The Bride’s House

One of the most emotional and sentimental events taking place on the ‘Big Day’ is the bride’s house celebration. Armenian weddings are known to many for its lengthiness and for its traditional aspects. In the older days, the groom’s family would enter the bride’s house for permission of her hand in marriage. This has remained as part of the Armenian wedding celebration but has modernized itself to a more elaborate celebration. Many Armenians have kept this tradition as a symbol of respect and honor for the bride’s parents.

A bride may prefer to be greeted at her house in the presence of her parents and family or meet the groom and his family at the church.

The bride may wear a different dress while waiting for the groom to bring her gown. Since wedding gowns have become very heavy and delicate, the groom brings a basket or a decorated container stuffed with tulle to substitute and represent the gown. The bride’s shoes, gloves, garter and other related accessories are placed in the box as well. The maid-of-honor brings a another decorated basket containing some additional items such as a perfume, pair of slippers, ‘Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue’, undergarments, etc.

The groom enters the house followed by the best-man and Maid-of-honor and his family and friends. Decorated baskets, flower arrangements are carried in by the groom’s guests. Along the group arriving are members of a small Armenian band playing traditional Armenian music. This band will help to guide the groom and his family into the bride’s home with loud and traditional music. Inside the house the bride’s family, including the bride, bridesmaids, and other guests who have been waiting to welcome the groom, arise on their feet and cheer the groom and his family as they enter. The groom’s parents kindly ask permission from the bride’s parents in order to dress the bride and get her prepared for the ceremony. As the bride’s parent’s permit, the bridesmaids carry the decorated to the room for the bride to dress. The bride gets ready in her room for one last time!
Before the veil is worn, the maid-of-honor passes it over the bride’s head three times wishing her health, happiness and prosperity, she then passes the veil over the bridesmaid heads once to extend the best wishes.

The veil is then handed over to the mother of the bride to place the veil in place. The mother of the bride places the veil which symbolizes the extension of her family.

Most of the time, the photographer prefers to take some photos of the bride and her bridesmaids as they take decorated items out of the box and show them off.
Some brides prefer to be ready in her gown when the groom and his guests arrive. If so, the bride stays in her room and waits for the maid-of-honor (who arrives with the groom’s family) to come and take her out to the groom and the guests.

This wonderful tradition allows the families to unite before the ceremony and pass on some of the tradition to their kids. Hoping they will also so the same for their children.