Really interesting points, these are the kinds of things I was looking for in regards to my 100 questions, why the bride and groom are separated from the start of the wedding and why the father brings the bride in etc. This information is from about.com
Seating of the Family on Opposite Sides of the Church
and friends of the bride and groom are seated on opposite sides of the church to symbolise the cutting of the Family blood covenant. These witnesses—the family, friends, and invited guests—are all participants in the wedding covenant, and many of them have made sacrifices to help prepare the couple for marriage and to support them in their holy union.Center Aisle and White Runner
The center aisle represents the meeting ground, or the pathway between the animal pieces where the blood covenant is established. The white runner symbolises holy ground where two lives are joined as one by God. (Exodus 3:5, Matthew 19:6)Seating of the Parents
In Bible times, the parents of the bride and groom were ultimately responsible for discerning God's will concerning the choice of a spouse for their children. The wedding tradition of seating the parents in a place of prominence is meant to recognise their responsibility for the couple's union.Groom Enters First
Ephesians 5:23-32 reveals that earthly marriages are a picture of the church's union with Christ. God initiated the relationship through Christ, who called and came for his bride, the church. Christ is the Groom, who established the blood covenant first initiated by God. For this reason, the groom enters the church auditorium first.Father Escorts and Gives Away the Bride
In Jewish tradition, it was the father's duty to present his daughter in marriage as a pure virgin bride. As parents, the father and his wife also took responsibility for endorsing their daughter's choice in a husband. By escorting her down the aisle, a father says, "I have done my very best to present you, my daughter, as a pure bride. I approve of this man as your choice for a husband, and now I bring you to him." When the ministers asks, "Who gives this woman?," the father responds, "Her mother and I." This giving away of the bride, demonstrates the parent's blessing on the union and the transfer of care and responsibility to the husband.White Wedding Dress
The white wedding dress has a two-fold significance. It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, and in reverence to God. It's also a picture of the righteousness of Christ described in Revelation 19:7-8. Christ clothes his bride, the church, in his own righteousness as a garment of "fine linen, bright and clean."
NOTES
- White wedding dress is to symbolise the brides purity, and virginity?! Purity in heart and life and reverence to God.
- Father escorts father to bridge, stems from Jewish tradition
- Father basically symbolises giving blessing to union and kind of says I've done my very best to present you, my daughter, as a pure bride.
- In tradition the Father replies to the Priests "Who gives this woman?", "Her mother and I."
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