Planning an Interfaith Wedding

Nevada Wedding Articles » Wedding Planning

Are you marrying someone outside of your own faith? In this day and age many couples marry someone that is not from their religious tradition. While weddings have often been a celebration of religious and cultural traditions, interfaith couples find that they need to not only marry each other – they must also marry their related traditions to create a beautiful ceremony. Fortunately it is often easy to come to a great compromise to create a lovely and meaningful wedding ceremony that everyone will enjoy. If you are an interfaith couple, have faith: your ceremony can be truly memorable.

The best thing to do is to sit down together and think of what wedding traditions from your related cultures and religious faiths have the most meaning to you. You may need to ask your parents what is traditionally done at a wedding for someone of your faith and your culture to get all of the details. Get as much information as possible so that you can create a plan of action with your fiancé. Together with your fiancé you want to create a wedding ceremony that has meaning and respects your religious faiths in a way that is important to the two of you. There may be some traditions that have less meaning to you and you can choose not to do these things. But there may be other things that are very important to you – and you’ll want to include these.

Many interfaith couples have two officiates at their weddings. If you are Christian and Jewish then you would have a priest and a rabbi at your wedding. Another alternative if you are an interfaith couple and religion does not hold a specific meaning to you is to have a civil ceremony. But keep in mind that a civil ceremony is typically very short and it is not long on sentiment. A civil ceremony legally marries you but there are no words that talk about joining the two of you together as souls – it is typically very dry and almost legal in its wording. So if you select a civil ceremony, ask to see the exact wording of the ceremony beforehand so you can be sure this is what you would like said at your wedding.

When an interfaith couple marries sometimes they have challenging situations with various family members. Perhaps there are family members that are upset that they have chosen to marry outside of their faith. They may ask you upfront what faith you have decided to raise your children. Some family members may be angry or outspoken and this can be very upsetting to any bride or groom trying to plan such a happy day. While it is important to respect your family, realize that they are not behaving in a respectful manner and do not take their words so much to heart. Focus on your relationship with your beloved.