What is a Mormon Wedding Like?

Rivka and Jeff Manti Mormon Temple WeddingWe assume that you mean a Mormon temple wedding.  There are over 140 Mormon temples worldwide, and in them marriages are performed.  Marriages performed in Mormon temples are called celestial marriages, or eternal marriages, because the covenant is meant to last beyond the grave and into the eternities.  These marriages are also called “sealings.”  Because these marriages are performed in the House of the Lord, purity is central to the occasion.

A bride and groom must qualify to enter the temple and be married there.  Only the worthy can enter the temple.  People who desire to be married in the temple have been prepared beforehand through a “temple preparation class” or in their homes and other religion classes (such as seminary classes or institute classes), so that they have a knowledge of gospel doctrine and understand what a temple marriage covenant means.  They may have already taken a marriage class, too.

The bride and groom are interviewed separately by their bishop and stake president to determine their worthiness.  Some of the standards required to be awarded a “temple recommend” are─

  • A firm belief in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost
  • A firm belief in the gospel
  • Willingness to participate actively as a member of the Church; a supportive attitude toward the prophet and other church leaders
  • Chastity
  • Honesty in one’s dealings with one’s fellow men; loving attitude and behavior toward one’s own family
  • Keeping the Word of Wisdom (which means using no tobacco, alcohol, coffee,  tea, or recreational drugs)
  • Tithe paying (10% of one’s income)
  • Repentance for any sins previously not dealt with

It is understood that a temple marriage covenant remains binding only if the participants carry on in righteousness and honor the covenant they have made.  Obviously, this covenant is serious, but a Mormon wedding celebration is still joyous and fun.

Aaron and Kristyn at Mormon TempleBrides and grooms make the same sort of wedding preparations as all other brides and grooms.  Whatever is traditional in the culture where they live, as long as it doesn’t entail any unrighteous behavior, is followed.  In the United States, the bride and groom make traditional plans and add their own perks to individualize the festivities.  A Mormon girl who is planning a temple wedding will choose a modest wedding dress. Often, this simply means avoiding a strapless or low cut (in back or front) gown.  Cap sleeves are acceptable.  Some girls wear their wedding dress for the actually sealing ceremony, while others wear a simpler white dress and then change into a bridal gown for photographs and reception.  (For the sealing ceremony, the dress must be pure white and cannot have colored ornamentation.  It has to have long sleeves, but the temples have inserts for short or cap sleeves.)

The only mandated part of a temple wedding is the sealing ceremony itself.  Bride and groom are free to wax creative with all other aspects of the celebration ─ a reception or party, dance, honeymoon, bridesmaids, groomsmen, food to serve…it’s all up to them.

A bride and groom will reserve a date and time for their sealing to take place.  Most temples have “sealing rooms” that vary in size to accommodate fewer or a greater number of guests, but it’s rare that a sealing room will seat more than 50.  All guests have to be temple-worthy themselves, and sometimes, this can cause a problem.  Many families include members of the Church who are not temple-worthy, or relatives who are not members of the Church at all.  Some couples do what they can to try to make these family members feel like they are an integral part of the celebration.  Those who don’t enter the temple can wait in the foyer for the bride and groom to emerge, and then participate in a photo shoot.  Many couples stage a special ring-exchange ceremony at their reception.  Their bishop can arrange to speak to them there and give them counsel.  They can express their love and commitment to each other at the ring exchange.  This can be a special experience for those who were not guests at the sealing.

Oquirrh Mt. Utah Mormon Temple Bride's Room

Oquirrh Mt. Utah Temple Brides’ Dressing Room

Each temple has a bride’s preparation room and a room for the groom to dress in.  The bride’s preparation room is a beautiful room with dressing tables and mirrors.  The guests arrive about a half hour before the scheduled sealing and are guided to a special waiting room before they are ushered into a sealing room.  The sealing room will have mirrors on opposite walls that reflect into each other.  When the couple looks into one, they will see their image reflected an infinite number of times, representing the eternal covenant.  Chairs for guests are arranged around the room against the walls, and there is an altar at the center.  The bride and groom kneel on opposite sides of the altar and hold hands across the altar.  The “sealer” then performs the ceremony.  He gives counsel to the couple typical of counsel usually given to newlyweds, regarding how to love and respect each other.  He then recites the covenant, and the bride and groom agree to it, just as in marriages outside the temple.  The difference is that this is an eternal covenant with the promise of heavenly reward, and it mandates continued righteousness and commitment.  The bride and groom then kiss each other, and exchange rings if they desire.  They are then congratulated by the guests.

Oquirrh Mt. Utah Mormon Temple Sealing Room

Oquirrh Mt. Utah Mormon Temple Sealing Room

The bride and groom then go back to their dressing rooms.  They change, if necessary, and gather their things.  The rest of the family greets them outside as they emerge from the temple to take photographs. Except for the signing of the marriage license, this is the extent of the temple wedding.  Any reports of anything else taking place, especially if they imply any sort of sexual content, are patently false.

4 Comments

  1. Joan VanMeer

    Beautifully written.

    Reply
  2. Elaine Morgan

    I already told David we could not go to the wedding because we are not Mormons.

    Reply
  3. Jesus Acosta

    I am wondering if even though I am a confirmed catholic I was wondering if a confirmed catholic could get married to a Mormon?

    Reply
    • Gale

      Only Mormons who are living the higher commandments of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can enter into an eternal marriage in a Mormon temple. However, if a Catholic and Mormon want to marry, they can do so for the duration of mortality wherever else they choose. A good example is the family of basketball great Jimmer Fredette (https://www.mormonwiki.com/Jimmer_Fredette) whose father is Mormon and whose mother is Catholic. Jimmer’s parents gave their children their choice as to which church to join.

      Reply

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