A wedding is one of the important events in the life of spouses. For believers, it is even more significant than registering a marriage in the registry office. The church union is concluded in Heaven, and the ritual accompanying it symbolizes its steadfastness, eternal marital love. The ceremony itself is very solemn, and the preparation for it is complex and does not tolerate fuss or neglect of little things. The main questions that worry the bride: what can she wear to church for the wedding, what should she wear besides the wedding dress?
Basic rules for weddings for already married couples
You can choose any church, based on reviews of other couples or personal feelings. First you need to meet with the priest and ask him all your questions.
People entering into a church marriage must be baptized. There should be no blood or spiritual relationship between them (they should not be each other’s godparents or godchildren).
The rules for weddings in church for already married couples are the same for everyone. This also applies to age restrictions. Only persons who have reached the age of consent can marry. The church is also guided by it. Therefore, the sacrament is not performed for people under 14 years of age. The upper age limit almost coincides with the retirement age - 60 years for women and 70 years for men. But if a couple has lived in a registered marriage all their lives, then the church can meet them halfway,
The rules for getting married in a church for those already married also include choosing a date for the ceremony. This sacrament is not performed during the four main fasts - Great Lent (in 2021 it lasts from March 15 to May 1), Assumption (August 14-27), Petrov (June 28 - July 11) and Rozhdestven (November 28 - January 6) . Weddings are not held on certain days of the week - Wednesdays, Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Clothing restrictions
The Church does not set strict rules regarding clothing. The main thing is that the bride has a dress without a deep neckline or bare back. Plumes are also not approved, although there is no direct ban. It is not necessary to wear a dress with a floor-length skirt. The main thing is that it is below the knee length.
A snow-white dress symbolizes purity. After marriage, women are advised to choose an outfit of any other light shade. According to tradition, only virgins wear a veil. But a woman cannot enter church without a headdress, so instead of a veil, you can wear a scarf or shawl.
The final touches of the look
But wedding attire is not only a dress and veil. The wedding ceremony takes a fairly long period of time, during which the bride and groom will have to stand all the time. Wedding shoes with high heels will create significant difficulties, so you need to buy another pair: low flat wedges, ballet flats. In addition, there is a sign that you need to wear closed shoes when getting married. These can be shoes, boots, ankle boots or ankle boots, depending on the weather, but not sandals.
Well, the final touch, without which it is impossible to imagine a modern bride, is makeup. Visiting church imposes certain restrictions on the choice of decorative cosmetics. It cannot be too bright, especially when using lipstick. It is best not to use it at all before the wedding, because during the ceremony the newlyweds will repeatedly touch the icons and the cross with their lips.
Length
Many people are accustomed to thinking that the most optimal option for a wedding is the maxi length. Beautiful, solemn, modest. Floor length, of course, is relevant at all times, but the church does not prohibit dresses of medium length, the main thing is that the knees are covered.
- Hairstyle for a church wedding: photo, DIY makeup
A long dress made of lace or satin will look graceful, elegant and simply stunning. You can add a delicate veil or lace shawl to it on your head and shoulders.
Particularly popular are transformable dresses, in which the skirt can change shape or come unfastened. Among them you can find a model of a suitable style for both a wedding and a special event. And a removable skirt will solve the length problem if you are a fan of short dresses.
Wedding and wedding: are there any differences?
As with any church ceremony, you need to prepare for a wedding: undergo the sacrament of communion, confess. In a modern church, people sign up for a wedding in advance, determining the day and hour of the ceremony. The list of required items that young people must bring with them:
- Marriage certificate;
- wedding rings;
- wedding icons;
- towels and so on.
For the wedding, the bride wears a special wedding dress. Many people believe that you can get married in a wedding dress, the same one that was purchased for visiting the registry office. Is it so?
Usually two such important events are not planned on the same day. It can be difficult to combine them in time. And psychologically it’s quite difficult. Some married couples decide to get married after a long life together, 5, 10 or even 30 years after the wedding. Of course, more than one dress will not withstand so many years of “waiting”; moreover, the figure of the “bride” may undergo significant changes.
The Church does not impose any prohibitions or give advice on wedding attire, other than the usual rules for visiting the cathedral.
- The dress should have a closed back, shoulders, and moderate neckline. A classic wedding dress does not quite fit these rules, or the exposed parts of the body will need to be covered with something (a cape, scarf, shawl).
- Hands, at least up to elbow level, also need to be closed. These do not have to be sleeves made of thick fabric; now wedding dresses with sleeves made of lace, guipure, and other thin, translucent fabric are in fashion.
- Don’t try to impress the public by coming to the wedding in a super-short, outrageous suit. The optimal dress length is “floor length”.
- Among the traditions of the Catholic peoples, it is considered important that the bride wear a wedding dress with a train. The longer the train, the happier the life together will be. This is not accepted among Orthodox peoples.
When older people walk down the aisle or the bride is pregnant, then talking about purity and innocence is no longer appropriate. A wedding dress can be of any shade, mostly pastel, light colors: pink, blue, peach, beige, pearl gray. You should refrain from wearing bright, colorful outfits. Moreover, do not choose dark colors, because in our church black is the color of sadness and mourning.
How to choose the right option
The cover should cover not only the head, but also the décolleté, shoulders, and arms of the newlywed. The face, according to Orthodox canons, will be open. Short models of veils, veils, hats, wreaths, crowns, tiaras should be left for the civil ceremony.
You should not settle for a lush version of the cover, so that it does not accidentally catch fire from a candle.
Check with the clergyman in advance about the temple rules regarding crowns. If they are worn on the head, it is better to abandon the slippery silk cover.
A lace veil for a wedding should not be very long, since during the sacrament the newlyweds will have to walk around the temple, kneel down, and bow. A head covering that restricts movement is also not suitable - it will prevent the girl from crossing herself.
Options for wedding veils for adult brides are somewhat different. Do not emphasize fragility and innocence; focus on the seriousness of the moment with a scarf, scarf or stole of a light tone.
- How to beautifully tie a scarf on your head: classic and modern methods
Wedding clothes for the groom
So, we figured out how to dress for a wedding. Now let's move on to the strong half of humanity. We can say that grooms are more fortunate in terms of choosing clothes for a wedding, and indeed for any celebration.
A classic suit will suit him: jacket + shirt + trousers. You just have to choose the right colors. For them, both in the Orthodox and in the Muslim faith there are no strict restrictions. The taboo applies only to provocative colors of suits or shirts. Of course, jeans and sports shoes will not work. Perhaps this is all that men need for a wedding, if we talk about wardrobe.
Hue
The main color of a wedding dress is white. Since the Middle Ages, it has symbolized innocence, chastity, and purity. A girl in a snow-white outfit looks modest and elegant. The shade emphasizes the elegance of the image and gives the image holiness. If you don't know what color your wedding dress should be, check out the tips below.
In addition to white, you can dress up in its various variations:
- lactic;
- cream;
- creamy;
- beige;
- marshmallow;
- vanilla;
- bodily.
If the bride wants to choose a different color, you should pay attention to delicate pastel colors:
- pale blue;
- pale pink;
- light yellow;
- light green;
- light grey.
Bright, saturated shades of red, blue, green, and especially black are unacceptable.
Before the wedding
Of course, this great sacrament requires compliance with several rules, which are carried out immediately before the wedding. Preparation for the sacrament begins with the manifestation of sincere feelings of the future spouses; before the sacrament, the newlyweds must cleanse themselves before each other, open their hearts to each other.
Not so long ago, only chaste people had the right to get married. Nowadays, everything has changed, of course. But the church requires repentance from newlyweds who entered into intimate relationships before marriage. Before the ceremony, the young must take communion and confess.
Think carefully about when and where you want to get married. Due to the fact that nowadays a wedding is a fairly fashionable and popular ceremony, in many churches you can pre-register for the sacrament.
What time after the wedding is best?
There is no clear answer to this question. You should take a serious oath only when you feel that you are ready for it. You must be sure that you will live with your chosen one all your life, accepting his disadvantages and weaknesses, pride and mistakes. A union consecrated by the church is a spiritual unity, a joint path to God, requiring inner maturity, wisdom, and tolerance.
According to the canons, a wedding is allowed both on the day of marriage registration, and after a month, a year, ten years - at any time when the realization of readiness for an important step comes.
If you want to become spouses before the state and before God on the same day, you should carefully plan the time of both celebrations. It is usually recommended to space the two ceremonies in time, since the newlyweds and guests may get tired of so many impressions.
As for the upper limit, there is none. You can seal the union with spiritual ties even after fifty years of marriage - and in this case it will definitely be a balanced and unchangeable decision.
Prohibitions
Dear girls! Remember, the outfit in which you and your betrothed were married cannot be sold, given away or rented. These outfits are kept as a powerful amulet.
In the Orthodox Church, during the sacrament, representatives of the fair half cannot be present with their heads uncovered. When choosing a hairstyle, be sure to take this important point into account. By the way, about hairstyles. There is no need to make them too tall for the church. It is better not to abandon the traditional veil, but it must certainly cover the top of the bride’s head.
Don't overdo it with decorative cosmetics either. You should not choose too bright shades; it is better to give preference to naturalness and light notes. And one more important point. Remember, lips should not be painted! You can wipe off your makeup at the entrance to the church, and then, when the ceremony is over and you leave the walls of the temple, put on makeup again.
The groom's attire should be strict. As for color, there are no special rules for grooms. However, it is still better to give preference to light colors. The meaning here is the same as with the colors of brides' dresses. The ceremony does not accept casual, sports, or denim clothing. And one more thing - no hats on the groom.
Some requirements are also put forward for the attire of guests who plan to attend when the ceremony is held in an Orthodox church. Women should be in the temple with their heads covered and in closed clothes. Each guest must have a cross.
Wedding dresses for pregnant women, photo
According to church interpretations: only innocent girls wear a white dress. It is advisable to follow traditions and take a closer look at dresses with different shades. If you nevertheless decide to get married in an interesting position, when the tummy is already clearly visible, then select the image taking into account the changes in your figure.
- In the second trimester of pregnancy, when you cannot hide your belly, wear a dress that does not fit you around the waist
- Also, dresses with an “A-line” cut and dresses in the “Greek” style are well suited.
Below are examples of such dresses.
Short wedding dress for pregnant women
Greek style wedding dress for pregnant women
Delicate dress for women in an interesting position for a wedding
Beautiful dress for a pregnant woman for a wedding in a church
Attributes
- Wedding rings . They should be as simple as possible, without complex decor or large stones. If you follow all the rules, then the bride should choose silver, and the groom should choose gold;
- Icons : the Savior for the groom, the Mother of God for the bride, best of all - received as a gift from parents;
- White or pink towel , large enough to accommodate standing newlyweds;
- Pectoral crosses should be worn by both those entering into marriage and all guests of the sacrament;
- Wedding candles , which can be purchased at the church store, and white scarves with which you will hold them;
- Red wine (Cahors);
- Freshly baked bread is donated to the church.
Closed outfits
A simple cut, a minimum of accessories and decorations, and a closed style are the main indicators of true chastity and submission, which the clergy demand. Keep this in mind if you are thinking about what dress to wear for a wedding, because girls should not wear too revealing dresses in church.
Attention! The back can be hidden with a one-piece cut made from one type of fabric. At the back you can make an elegant, modest cutout of just a few centimeters.
An existing deep neckline can be hidden using a patch made of guipure, lace, taffeta, organza, or chiffon. You can also use a cute bolero, cape, and, in cold weather, a fur coat.
The bodice of a wedding dress does not tolerate a deep neckline. It can be decorated with ruffles, flowers, ribbons, or an elegant openwork collar can be made. It will not completely cover the body, but it will not expose the breasts either. Plus, it looks very elegant.
It is better to cover the bride's hands and choose a dress with long sleeves. Silk gloves up to the elbow or shoulder, as well as sleeves, are suitable for this. There are several varieties of sleeves; they can be sewn in any convenient style:
- long, tight;
- long fluttering;
- short bells;
- tulip;
- in the form of a balloon, up to the length of the elbow.
