Tips for A Respectful Multi-Religion Wedding Ceremony
Get your family on board.
Chances are that your family feels as strongly about your religion as you do. So by introducing another set of beliefs—some of which may directly contradict your own—into your ceremony, you risk offending them. It's not always possible to do what you think is best and have other people agree with you. Exercising compassion, common sense, and tender loving care is all you can do. Hopefully it is received as well as it is intended.
Spell it out in your ceremony program.
Stop any confusion over why your Christian-based ceremony has Jewish overtones by divulging the details of each religious nod on your ceremony program. Adding explanatory verbiage to a multi-religion wedding program is a lovely way to highlight the significance of the various traditions of both religions. This way everyone can participate and feel included in the ceremonial differences that they might not otherwise understand.
Focus on your similarities.
Focus on your religion's similarities instead of their differences. Your officiant can offer words of wisdom that borrows from both schools of thought. Most religions teach love and that is truly what the wedding is about. Focus on that and you can't go wrong.
Steer clear of defining God.
God does not go by a single name nor a single persona. So, during readings and songs it's smart to steer away from the usage of God or Jesus' names and instead speak about the sanctity of marriage. You've got options—from referring to god as a higher power to the giver of life—without calling him or her by name. Then, incorporate readings that reference god with a common thread. Psalms, for example, translate in the Christian, Catholic, and Jewish faiths, and are considered like poetry for the soul. Referencing things of that nature allows family and guests from both religions identify with what is being said and your multi-religion wedding with speak to everyone.
Consider having more than one officiant.
It's perfectly acceptable to have two officiants officiating at your ceremony, each with an intimate knowledge of their own faiths and traditions. If you go this route, make sure to introduce your officiants before the wedding day, so that you can create a flow that honors both sides and feels right for your special day.
At the end of the day, blending your religions within the in a multi-religion wedding ceremony is just the beginning of a long life together filled with compromise. If you can successfully respect each other's beliefs and the beliefs that your families hold dear, there's a great chance that you will be able to work through those differences during the rest of your marriage. Consider it practice for the long and happy road ahead.
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