Clinton News-Record, 1985-2-27, Page 41page 14, Showcase '85
An old car to wisk the bride and groom away to their reception adds a romantic touch to this bride
and groom's special day and a delightful memory captured by their wedding photographer.
(Photo by Mary Layton photography)
Sone couples retain ethnic rites
Toronto is a puOtirig pot of international
co lrnuulties with charming and colourful
Av01.1Ug customs. Traditiont of the Por-
tugnese.and tbe.Japanese were described by
Marina Sturdza in her column Panache in
The Toronto Star.
Young Portuguese spea.dng Canadians
are adopting many Canadian customs but
they often retain some regional traditions.
The Portuguese Roman Catholic church
remains a very strong influence and church
weddings are the norm. Traditionally, two
weeks before the wedding, guests bring gifts
to the bride's home, sometimes selecting
them from a detailed list the bride has
prepared.
At the wedding, the groom's mother
escorts him to the altar and the bride's
father takes her up. the aisle. There is no
best man or maid of honour but it's
customary to have one attendant who car-
ries the rings and holds the train. It's a dou-
ble ring cerernony, followed immediately by
a reception, likely to feature traditional Por-
tuguese special and festive dishes, such as -
roast suckling pig and wonderfully ornate
cakes.
In northern Portugal, women dress in
black, with lots of gold embroidery and
jewellery around the neckline, and wear or-
nate white veils.
Wedding customs do a dramatic flipflop
as you move from Europe to the Orient.
The Japanese follow two traditional calen-
dars, the Shinto. and Buddhist, both of which
Turn to page 21"
Family friend initiates the toasts
Most. of the men in your circle of family
and friends aren't public speakers, so call-
ing on them to make toasts can be unnerv-
ing.
The most effective toasts, however, are
simply worded.
A respected family friend - but never a
relative - starts the ceremony with a toast to
the bride. Often he recounts an anecdote
about her. The toast should include the good
wishes of the guests, and congratulations to
the groom for his wise choice; .
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honour to-
day to have the delightful task of proposing
a toast to our lovely bride.
"I have known her for many years, and
watched her' grow and blossom through
childhood, her teens, and now as a married.
woman.
"To the man she has married, I offer our
hearty congratulations. You have found
yourself a treasure, a girl who will be a wife
you can be proud of. And now, I ask you all
to rise with me and wish sincere happiness
and years of health and prosperity - to the
bride."
The groom responds, thanking the
Turn to page 21
after Your "1 do's"
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