Imagine your wedding is going ahead on schedule and then you have an unexpected guest. Seems somewhat normal, right? Well, not for this unlucky couple, who were surprised by a bear at their wedding!

Sarina Thompson and Cory Alan Brewer had the shock of their lives when a massive black bear stumbled onto their wedding in the Great Smoky Mountains of Gatlinburg, Tennessee mid photoshoot. Luckily, their photographer, Leah McMahan Edmondson, was on hand to capture it all.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2vLNucg9JK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

“I had the bride and groom with me starting to shoot when we all noticed this bear,” photographer Leah McMahan told The New York Post. “He turned and started down the aisle. Being scared didn’t cross my mind, I just wanted ‘the shot’.”

The bear then made a huffing noise and started coming toward them, at which point Leah began to panic.

“He jacked my heart rate up to Jesus,” she said.

Luckily no one was injured.

They say a picture says a thousand words. Well, these photographs definitely tell an interesting story!

Image: Instagram/gypsysoul_knoxville

First of all, Islamic marriage customs depend on the country, but all couples are guided by laws and practices stated in the Quran. A husband and wife are each other’s protector and comforter, and marriage is seen as a way to maintain the religion, especially when growing your family. So what exactly happens at a traditional Muslim wedding?

 

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Pre-wedding

Meher 

This is a payment made by the groom to his bride-to-be. It usually consists of two parts, prompt and deferred. Nowadays, most couples regard the ring as the prompt. The deferred amount is usually a smaller sum of money, an education, land or jewellery. The money belongs to the bride and she is free to do whatever she wants with it. Meher is a sign of security between the couple.

Wedding

Nikah

The wedding ceremony is known as Nikah. In order to officialise the marriage, the couple only have to sign a marriage contract. The wedding can be officiated by any Muslim who is well versed with Islamic tradition. An Islamic wedding does not require an official clergy. Two people have to be present to witness the joyous union.

To express their love and free choice, the couple repeat the word ‘qabul’ three times, which means ‘I accept’ in Arabic.

Once the contract is signed, a piece of sweet fruit is shared by the happy couple.

 

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Wedding of Dita & Hafiz Taken by @muezadigital #foto #binjai #nikah #lamaran #wedding #fotowedding #fotobinjai #fotomedan #fotopekanbaru #jasafoto #fotoprawedding #prawedding #cinematic #hantaran #hantaranbinjai #pernikahan #engagement #akad #akadnikah

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Fatihah and durud

The officiant usually reads the Fatihah which is the first chapter of the Quran. They speak about the meaning of marriage and the bond that the newlywed couple will share and their responsibilities to Allah and each other. It is not uncommon for a Muslim couple to not share vows. The newlyweds focus on what their officiant is saying.

Post-wedding

Walima

This is similar to a wedding reception. The purpose of a walima is to announce and rejoice the recent matrimony. Loved ones will gather and feast to celebrate the newlyweds.

It’s important to note that many wedding traditions vary as a result of the different regions. So some practices may not be the same all over.

 

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Shayaan and Nicola’s #walima

A post shared by Nawaz Ahmed (@nawaz_ahmed) on Sep 1, 2019 at 6:52pm PDT

Image: Unsplash

The Jewish religion has been around for over 3 000 years and there are an estimated 70 000 people living in South Africa that practice the Judaism. Various traditions and rituals are performed during the union of a couple, but what exactly happens at a traditional Jewish wedding?

Pre wedding

Kabbalat Panim

– This is when the soon-to-be wed couple refrain from seeing each other for one whole week before the wedding. By doing so excitement is created between the couple and they are overjoyed once they lay their eyes on each other again.

Fasting

– The happy couple will fast on their big day. It is viewed as being similar to the fast on Yom Kippur. After the ceremony the couple will share their first meal together and break their fast.

Bedeken

– The groom makes sure the woman he is about to marry is his partner. Once he sets eyes upon her, he proceeds to remove the veil over her face. The veil is a sign of modesty and symbolises that their love is not based on physical appearance but on what’s on inside. This tradition stems back to biblical times when Jacob was tricked into marrying his partner’s sister. The trickery took place because she wore a veil.

 

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DS.⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #bedeken #badeken #weddingmoment #momentsovermountains #documentaryphotography #weddingphotojournalism #thisisreportage #reportageweddingphotography #realwedding #mazeltov #jewishwedding #gardenroutephotographer #gardenroutewedding #plettenbergbaywedding #plettwedding #plettisafeeling #gardenroute #southafrica

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Ketubah

– This document details the grooms responsibilities to his partner. It’s a promise of their love and what’s to come. The love birds will sit side by side and overlook their unifying document. It is then signed by both of them. Two people should be present to witness this promise and commitment.

 

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What a joy it was to work with Rachel and Matthew on this custom ketubah featuring their house in the golden cornfields of Ohio and beautiful St. Pete Beach – two places with deep significance to the couple. I hope your first 3 months of marriage have been sweet, warm, and wonderful 🙂 Mazel Tov! Photo by @kristennicolephoto

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Wedding

Chuppah

– As the union begins the groom will make his way down the aisle with both parents at his side. The bride then follows with her parents. The couple make their way to the Chuppah which is basically like a canopy. The Chuppah needs to have four corners and be covered by a roof. The Chuppah is a symbol of the new home the married couple will build together.

 

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O casamento revela tantos momentos especiais. Na entrada da noiva com os pais, os sorrisos, os olhares, a emoção à flor da pele ?❤️? … … Moshe e Mazal na @hebraicasp ? @mcostaphoto #marcocostaphoto #quemfazcomamorfazmelhor com @tevejonoaltar @rubensdecoracoes @buffetmenora @viniciuscredidiofilms … #jewishwedding #weddingphotography #jewishbrides #quemfazcomamorfazmelhor #iseethelight #portrait @onlysimchas #olympuspenf #moments #fotografiadecasamento

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Circle

– This tradition requires the bride to circle her partner seven times. The custom began because it was believed to create a protection for the partner.

Sheva B’rachot

– This means seven blessings. It’s derived from ancient teachings and can be recited in Hebrew or English. The blessings translate to celebration, power of love and the joy of this union. It will usually be recited over a cup of wine and then the couple will sip from a cup to seal the blessing.

Breaking the glass

– The nuptials are then concluded with the man standing on a glass in a cloth bag. It stands for the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. Basically meaning that even in most joyous occasions you must not forget all the pain in the world. Everyone then shouts Mazel Tov! Which means congratulations or good luck.

 

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Lindsay & Cory’s magical wedding was featured on the @smashingtheglass wedding blog today and we’re super happy to see such a stunning event getting the attention it deserves! It was a pleasure working with this all-star team of vendors to make beautiful things happen. ____ Posted @withrepost • @smashingtheglass ?? @lindsayrgross⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ?? @Cgmoney ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @malomanstudios⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @erichiresweddings⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @ketubahdotcom #STGVendor⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @karmag.events⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @vizcaya_museum⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @verawanggang⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @manoloblahnikhq⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @juliarohdedesigns ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ? @tropics.entertainment ? @thierryisambert ? @celebrationsbykathy ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

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Post ceremony

Yichud

– This tradition sees the newly wed couple reflect on their recent marriage. They will go to a secluded spot and spend a few minutes alone together. They are able to bond and share this special time together without any disturbances to focus on each other. Their attention is completely on each other.

 

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These two really brought the sunshine. Smiles from start to finish and we ? it

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Image: Wesley Vorster Photography