The Danish Wedding Ceremony
One wedding day custom is that a “Gate of Honor” – a fine archway of evergreen foliage and flowers, is erected outside the bride’s home, for her to walk through on the day. The modern variation on this is that you might find this Gate of Honor on a pathway or doorway to the ceremony or reception venue instead, as it makes a great photo setting for the couple.
Since more ancient times, the bride has traditionally been escorted to the church or ceremony venue by her father, arriving after all of the other guests. The bride remains with her father throughout the whole service, with the groom seated separately from her, with his Best Man in attendance. They remain separate until they are asked to give their vows.
Now, unless the couple are incorporating their own vows, in the manner of western European and American styles, the bride and groom will actually say little in the ceremony as custom dictates that each of them only has to say “yes” twice when required by the priest or celebrant.
Once the couple have exchanged their vows, the bride’s father and her groom ceremonially swap seats and the bride and groom are declared married.