Rules and Rituals of Marriage
Each religion and each house of worship reserves a special set of rules, requirements, and rituals for marriage. When you are working with your officiant, be sure to discuss these rules and make sure you really understand their significance. While the rules cover everything from photography to dress, the rituals are generally what distinguish the different religions and ceremonies from one another.
Religious Requirements
What are the requirements to marry in the Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish faiths? Religions differ too much to make one blanket statement. The following information should give you a general idea about what to expect:
Roman Catholic couples must receive extensive Pre-Cana (pre-marriage) counseling, involving discussions with your priest about your religious convictions and important marriage issues, workshops with other engaged couples, and compatibility quizzes. Marriage Banns must be announced three times prior to the wedding date. If you've been married before in the Catholic Church, you must receive an annulment from the Church.
Protestant marriages, regardless of denomination, have far fewer requirements and restrictions than Catholic marriages. One or more informal meetings with the minister are required. Premarital counseling, though less rigorous than Pre-Cana, is common. You may also need to take compatibility quizzes. Sunday weddings are generally discouraged. There is no need for an annulment if either party has been divorced.
The Orthodox and Conservative branches of Judaism rigidly adhere to a few stipulations: Weddings may not take place on the Sabbath or during any other time that is considered holy, men must wear yarmulkes, and ceremonies are generally performed in Hebrew or Aramaic. Neither of these branches will conduct interfaith ceremonies. The Reform branch adheres to the same basic stipulations; however, some Reform rabbis will conduct interfaith ceremonies. In all cases, if either party is divorced, the couple is required to obtain a Jewish divorce, or get, before they can remarry.
Military Rules and Tradition
What defines a military wedding? Military weddings are impressive and formal affairs. Either you or your fiancé need to be in the military in order to have a military wedding. Wedding guests and wedding party members who are members of the armed forces dress in uniform. Despite the differences in attire and protocol, a military wedding can be as much like a traditional wedding as you wish. There are also special military traditions you may like to include in your special day. In one, the newly married couple walks arm and arm from the altar beneath an archway of crossed swords. The bride and groom can also cut the first piece of their wedding cake with a sword.
What is the proper attire for a military wedding? A groom serving in the armed forces must wear his dress uniform in the ceremony. As part of his outfit he may wear a sword or saber but never a boutonnière. If the groom wears a sword, the bride stands on his right, away from the blade; if not, she stands on his left. A military bride has the choice of wearing her dress uniform or a traditional wedding gown. Other military personnel in the wedding party and wedding guests, male or female, usually wear a military uniform.
Alert
The seating at a military wedding has to account for high-ranking officers and special officials. These people must be seated in places of honor. The bride or groom's commanding officer along with his spouse may be seated in the front row on the respective side if the parents are not present. Or, he and his spouse may sit in the second or third row with the family. The remainder of the military guests should be seated by rank in the rows just behind the family.
