Weddings can so easily become about the external show, and pomp and ceremony, and fulfilling everyone’s expectations. You need to be very intentional about making sure you don’t forget what’s really important. While you may need to compromise on a lot of the details of the wedding, make sure you stand firm and insist on including a few new traditions that honor your faith.
Almost all of these new traditions and ideas are things I have seen in my friends’ weddings or incorporated in my own:
- Have a small Adoration & praise and worship night the night before the wedding and invite your Catholic friends
- Ask your bridesmaids and groomsmen to pray over you before the wedding starts
- Spend time and prayer planning the Wedding liturgy, choosing readings that are meaningful to you both and hymns that are reverent and uplifting
- Go for Confession the week before the wedding
- Cut out one of the expensive traditions or purchases from the wedding, and instead plan a meal or celebration with a ministry or outreach you have both volunteered at before
- Have a personal prayer time and/or a quiet Rosary the morning of the wedding
- Plan a footwashing ceremony during the reception to symbolize the kind of marriage you hope to have- one based on love, humility and service.
- Invite all the children present at the Mass to come up and take a rose to offer to Mary. As a couple, offer a bouquet and your new marriage to Mary.
- Make a Testimony Table display to share the miracles and stories of God’s providence from your wedding preparation and engagement.
- Pray together when it’s just the two of you together after the wedding is over, and you are in your hotel room or bedroom.