Wedding ceremonies which take place in a church, synagogue, or other house of worship can be especially meaningful. There are some things which the bride and groom can do to make their ceremony as special as possible, while also making it meaningful for their guests. These are some tips for religious wedding ceremonies.
Tip No. 1: Ask a dear family member to do a ceremony reading. The support your family and friends can give you for your wedding goes beyond shopping for wedding gowns, bridal jewelry sets, and wedding favors. To really make your ceremony more personal, invite someone you love to do a reading, rather than relying on your minister or officiant to do all the readings. Some churches have set lists of Bible readings from which the bride and groom can choose (usually one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament); take the time to carefully consider all the available readings to select the ones which are the most relevant to your relationship with your soon-to-be-spouse.
Tip No. 2: Include family heirlooms in your wedding ceremony whenever possible. Borrow a family quilt or prayer shawl to cover the chuppah for a Jewish marriage ceremony. Carry a small family Bible or white prayer book decorated with a spray of flowers instead of a bouquet. Some brides have the florist add a few pearls or crystals to the floral spray to complement their bridal jewelry sets. You might opt to include the same Biblical readings in your wedding as your parents or grandparents had int theirs. If you are having a wedding program, include a note about the special family heirlooms or customs you have chosen for your ceremony so that your guests can appreciate them as well.
Tip No. 3: Use your wedding program to share information about your religious customs to your guests. Especially if you will have guests from a variety of faiths, this can add tremendously to their comprehension of the ceremony as it unfolds. Include notes about the reasons behind Jewish customs like the chuppah, or explain the crowning ceremony of a Greek Orthodox wedding. The program can also include information about what to do during parts of the ceremony, such as: "During the Nuptial Mass, Catholic guests are welcome to join in the Eucharist. All other guests are invited to come forward with their arms crossed over their chests to receive a blessing."
Tip No. 4: Take advantage of any pre-wedding preparation courses that your church or synagogue may offer. In some cases, such as Catholic wedding preparation, there is a set course of required classes. Other churches may not require classes, but might offer things such as weekend retreats for engaged couples. They not only provide guidance on how to live your married life according to your faith, but help to lay the foundation for a successful marriage by fostering open communication about all sorts of relationship issues.
Tip No. 5: Be respectful of your setting. If you chose to get married in a house of worship, be certain to take the necessary steps to show respect and honor to your church. The bride should select a wedding gown which meets the guidelines of her church or synagogue (whether they are official or merely implied). If you have the option of selecting whatever music you like, choose something tasteful for your recessional, avoiding songs with any "questionable" lyrics. While most houses of worship do not charge a set fee for use of their facilities, it is customary to offer a donation. Last but not least, remember that one should never hold a receiving line inside a house of worship, because one cannot play host in God's house. Have your receiving line outside the church or at your reception venue.
Guy has been writing about society and weddings for a long time. If you have a topic you would like to know about, let us know at http://silverlandjewelry.com/. We are proud to handcraft elegant bridal jewelry sets made especially for each of our brides. All jewelry orders over $99 receive free shipping.
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