The wedding is a beautiful rite, a sacred mystery that allows a couple to have a spiritual connection. However, it will be possible to do this only by presenting a marriage certificate, so usually young people go to the registry office, then to the church and only after they start celebrating the wedding. But many decide on a wedding ceremony not on the day of the wedding, but after a few months or years after it. How to prepare for the wedding in this case and in general, is it possible for the wedding couple who have lived for several years in marriage?
Sometimes it is not possible to get married on the wedding day and the couple postpones holding this rite for a while. And sometimes the couple go to the wedding a few years after the wedding. Such a period of waiting for the couple to understand the correctness of their choice is explained. On the one hand, it seems to be correct - it is necessary to get married only if there is an inner (spiritual) need for this rite, and not because now it is in fashion. And on the other hand, the church recognizes marriage only if it is done according to its rules, civil marriage is no more than cohabitation, fornication. That is, you need to get married on your wedding day? If you strictly adhere to church rules, then yes. But if an innocent virgin does not marry, then the wedding time will not play a special role. Therefore, if the couple decided to marry some time after the wedding, then from the point of view of modern norms, there is nothing terrible in this.
How to prepare for the wedding?
The rite of Orthodox wedding requires preparation and it's not only about the list of guests and clothes (although this also needs to be thought of). The main thing is spiritual cleansing, which is why before the wedding was preceded by a week-long fast, and before the rite the couple had to be present at the service, confess and receive communion. Now the traditions of the wedding are somewhat changed in order to please modern mores. So, fasting is reduced to 3 days, and confession and communion is allowed on the eve of the wedding.
You also need to take care of the wedding set - you can buy it in church shops or prepare yourself. You will need rings, towels, wedding candles, 4 handkerchiefs under the candles (from the same fabric as the towel), icons of the Savior and the Virgin.
How to get dressed for the wedding?
Many people think that the bride is obliged to attend the ritual in the wedding dress, but this is not entirely true-it is possible to wear any dress or suit with a skirt that meets the following requirements.
- The back and shoulders are closed;
- length of the skirt is not above the knee;
- white clothes are desirable.
The head should also be covered with a mantilla, a shawl, a handkerchief or a veil.
As for makeup, it should not be too bright. And no lipstick (in extreme cases, to wipe before entering the church) - no one will allow you to kiss the cross with painted lips.
The appearance of the groom should also correspond to the case - clothing that covers the body (not jeans or a tracksuit), preferably of light shades.
The same requirements apply to the clothes of witnesses at the wedding. In addition, all present at the wedding - the bride and groom, witnesses and guests should have crosses.
The best time for a wedding
It is known that during the posts, great and church holidays, the wedding is not held. Also do not marry a couple on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday. And the best day for the wedding is Sunday, and there are many who wish to consecrate their relationship. Therefore, it is necessary to agree in advance on the day of the wedding.
Requirements for witnesses at the wedding
Witnesses must be baptized. After the ceremony, they become spiritual relatives and if later they want to get married, then the church will not approve their marriage. However, it is allowed that witnesses are already married couple. The role of witnesses at the wedding is to hold crowns over the heads of newlyweds throughout the ceremony (about 40 minutes). But in some churches the main attributes of the wedding lay on the heads of future spouses. Therefore, all the subtleties should be specified in the church in which you plan to conduct the rite.