Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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another location. However, the celebration is community event and there is no set service but hymns and readings may be included.
If one of the couple is not a Quaker, or has been divorced, two adult members of the Society must give written permission before the marriage can take place.
The wedding day
Guests are usually met at the door and greeted.
The bride is not usually given away by her father. Neither is it usual to have a best man or bridesmaids.
Usually the bride and groom enter the meeting room together with their friends and quietly take their seats. They sit next to a table with the wedding certificate and a pen.
The clothes that are worn are smart but informal. The ceremony is generally held in silence and anyone who feels that they want to offer a prayer or speak is welcomed to do so.
Usually someone will begin by explaining what will happen in the service and this is often an elder from the, Quaker community.
There is usually a period of silence for about 10 to 15 minutes, after which the couple stand up and exchange their vows. There are traditional Quaker promised but the couple can modify them.
The couple will hold each other's hands and make a series of promises.
They will then be called by the officer who is to register their wedding to sign the register and two witnesses will also sign.
The certificate will be read aloud by the officer and this is followed by a period of silence. At the end of the service two elders will shake each other's hand and the rest of the community will do the same..
After the meeting the couple and the two witnesses sign the civil registe and it is at this point that the couple often exchange wedding rings
Divorce and remarriage
Divorced people may be allowed to remarry if they receive the approval of the members of the monthly meeting. Quakers believe that people should be given a new chance in life.
From these two examples it can be seen that Christian marriage ceremonies have different structures and these depend on the beliefs and traditions of the particular denomination or group. For further information on other groups please look at the reference section.
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