Top 15 Meaningful Christian Wedding Traditions You Should Know
The first thing that comes to mind when you think about Christian wedding ceremony traditions is a bride walking down the aisle in a beautiful white gown. But there is much more to it than eyes can’t always see. The history of Christian marriages is not only vibrant to look at, but it is also meaningful. Every ritual that is followed in the Christian wedding tradition has an aim and a story behind it. With this write-up, we are going to take you through 15 traditions or rituals that are still followed by couples today.
1. Visiting Church Together
One of the first pre-wedding rituals that a Christian couple needs to follow is visiting the church together. It is considered auspicious that the couple visits their local church together for at least six months before marriage. It shows their dedication towards the relationship as well as God. This tradition is similar all across the globe and can be done in any church.
2. Parents’ Approval
A family is one of the most important things to Christians. That is why, when a couple decides to get married they need their parent's approval. The boy must get approval from the girl's parents and vice versa. Without parents approval, any traditional Christian church would not allow the couple to be married. Although they are not banned from getting married, it is still important to receive approval.
3. Premarital Counseling
Even though this tradition is not that prevalent today it can still be seen in families that have old beliefs. Before the couple can actually get married they need to go to church counseling first. This is also known as a premarital counseling, which is given by the pastor of the church. The pastor shares with them a detailed insight on what a true relationship is and how it can flourish with love.
4. Bidston
Another ritual which is sometimes performed by the soon-to-be bride and groom is Bidston. It is a prayer session where the couple is considered as a special guest. This ceremony consists of singing prayer songs and preaches. Certain religious institutes also believe in making the bride the opening singer for the session. The aim behind this ceremony is to thank the lord for making the couple fall in love.
5. Wedding Day Entrance
Have you ever noticed, that on the wedding day the entire guest list arrives, before the bride and groom? It is because there is a special believe when it comes to wedding day entrances. Usually, the guests are first to arrive at the venue, which is then followed by the groom. Once everyone is ready, they actually welcome the bride along with her bridesmaids.
6. Wedding Day Attire
A bride's wedding gown is always white when it comes to traditional Christian marriages. The white wedding dress may intrigue a lot of people, but there is a strong reason for it. The white color represents purity which is of great importance in Christianity. Apart from this, it is even a symbol of righteousness.
7. Seating Arrangements
This might not be categorized as a ritual or ceremony. But it is still an essential normal. The entire front row of the seating arrangement is left for the couple's parents and family members. It is so that they are closest to the bride and groom as well as the pastor. The reason why it holds a special place in Christian wedding traditions is that the parents are believed to unite their children in front of the Lord.
8. Marriage Preaches
Once the bride has entered the church the next thing which happens is a preaching session. It is a small speech by the pastor which has a supportive message for the soon-to-be-married couple. It can be filled with jokes, stories, as well as tips for a healthy relationship. It is even done so that the entire ceremony can be made light-hearted.
9. Affirmation Ceremony
It is believed that when you are standing in a church you cannot lie or speak untrue statements under pressure. The same is taken forward when it comes to a Christian wedding. Before starting with the actual marriage process, the pastor takes a confirmation from the couple that they are getting married willfully. It is even done to reinforce their belief in God and commitment towards his service.
10. Marriage Vows
The bride and groom are supposed to write the vows, which can be shared on the actual wedding day. In other words, these wedding vows are promises which the couple makes to each other. The reason why they are pronounced in the church is so that, it is not done under fear or suppress. Besides, it is a commitment made in front of the god which cannot be ignored in the future.
11. Community Acceptance
In the middle of the wedding ceremony, the pastor takes out time to get the communities acceptance towards the marriage. It allows anybody who is against the wedding to stand up in a due course of time. Although, it is now considered a formality according to the old Christian wedding traditions. However, it is still undertaken in every marriage ceremony.
12. Importance of the Wedding Rings
The shape of a wedding ring or band is round which does not have any breaks. This continuous flow of metal represents the bond of love and life. It is believed that once you place a ring on your spouse's finger, you promise them an eternity of love and respect. This is the reason why the exchange of rings is so crucial. Also, you will never see a wedding ring which has a cut.
13. Pronouncing the Couple
A wedding ceremony is never complete till the time the pastor announces the bride and groom as a couple. It is done so that everybody in the wedding party can listen to the completion of the legal process. Besides, it is even said in front of God to add weight to the pastor's words.
14. The Wedding Cake
Having sweets after a post-wedding ceremony is a norm followed by almost every culture. However, in the case of a Christian wedding, it is done with the help of a wedding cake. This cake can be of any design and size depending on the couples preference. But they do need to cut it together and feed it to everyone who is present at the venue.
15. Bouquet Toss
The last Christian wedding tradition on our list is the bouquet toss. Most of you might have seen it in person or videos. In this, the bride tosses the bouquet behind her back and towards her friends. Anyone girl who catches the bouquet is believed to be getting married soon. It is considered lucky to get a hold of the bouquet.
The right way to learn about Christian wedding traditions and their meanings is by experiencing them yourself. In different parts of the world, you will find different Christian marriage traditions, there is no doubt. However, in a nutshell, it all depends on the family of the couple, and their beliefs and personal choices and preferences.