Sacred Christian Wedding Traditions to Incorporate Into Your Wedding Day

If you or your partner is spiritual and Christian, incorporating Christian wedding traditions into your big day can be a special way to pay homage to your faith, regardless of your level of observance. Rooted in centuries of faith and culture, these sacred customs—which can occur before, during or after the nuptials—hold special meaning and symbolism. While specific practices may vary across denominations, they all celebrate the couple's commitment before God. Plus, what's especially great is that couples can make the tradition(s) their own, reflecting their unique spiritual journey. From scripture readings to the exchange of vows, these religious marriage customs and traditions serve as a special way to honor your faith. To find a wedding planner and vendors who will help bring the traditions of a Christian wedding to life, search The Knot Vendor Marketplace for pros in your marrying location.

In this article: History | Prewedding | Attire |Ceremony | Reception | Postwedding

A Brief History of Christian Wedding Traditions

Christian wedding traditions date back hundreds of years, as far back as the first few centuries AD in Ancient Rome. However, it wasn't until the 12th century, when Western Christianity formally recognized marriage as a sacrament, that the Church began to shape and standardize the wedding ceremony as a religious rite.

Emily Reno, owner of Elopement Las Vegas, has planned hundreds of Christian weddings. Per the pro, "Christian weddings have traditionally taken place in churches, symbolizing the sacredness of the union in the presence of God." Today, she explains that "many Christian couples still want their faith represented in the ceremony, even if they choose not to get married in a church." As such, it's common for couples to have a pastor, reverend or minister officiate the wedding to ensure that meaningful religious elements like scripture, prayer and blessings are incorporated. Nowadays, Christian weddings can span five to six hours depending on the ceremony structure, religious elements included and the flow of the reception.

Prewedding Christian Traditions

Before traditional wedding vows are exchanged, many Christian couples participate in prewedding traditions representing their faith and values. Here are some common ones.

1. Asking for the Father's Blessing

"One tradition that still holds value today is the groom asking the bride's father for his blessing to marry his daughter," explains Rev. Orsella Hughes, an ordained officiant at Serenity Ceremonies and senior pastor at Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church in New York City. "This sentiment is not only honorable but also a sign of respect for the bride's father. Once the father blesses the groom, he is free to move forward with his proposal."

2. Premarital Counseling

Pastors and officiants often recommend premarital counseling, and in some denominations, it's required. Per Reno, "These sessions typically focus on preparing the couple for married life with a faith-based perspective and may even include talking about what their ideas of raising children look like."

3. Rehearsal Dinners

While not an inherently Christian tradition, rehearsal dinners are typical in these circles. This prewedding event typically includes close family and the wedding party, "offering a time to gather, pray and reflect before the big day," Reno says.

Traditional Christian Wedding Attire

While there are no hard-and-fast rules regarding traditional Christian wedding clothes and attire, modest dress, which is seen as a sign of respect in sacred settings, is key. We break this down further below.

4. White Wedding Dresses

"Traditionally, Christian brides wear white as a symbol of purity, although that symbolism is more historical than strictly followed today," Reno explains. With that in mind, it's common to see brides opt for white, ivory, cream or even blush pink variations.

According to Tucson, Arizona-based wedding photographer and videographer Craig Peterman, who has shot countless Christian weddings, "The white dress became popular after Queen Victoria's wedding, but also came to symbolize purity and commitment to God. Even in more modern or blended ceremonies, these traditions still carry weight for couples who see their union as both spiritual and lifelong."

5. Modest Accessories

Whether you're a wedding party member or a general wedding guest, most dresses don't need to follow specific religious guidelines. That said, ceremonies held in a church typically call for attire that's modest and respectful of the sacred setting, Reno explains. For example, someone wearing a strapless dress might choose to cover up with a shawl or light jacket during the wedding ceremony.

6. Bonus: Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue

You've likely heard of the seemingly age-old concept of something old, new, borrowed and blue. And while this custom is not rooted in Christianity, it is popular in many Christian cultures, especially in the Western world. Something old represents the bride's connection to their past (such as your grandmother's veil), while something new (like perfume or hairpieces) symbolizes hopes for the future. Something borrowed, like a piece of your mother's jewelry, is said to signify good luck and, lastly, something blue, such as a pair of heels, represents love and loyalty.

Christian Wedding Ceremony Traditions

While the Christian wedding ceremony traditions can differ by couple and denomination, we've highlighted some common ones often included in the service. For help organizing your big day, check out our Christian wedding ceremony outline—and don't miss our ideas for unique wedding ceremony entrances to make a memorable start. You'll also want to adjust your timeline accordingly: The length of a Christian wedding ceremony can vary depending on the denomination, lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.

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7. Processional

While a processional is a common Christian wedding ceremony tradition, it's not exclusive to the religion; nevertheless, it holds significant meaning in many Christian ceremonies as a symbol of the formal start to the celebration. The typical Christian wedding processional order includes the officiant (likely a priest, pastor or minister), followed by the groom, wedding party members, a ring bearer or flower girl (optional) and finally the bride, often escorted by one or both of her parents.

8. Giving Away the Bride

The moment the bride is escorted down the aisle by her parent(s) and then gives her hand to her spouse at the altar is known as the "giving away of the bride." While it's not a religious requirement, it holds special cultural significance in many Christian weddings.

9. Opening Prayers and Scripture Readings

One of the most meaningful parts of a Christian wedding ceremony is the opening prayers and scripture readings, which set a spiritual tone for the forthcoming events. The officiant often reads wedding blessings and prayers, while Bible verses about love are commonly woven into the Christian wedding ceremony script to remind the couple and their guests of the foundational Christian principles of love, unity and commitment. According to Hughes, couples may also incorporate their favorite scriptures for a more personalized touch.

10. Washing of Feet

Also known as the foot washing ceremony, this is among the most unique Christian wedding traditions. According to Omaha, Nebraska-based photographer Leah Pieper, who has shot many Christian weddings over the years, this ritual takes place either during the ceremony or immediately after the wedding ceremony in private. "This ritual is seen in the Bible as Jesus washed his disciples' feet at the last supper and told them to wash one another's feet," she explains.

11. Exchange of Vows

The exchange of traditional wedding vows is a profound moment where the couple promises to love, honor and obey each other through life's ups and downs. These vows are seen not just as a personal commitment but as a spiritual covenant made in the presence of God, reflecting the couple's devotion to each other and their faith.

12. Covenant Prayer

"As a Christian wedding officiant, I also include a covenant prayer after the vows and the rings," Hughes says. This prayer, she explains, is "about a commitment or agreement between the couple and God."

13. Exchange of Rings

While the exchanging of the rings is not a requirement of the Christian faith, it is a widely embraced tradition. As the couple slips the rings onto their fingers, they'll often recite meaningful ring exchange wording reflective of their commitment to each other.

14. Parents' Blessing

"At a Christian ceremony, it's common for parents to take an active role in blessing their children in marriage," Pieper says. This usually takes the form of a spoken prayer or a scripture reading. Still, regardless of the specific expression, the blessing is a meaningful way for parents to show support and offer spiritual guidance to their children.

15. Ceremony Hymns and Music

"Christian weddings are unique because music is such a big component to faith, and there is usually more of a presence of music and worship for everyone to participate in throughout the ceremony compared to other types of wedding ceremonies," Pieper says. Reno echoes these sentiments, saying, "Ceremony music often includes hymns or Christian worship songs." Common examples of Christian wedding songs include "Ave Maria," "The Lord's Prayer" and "Amazing Grace."

16. Unity Rituals

Peterman tells The Knot that he has "noticed a lot of unity rituals like candle lighting or cord braiding" at Christian weddings. These rituals symbolize the merging of two lives into one and are a special way for couples to visibly express—and physically display—their commitment to each other and their faith.

Christian Wedding Reception Traditions

Traditional Christian wedding receptions typically follow the same flow and customs as secular wedding receptions. As a general rule of thumb, they tend to last around four to five hours.

17. Communion

Some couples may take communion together at the end of the ceremony or privately after the reception. If this is the case, it is common for the couple to invite their guests to partake in communion as well, Pieper explains. "This includes bread and wine and is representative of Christ's body and blood."

18. Ceremony Hymns and Music

One of the most common Christian wedding traditions is to open the reception with a prayer to bless the meal and give thanks. According to Reno, "This is typically led by a parent, pastor or close family member and is kept short and sincere."

Christian Postwedding Traditions

While there aren't many Christian postwedding traditions, some couples choose to continue celebrating their union through sacred acts. Here are two common customs.

19. Church Services

According to Peterman, "Some couples choose to attend a church service together the next morning as their first act as a married couple." This meaningful tradition allows the couple to involve the community in their spiritual journey as they embark on this new chapter.

20. Baking of the Bread

This wedding food tradition is common in certain denominations of Christianity, like Eastern Orthodox and Catholicism. It's believed that the act of baking bread together symbolizes nourishment and unity as the couple begins their life together in faith.