The priest then prepares the sacred fire, which the couple face.
A mark of coloured powder is put on their foreheads as a sign of their taking part in the ceremony. Offerings are prepared for the deities and the priest asks them to bless the wedding. The bride may wear a red dot know as a tilak sign of her being married. The couple repeat prayers and blessings recited by the priest and a sprinkling of a mixture of ghlee and grains into the flames of the sacred fire. They walk around the fire the seven steps took represents: Food, Energy, Wealth, Happiness, Children, Seasons and Friendship.
Christianity
The things that the couple must be/have to get married:
∙ A bride and groom who make certain legal statement
∙ A witness
∙ Someone who is authorised to conduct a wedding ceremony
Like the Hindu weddings the bride is helped prepare by Female relatives and friends.
Vows
I (name of groom), take you (name of bride)
I (name of bride), take you (name of groom)
To be my wife (Husband)
From this day forward,
For better, for worse,
For richer, for poorer,
In sickness and in health,
To love and to cherish,
Till death do us part, according to Gods holy law,
And this is my solemn vow.
Then the priest declares that the couple are now man and wife and adds
That which God has joined together, let man not divide.
In the presence of God, and before the people here present, (the couples names) have given their consent and made their marriage vows to each other. They have declared their marriage by the joining of hands and exchanging of the rings, I therefore proclaim that they are husband and wife.
Most important aspects of a wedding ceremony:
∙ I think one of the most important aspects of a wedding ceremony is making the wedding vows to their partner as the participants are committing themselves to each other.
∙ Also another important aspects of a wedding ceremony is that the ceremony is legally performed by an authorised person.
The couples prefer to have a church wedding as:
∙ It is a traditional way to get married
∙ Bride often describes it as the most important day in their lives so they want it to be special
∙ To get married in the eyes of God
Weddings:
∙ Hindu weddings
∙ Tilak (red dot) this may be worn by the bride to represent she is married
∙ Pole Star
∙ Sacred fire
∙ Seven steps
∙ Gifts of money or jewellery
∙ Ghlee and grains
∙ Powder/ paste
∙ Christian weddings
∙ Rings
∙ Bride
∙ Groom
∙ Witness
∙ Church
∙ God
∙ Vows
∙ Authorised person to conduct the ceremony
