The Wedding Date: A Guide To This Romantic Tradition

The Wedding Date is a 2005 romantic comedy film starring Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney, and Amy Adams. It is based on the 2002 novel Asking for Trouble by Elizabeth Young. The film follows Kat Ellis, a single woman who hires a male escort to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding to make her ex-fiancé jealous. However, her plan backfires as she ends up falling in love with the escort, Nick Mercer. The film explores themes of love, family dynamics, and the complexities of relationships. It grossed $47 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics.

There is also a book titled The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory, which was published in 2018. It follows a similar premise of a fake date for a wedding that turns into something more.

The 2005 film 'The Wedding Date'

The 2005 film The Wedding Date is a romantic comedy starring Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney, and Amy Adams. The film follows Kat Ellis (Messing), a single woman who hires a male escort, Nick Mercer (Mulroney), to pose as her boyfriend and accompany her to her sister's wedding in London. Kat's ex-fiancé, Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield), who abruptly ended their engagement two years prior, is the best man at the wedding, and Kat aims to make him jealous.

Kat, a New Yorker, must travel back to London for her parents' house and her younger half-sister Amy's (Adams) wedding. Anxious about facing Jeffrey and eager to make him envious, Kat hires Nick, a suave escort, to pretend to be her boyfriend. Nick's services cost Kat $6,000, plus airfare for the trip to London.

As the story unfolds, Nick not only convinces everyone else but also himself and Kat that they are deeply in love. However, on the night before the wedding, Kat discovers a secret that changes everything. She learns that Amy had slept with Jeffrey when they were still together, and he had ended their engagement because of his feelings for Amy. Nick had known about this betrayal a day earlier, leaving Kat feeling betrayed by those around her. Hurt and upset, she pushes Nick away, and he decides to return to America, refunding the money Kat had paid him.

On her wedding day, Amy confesses her past transgression to her fiancé, Ed, but affirms her love for him. Ed, upset and angry, chases Jeffrey away from the church and confronts him about his actions. Jeffrey tries to justify his behaviour, but Ed remains furious, calling him a "back-stabbing weasel". Nick, ever the gentleman, offers Ed a ride in his car and helps him process his emotions. Ed ultimately decides that his love for Amy outweighs his anger, and he returns to the church with Nick as the new best man.

In the end, Kat and Nick reconcile and begin a genuine relationship, and Kat also mends her relationship with Amy. The film grossed $47 million worldwide and received mixed reviews from critics, with a 11% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

The novel 'The Wedding Date' by Jasmine Guillory

The novel *The Wedding Date* by Jasmine Guillory is a fun and flirty romantic debut novel. It follows the story of Alexa Monroe, the mayor's chief of staff, and Drew Nichols, a paediatric surgeon, who get stuck in an elevator together. Drew, who is in town for his ex-girlfriend's wedding, is minus a plus one. He asks Alexa to be his date for the wedding festivities, and she agrees.

Alexa and Drew have more fun than they expected, but their relationship soon turns into a long-distance one as Alexa heads back home to Berkeley and Drew returns to his job in Los Angeles. Despite the distance, they can't stop thinking about each other. Alexa and Drew are just two high-powered professionals on a collision course toward a long-distance dating disaster or closing the gap between what they think they need and what they truly want.

The novel explores themes of interracial relationships, privilege, and self-confidence. It has received praise for its diverse characters and its light-hearted and quick-read nature.

Wedding traditions and customs

The 2005 romantic comedy film "The Wedding Date" is about a single woman, Kat Ellis, who hires a male escort to pose as her boyfriend at her sister's wedding. The film explores various wedding traditions and customs, showcasing how weddings are a time-honoured ritual with unique expressions worldwide. Here is a detailed look at some fascinating wedding traditions and customs:

• Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue: This custom is derived from an Old English rhyme. "Something old" represents the couple's past lives, while "something new" symbolises their future together. Borrowing an item from a happily married couple is believed to bring good fortune, and the colour blue symbolises fidelity and love.
• Carrying a Bridal Bouquet: In ancient Greece and Rome, brides carried aromatic bouquets of garlic, dill, and herbs to ward off evil spirits. Today, brides often carry their favourite blooms, a tradition popularised by Queen Victoria, who carried a bouquet of snowdrops.
• Bridesmaids in Matching Dresses: In Roman times, bridesmaids dressed identically to the bride to confuse evil spirits and protect the bride from curses.
• Wearing a Wedding Veil: The tradition of veiling the bride's face dates back to ancient Rome, where it was believed to protect the bride from evil spirits.
• Ring Placement on the "Ring Finger": This custom stems from the Roman belief that the "vein of love" directly connected the fourth finger on the left hand to the heart.
• Invitation Wording: The phrase "The Honour of Your Presence" on a wedding invitation indicates that the ceremony will take place in a church or another place of worship.
• Giving Away the Bride: This tradition originates from arranged marriages, where the bride was transferred to her new husband's ownership. Today, it has evolved into a loving moment where the father walks his daughter down the aisle.
• Tying the Knot: In many cultures, including Celtic and Hindu weddings, the couple's hands are bound together to symbolise their commitment and new bond.
• Tossing Rice: Throwing rice at the newlyweds symbolises fertility and prosperity, wishing them abundance and good luck.
• Wedding Cake: The ancient Romans broke bread over the bride's head to symbolise fertility. In medieval England, the couple kissed over a pile of spiced buns, a precursor to tiered wedding cakes.
• Saving the Top Tier of the Cake: Traditionally, the top tier was saved for the couple's future child's christening, assuming they would have a baby within a year.
• Candy Wedding Favours: In the 16th century, European aristocrats gave guests bombonieres, trinket boxes filled with candy or sugar cubes, as a display of wealth. Today, Jordan almonds symbolise five wishes for the couple: health, wealth, happiness, fertility, and longevity.

These traditions and customs add symbolism and ritual to weddings, making them memorable and meaningful for the couple and their loved ones.

Choosing a wedding date

Consider the Weather

The most popular months to get married are June, September, and October, when the weather is beautiful in early summer and fall. You can plan for weather based on past records, but remember to track it throughout your planning process. If you're set on getting married outdoors, choose a season with clear skies and mild weather.

Off-Season Dates

Getting married in the off-season can help cut costs, but you may have to sacrifice in other areas. For example, your favourite flowers may be hard to source or expensive during certain times of the year. Friday weddings can also be cheaper, but be aware that other wedding vendors might not be able to offer discounts.

Symbolic Dates

Brainstorm dates that are symbolic to you. Consider marrying on the anniversary of your first date, the day you became a couple, or your grandparents' wedding date. Some cultures use traditional methods to choose a date. For example, Japanese families consult the koyomi, an ancient astrological calendar.

Pick a Season

If you have flexibility with your date, choose a season first. Consider the climate of your wedding location and whether you want an outdoor setting. Weather can also help set a mood or theme for your wedding. For example, a summer wedding can be fun and tropical, while a winter wedding evokes opulence and holiday sparkle.

Peak vs Off-Peak Dates

Peak wedding season is typically between May and October, so prices are higher due to high demand. If you're looking to save money, choose an off-season date, where you're more likely to get discounted prices and a better selection of venues and vendors. The low season is usually winter, but December and February are busier due to holidays.

Holiday Weddings

If you've always wanted a Christmas tree at your wedding, a holiday wedding might be for you. You can also celebrate your heritage with a themed wedding. However, some guests may not want to give up their holiday weekends, so take that into consideration.

Local Events

Check the calendar for other local events, such as major sporting events, graduations, and festivals. You don't want to deal with sold-out hotels, high airfares, and heavy traffic on your wedding weekend.

Lucky Wedding Dates

If you're superstitious or want to honour your cultural background, consider choosing a lucky date. For example, in Jewish tradition, Tuesdays are considered a lucky day to wed, while in Irish culture, New Year's Eve is the luckiest wedding date.

VIP Guest Availability

If you have essential guests who must be there, you may want to ask them about date conflicts and plan accordingly.

Venue Availability

Now that you have some potential dates in mind, start researching wedding venues. The venue's availability may impact your final choice of date, so remain flexible if possible to increase your options.

Spread the Word

Once you've booked your venue, start spreading the word about your date through a wedding website, save-the-dates, and invitations.

Wedding ceremonies

A wedding ceremony is a ritual that unites two people in marriage. Traditions and customs vary across cultures, ethnic groups, races, religions, and countries. However, most wedding ceremonies involve the exchange of marriage vows, presentation of gifts, and a public proclamation of marriage by an authority figure or celebrant.

Traditions and Customs

• Wedding Attire: Special garments are often worn by the couple, such as a white wedding dress and veil for the bride, and a suit or tuxedo for the groom in Western cultures.
• Music and Entertainment: Music, poetry, prayers, or readings from religious texts or literature are commonly incorporated.
• Offerings and Gifts: The presentation of gifts, such as rings, flowers, or other symbolic items, is customary.
• Proclamation of Marriage: An authority figure, such as a priest, pastor, or celebrant, publicly announces the couple's marriage.
• Superstitions: Some traditions include throwing rice or shoes for prosperity and fertility, or following specific astrological calendars to choose an auspicious date.

Types of Wedding Ceremonies

• Religious Weddings: Most Christian denominations include blessings, mutual vows, and readings from the Holy Bible. In Catholic weddings, the sacrament of marriage is considered sacred and must take place in a church building. Jewish weddings include the signing of a ketubah (marriage contract) and sipping wine under the chuppah (wedding canopy). Hindu weddings may include fire rituals and the exchange of garlands and vows before the sacred fire.
• Civil Weddings: These are presided over by a local civil authority and may include references to God or a deity, but no specific religion. Civil weddings allow interfaith couples to marry without converting.
• Destination Weddings: Couples host their wedding in a vacation-like setting, often with a smaller guest list.
• Elopement: Couples get married unexpectedly or secretly, sometimes without guests or with a small group of family or friends.
• Microweddings: A small number of guests, usually no more than 10-15 people, are invited to the wedding.
• Military Weddings: One or both individuals wear a military dress uniform, and the ceremony may include a Saber Arch.

Wedding Reception

A wedding ceremony is often followed by a wedding reception, which includes rituals such as speeches, the couple's first dance, and the cutting of the wedding cake. In recent years, traditions have evolved to include a father-daughter dance and sometimes a mother-son dance.

Frequently asked questions