Mormon wedding checklist
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With the secrecy that surrounds Mormon ceremonies, planning a wedding can be complicated. The strict attendance policies and no-cameras-allowed rule leave little room for the bride and groom to share their ceremony with friends and family. There are, however, some things that couples can do when planning their wedding to make things simpler.
Decide Whether to be Married in a Holy Temple or a Standard Church Service
There are two types of ceremonies common in Mormon weddings: a temple wedding and a standard church service.
Temple weddings, also called a Sealing Ordinance, are always held in a Holy Temple and require advanced permission from the clergymen. The most devout Mormons seek a Sealing Ordinance.
Non-temple weddings are open to anyone, and a local bishop at any Mormon church can officiate the wedding. A couple who chooses this route can have a Temple wedding at another point to seal the marriage for eternity after they start to follow the Mormon precepts.
Schedule Appointment with Bishop and Stake President
If you choose a Holy Temple ceremony, schedule an appointment with the bishop of the Holy Temple and the stake president. Both the bishop and the stake president must sign a "temple recommend" card before you are allowed into a Holy Temple for the ceremony. According to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, once the interviews are set up, the approval process should only take a week.
This is not required for a non-temple ceremony. Those who choose a non-temple ceremony may simply find a local bishop to officiate the wedding.
Schedule the Ceremony
To schedule the ceremony at a Holy Temple, you can simply call the Temple to choose a time and date. This can be done immediately after the "temple recommend" card is signed by both the bishop and the stake president and should take less than an hour.
According to the Church of Latter-Day Saints, in a spirit of reverence and preparation, it is expected that a wedding couple arrive at least 75 minutes prior to their ceremony time, so this should be taken into account when scheduling the ceremony.
For non-temple weddings, you must find a venue and a bishop that are available on the date you want to get married. This could take as little as a week to a month, depending on the pace you choose.
Invite Guests
For a Holy Temple ceremony, only those who have a "temple recommend" card are allowed to enter the Temple. Keep this in mind when inviting guests to the ceremony.
For a non-temple ceremony, anyone can be invited to both the ceremony and the reception, whether they belong to a Church of the Latter-Day Saints or not.
Find a Dress
In the Holy Temple ceremony, the bride must be careful to follow the strict dress code. According to the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, the bride may not have a veil or wear a hat, and the dress must have long sleeves and a high neckline. Any sheer material on the dress must be lined. The dress may only have a train if it can be bustled. Some Holy Temples provide jackets that can be worn over a dress or under a dress to make them appropriate for the Temple ceremony. Brides can check for the availability of a jacket when they set up their sealing appointments.
There is no dress requirement for a non-temple wedding. Brides should do what feels comfortable for them while staying within the beliefs of the Mormon religion.
Find a Reception Location
Many Mormon receptions have long reception lines, which will require a large space to accommodate guests. If a reception is held at a Temple, the rules on who may enter still apply, so if the couple is looking to have a large reception, a Temple may not be the venue. This could take as little as a week to as long as several months, depending on the pace you choose.
Plan the Reception Style/Theme
Mormon wedding receptions can be informal, semi-formal or formal. There are no specific traditions or requirements for the reception, so the bride and groom can feel free to really express themselves with the decorations and theme. Some choose to have very simple receptions, while other couples opt for formal receptions.
Depending on the style and complexity of the theme, the reception could take a few weeks to a few months to plan, depending on the pace of work.
Tags: Holy Temple, Temple ceremony, Church Latter-Day, Church Latter-Day Saints, Holy Temple ceremony, Latter-Day SaintsSource: www.ehow.com
