only a service that is popular in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland and some other Commonwealth countries. Multiple Ceremonies Double marriages are quite rare as they usually entail getting two couples to marry at the same time and same place; related people are the most likely to try for this type of service. In the event that you want to check your partner’s background, state criminal background check is now made available. Weddings in a Foreign Country A destination wedding is where the engaged couple and often guests travel to attend the ceremony; although the idea of a isolated island beach may be your idea of a destination wedding, it doesn't actually mean you have to travel outside your own country. Themed Weddings Weekend weddings are becoming popular and in Ireland they take place over the course of three days. Special activities, such as spa treatments and golf tournaments, are scheduled into the itinerary for guests' enjoyment throughout the weekend. Lodging is usually at the same facility and couples often host a Sunday brunch for the weekend's finale. Getting Married on the Internet Internet weddings seem to be something that has come about recently and a number of people are now using this method to seal their vows; there are even guides for information on how to go about an internet ceremony with information on people that can carry it out for you. An internet or online wedding can also refer to a situation where a couple may broadcast their marriage to friends and family in other parts of the world. City Hall Marriages Despite the term civil wedding, most services that take place outside of a Church, wherever that may be, are civil weddings which have to be carried out by appointed or elected judges, mayors or a justice of the peace. Although it may sound clinical, civil ceremonies usually make no reference to God. These services are brief and to the point because they are a legal procedure and the couple getting married does not mind the circumstances of the marriage, just the fact that they are married.With a little bit of luck, your understanding of weddings and marriage may be a little greater after reading this.