Religious Wedding Traditions

There are as many religions as there are cultures in the world. If you grew up faithfully practicing a certain religion, there's a good chance that you and your intended will tailor your ceremony to that religious tradition. If, however, you belong to different religions or neither of you practices a religion but you'd like to incorporate religious elements into your ceremony, there are plenty of options open to you.

Many religions have rules and traditions surrounding the wedding ceremony, though most leave room for the addition of creative touches like personalized wedding vows, home-grown rituals, or ceremonial elements from other faiths. Check with your officiant to see if there are any rules you must follow before deciding on a certain tradition. On the other hand, you may be simply "shopping around" for rites and traditions that suit your unique style and personal philosophy!

Here is a list of religious wedding traditions from a few faiths to get you started:

Protestant Weddings

• After the processional, the service begins with a greeting and call to worship by the minister.
  
• Readings, a short sermon, and the lighting of a unity candle are often a part of the ceremony.
  
• The ceremony concludes with a prayer of thanksgiving, the benediction and finally, the recessional.

Roman Catholic Weddings

• Before getting married, the couple must attend marriage counseling, called "pre-cana programs."
  
• The Bride and Groom get married at her parish.
  
• The ceremony must include the nuptial blessing, prayers and at least three readings.
  
• As the vows are being exchanged, the entire congregation stands.
  
• Mass is often included in the ceremony.

Jewish Weddings

• The ceremony must take place under a Chuppah. This symbolizes a husband bringing his wife into their home.
  
• Memorable elements include the blessing of the wine, the reading of the Ketubah and the breaking of the glass.

Muslim Weddings

• The ceremony is really just the signing of the wedding contract. It lasts only for about five minutes.
  
• The public celebration can last for days afterwards.
  
• The celebration begins with a Walima, which is a feast where chicken, fish and rice are served.
  
• Toward the end of the festivities, the bride is often lifted like royalty and "displayed" for the crowd to see.
  

Buddhist Weddings

• Ceremonies are usually designed by the couple and are quite simple.
  
• An O jujo, a 21-bead strand, is used to offer prayers and incense to Buddha

It's easy to find wedding traditions from many different religions -- all you have to do is a simple Google search. It's up to you whether you want to abide wholly by the tenets of your faith or whether you'd like to include elements of wedding traditions from other faiths as well. If you are criticized for your choice to stray from a standard ceremony, remind your critics that the purpose of a wedding is the same in all religions...to unite two people.

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