▁and ▁gro oms men , ▁with ▁the ▁closest ▁of ▁each ▁selected ▁to ▁be ▁the ▁ma id ▁of ▁honor ▁and ▁best ▁man . ▁The ▁couple ▁may ▁add ▁a ▁list ▁of ▁desired ▁g ifts — us ually ▁necess ities ▁for ▁a ▁new ▁household , ▁such ▁as ▁d ishes ▁and ▁bed ding — to ▁a ▁br idal ▁registry . ▁ ▁We eks ▁before ▁the ▁wed ding , ▁the ▁ma id ▁of ▁honor ▁plans ▁a ▁wed ding ▁show er , ▁where ▁the ▁b ride - to - be ▁receives ▁g ifts ▁from ▁family ▁and ▁friends . ▁The ▁best ▁man ▁often ▁organ izes ▁a ▁b ach elor ▁party ▁shortly ▁before ▁the ▁wed ding , ▁where ▁male ▁friends ▁join ▁the ▁gro om ▁in ▁a ▁" last ▁night ▁of ▁freedom " ▁from ▁the ▁respons ib ilities ▁of ▁marriage . ▁ ▁Trad itionally , ▁a ▁U . S . ▁wed ding ▁would ▁take ▁place ▁in ▁a ▁religious ▁building ▁such ▁as ▁a ▁church , ▁with ▁a ▁religious ▁leader ▁offici ating ▁the ▁ceremony . ▁During ▁the ▁ceremony , ▁the ▁b ride ▁and ▁gro om ▁v ow ▁their ▁love ▁and ▁commit ment ▁for ▁one ▁another ▁with ▁church - prov ided ▁v ows . ▁The ▁offici ant ▁asks ▁the ▁guests ▁if ▁they ▁know ▁of ▁any ▁reason ▁why ▁the ▁couple ▁should ▁not ▁be ▁married . ▁If ▁no ▁one ▁objects , ▁the ▁couple ▁then ▁ex changes ▁rings , ▁which ▁symbol izes ▁their ▁never - ending ▁love ▁and ▁commit ment ▁towards ▁one ▁another . ▁Finally , ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁in ▁public , ▁the ▁couple ▁is ▁pron ounced