Weddings

Abstract

Weddings are rituals held in cultures across the world to celebrate a marriage. They are rites of passage that mark the transition of a couple from one social status to another, and in some cultural settings they mark the transition from childhood to adulthood. The form that the ritual takes varies from culture to culture, but music is often a central part of the celebration. The music used is often dictated by the religious tradition predominant in the culture. However, in contemporary Western societies, this is becoming less true, with the ceremony becoming deinstitutionalized, and music choices increasingly personalized