"Timeless Traditions places the world at your feet--or at least within your grasp, which is as it should be for everyone in love. For engaged couples around the world, this volume is an indispensable, comprehensive guide to the wedding traditions of the major faiths and more than one hundred countries and peoples, spanning the cultures and regions of past and present.Written by "Elegant Bride feature contributor Lisl M. Spangenberg and illustrated with sumptuous two-color illustrations, "Timeless Traditions focuses on each step along the path to marriage, from pre-wedding to ceremonial rituals and from celebratory to post-wedding traditions. Within each section, specific customs are described in an A-to-Z format. Traditional dress, food, music, dance, and gifts are all featured, along with vows, readings, and toasts, from Asia to Zimbabwe.Rediscover time-honored customs and read about practices which, though thousands of years old, may be new to you. Learn why the bride stands to the groom's left, what the Asian tea ceremony involves, how the African custom of loading the bride parallels the bridal shower, and why the brides of so many cultures wear veils. Withins these pages, discover the courtship and wedding rituals that speak to you and help you map out a meaning-filled celebration for your personal romance.The perfect guide for couples who want to lend the richness and resonance of tradition to their wedding day, "Timeless Traditions is also an ideal resource for wedding planners and others involved in the wedding industry.