what is wedding chapping

Wedding chapping is a cowboy tradition mainly done at weddings as a lighthearted and somewhat playful ritual. It involves restraining the groom (or sometimes another friend) by a group of people, usually the guys in the wedding party or friends, and then using a large pair of leather leg coverings called chaps to deliver a few swats or "chaps" on the person's backside. This act is usually done in good fun, often as a kind of rite of passage, reminder of etiquette, or just a humorous gesture on special occasions like birthdays or weddings. The chapping is done with care to avoid hurting or humiliating the individual, often only giving a few good swats. It is considered a gesture of camaraderie rather than punishment in these contexts. The practice comes from cowboy culture, where "chaps" are protective leather gear worn by cowboys. The verb "to chap" in this context means to strike lightly with these leather coverings. At weddings, friends may wait until the reception is over and the groom has changed clothes to give the chapping, making sure it is done respectfully and without causing disruption or upsetting others, such as children or elderly guests. In summary, wedding chapping is a friend-group or cowboy tradition where the groom receives affectionate leather "spanks" with chaps as a playful, symbolic gesture during wedding celebrations.