Weddings:
They happen as mass ceremonies or from the back of a van all over the world in many different traditions. In the United States alone more than 2 million weddings take place a year at a average cost of $30,000, according to the Bridal Association of America. Here's a look at some brides and grooms and the events surrounding their big day. -- Lloyd Young ( 45 photos total)
Brides speak to their grooms during a mass wedding ceremony in Amman, Jordan, on July 6. An Islamic charity organized a mass wedding for 46 Jordanian and Syrian couples who are unable to afford expensive ceremonies. (Ali Jarekji/Reuters)