Wedding Ceremony In Modern Ceremony

Ancient Greco-Roman weddings, in both paganism and Second Temple Judaism, were immensely different from our modern weddings today. In fact, it is unlikely that the ancient ceremony resembles the modern one at all. In ancient times, most women were not given the opportunity to make decisions (specifically regarding marriage) by themselves. It was up to a woman’s parents (commonly her father) to arrange the marriage. Lynn Cohick, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, disclosed that a woman became valuable once she was married (64). A woman’s worth was built upon her marital status, not on her accomplishments as an individual (though she had many). Her sole purpose in society was to support her husband and birth his children. The reality of a woman’s role in ancient culture is important to acknowledge and understand when discussing wedding traditions and origins. As culture has shifted, so have many of these traditions; however, a strong correlation between ancient Roman traditions and modern ones remains. An abundance of preparation goes into the modern wedding ceremony; however, for many couples, before the wedding planning can begin, the man proposing will ask the bride’s father for permission or his blessing to marry his daughter. Then, the man believes it is acceptable to propose to the woman. While this practice has become less common in recent years, as a result of the average marrying age rising, it is still relevant today; therefore, it is important to