The Main Features of a Marriage Service

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The Main Features of a Marriage Service

The traditional Christian marriage ceremony takes place in a church,

as it is seen as the House of God, so this symbolizes that you are

making promises in the presence of god.

To begin the ceremony, the bride's friends and family are seated on

the left-hand side pews of the church, and the grooms friends and

family are seated on the right. The groom stands at the front of the

church by the altar. The altar is an important internal feature in a

marriage service and on it a white cloth is placed on top to represent

the purity and also Jesus' Turin shroud. Also there are usually some

flowers, which represent fertility, purity and eternal love, candles

which represent two lives joining to become one and a bible.

After everyone is seated and in place, the bride enters the church

traditionally with her father leading her down the aisle, an organ is

the typical instrument used throughout a marriage ceremony.

Traditionally the father would lead his daughter down the aisle to

show in front of witnesses that he was happy with his daughter choice;

nowadays the father does not always lead the bride. A Christian bride

traditionally wears a white dress, this symbolises purity and

represents the Christian belief that a couple should enter marriage as

virgins. The bride also wears a veil which symbolises modesty, respect

and purity. In addition brides can choose to have bridesmaids who

follow behind the bride and her father as they walk down the aisle and

wear outfits similar to the brides, but not the same colour.

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When the bride reaches the altar the father offers her to the groom

saying 'I am presenting you my daughter'. The bride then joins the

groom at the altar facing the priest. The priest wears a vestment

similar to normal services however it is white with the church symbol

on it and he has an embroidered collar. This symbolises purity and

that the service is unusual and godly.

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