Why do grooms carry brides over the threshold?

by Josh Clark 

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Kiss Image Gallery

Even unusual weddings, like this mass Rockabilly drive-in wedding in Sweden in 2008, feature old traditions. See more pictures of kissing.

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Anyone who's sat through a long ceremony, followed by a brief, dry reception can easily take weddings for granted. Brides and grooms, too, their minds lent almost ­exclusively to planning and celebrating their weddings, can overlook the themes inherent within the ceremony. Amid the flowers, limousines, gowns and honeymoons, common threads wind together to form the underlying traditions fou­nd in some form or fashion in just about every wedding.

What does R.S.V.P. mean?

Etiquette & Languages

Image Gallery: Dazzling Diamonds

Invitations often require a person to RSVP as to whether or not they will attend an event.

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R.S.V.P. stands for a French phrase, "répondez, s'il vous plaît," which means "please reply." The person sending the invitation wo­uld like you to tell him or her whether you accept or decline the invitation. That is, will you be coming to the event or not?