Christian Wedding Symbols: The Meaning Behind the Traditions

Christian Wedding Traditions
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Christian marriage is more than a contract; it's a covenant relationship. For this reason, we see symbols of the covenant God made with Abraham in many of today's Christian wedding traditions. The still-practiced Jewish custom of commencing the wedding with the writing of a marriage contract can be traced back to the first century BC.

Wedding Symbols

  • Christian marriage is a covenant relationship.
  • The wedding ceremony itself is a picture of the blood covenant between God and humans.
  • Many traditional wedding customs have their roots in the ancient and sacred covenant God made with Abraham.
  • Wedding ceremonies in both the Old and New Testament had distinctly devout and spiritual dimensions because faith in God was woven into the daily fabric of the Hebrew family life.

The Covenant Ceremony

"Easton's Bible Dictionary" explains that the Hebrew word for covenant is berith, which comes from the root meaning "to cut." A blood covenant was a formal, solemn, and binding agreement—a vow or pledge—between two parties made by "cutting" or dividing of animals into two parts.

In Genesis 15:9–10, the blood covenant began with the sacrifice of animals. After splitting them precisely in half, the animal halves were arranged opposite each other on the ground, leaving a pathway between them. The two parties making the covenant would walk from either end of the path, meeting in the middle.

The meeting ground between animal pieces was regarded as holy ground. There the two individuals would cut the palms of their right hands and then join these hands together as they mutually pledged a vow, promising all of their rights, possessions, and benefits to the other. Next, the two would exchange their belt and outer coat, and in so doing, take some part of the other person's name.

The wedding ceremony itself is a picture of the blood covenant. Let's look further now to consider the biblical significance of many of today's Christian wedding traditions.

Seating of Family on Opposite Sides of the Church

Family and friends of the bride and groom are seated on opposite sides of the church to symbolize the cutting of the blood covenant. These family, friends, and invited guests are not just witnesses, they are all participants in the wedding covenant. Many have made sacrifices to help prepare the couple for marriage and support them in their holy union.

Center Aisle and White Runner

The center aisle represents the meeting ground or pathway between the animal pieces where the blood covenant is established. The white runner symbolizes holy ground where two lives are joined as one by God (Exodus 3:5, Matthew 19:6).

Seating of the Parents

In biblical times, the parents of the bride and groom were ultimately responsible for discerning God's will concerning the choice of a spouse for their children. The wedding tradition of seating the parents in a place of prominence is meant to recognize their responsibility for the couple's union.

Groom Enters First

Ephesians 5:23–32 reveals that earthly marriages are a picture of the church's union with Christ. God initiated the relationship through Christ, who called and came for his bride, the church. Christ is the Groom, who established the blood covenant first initiated by God. For this reason, the groom enters the church auditorium first.

Father Escorts and Gives Away Bride

In Jewish tradition, it was the father's duty to present his daughter in marriage as a pure virgin bride. As parents, the father and his wife also took responsibility for endorsing their daughter's choice in a husband. By escorting her down the aisle, a father says, "I have done my very best to present you, my daughter, as a pure bride. I approve of this man as your choice for a husband, and now I bring you to him." When the minister asks, "Who gives this woman?," the father responds, "Her mother and I." This giving away of the bride demonstrates the parents' blessing on the union and the transfer of care and responsibility to the husband.

White Wedding Dress

The white wedding dress has a twofold significance. It is a symbol of the wife's purity in heart and life, as well as her reverence to God. It's also a picture of the righteousness of Christ described in Revelation 19:7–8:

"For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear." For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people. (NLT)

Jesus Christ clothes his bride, the church, in his own righteousness as a garment of "the finest of pure white linen."

Bridal Veil

Not only does the bridal veil show the modesty and purity of the bride and her reverence for God, it reminds us of the temple veil that was torn in two when Christ died on the cross. Removing the veil took away the separation between God and man, giving believers access into the very presence of God. Since Christian marriage is a picture of the union between Christ and the church, we see another reflection of this relationship in the removal of the bridal veil. Through marriage, the couple now has full access to one another (1 Corinthians 7:4).

Joining Right Hands

In the blood covenant, the two individuals would join together the bleeding palms of their right hands. When their blood mixed, they would exchange a vow, forever promising all of their rights and resources to the other. In a wedding, as the bride and groom face one another to say their vows, they join right hands and publicly commit everything they are, and everything they possess, in a covenant relationship. They leave their families, forsake all others, and become one with their spouse.

Exchanging of Rings

While the wedding ring is an outward symbol of the couple's inward bond, illustrating with an unending circle the eternal quality of love, it signifies even more in light of the blood covenant. A ring was used as a seal of authority. When pressed into hot wax, the impression of the ring left an official seal on legal documents. Therefore, a couple wearing wedding rings is demonstrating their submission to God's authority over their marriage. The couple recognizes that God brought them together and that he is intricately involved in every part of their covenant relationship.

A ring also represents resources. When the couple exchanges wedding rings, this symbolizes the giving of all their resources—wealth, possessions, talents, emotions—to the other in marriage. In the blood covenant, the two parties exchanged belts, which form a circle when worn. Thus, the exchanging of the rings is another sign of their covenant relationship. Similarly, God chose a rainbow, which forms a circle, as a sign of his covenant with Noah (Genesis 9:12–16).

Pronouncement of Husband and Wife

The pronouncement officially declares that the bride and groom are now husband and wife. This moment establishes the precise beginning of their covenant. The two are now one in the eyes of God.

Presentation of the Couple

When the minister introduces the couple to the wedding guests, he is drawing attention to their new identity and name change brought about by marriage. Similarly, in the blood covenant, the two parties exchanged some part of their names. In Genesis 15, God gave Abram a new name, Abraham, by adding letters from his own name, Yahweh.

The Reception

A ceremonial meal was often part of the blood covenant. At a wedding reception, guests share with the couple in the blessings of the covenant. The reception also illustrates the wedding supper of the Lamb described in Revelation 19.

Cutting and Feeding of Cake

The cutting of the cake is another picture of the cutting of the covenant. When the bride and groom take pieces of cake and feed it to each other, once again, they are showing they have given their all to the other and will care for each other as one flesh. At a Christian wedding, the cutting and feeding of cake can be done joyfully but should be done lovingly and reverently, in a way that honors the covenant relationship.

Throwing of Rice

The rice-throwing tradition at weddings originated with the throwing of seed. It was meant to remind couples of one of the primary purposes of marriage—to create a family that will serve and honor the Lord. Therefore, guests symbolically throw rice as a gesture of blessing for the spiritual and physical fruitfulness of the marriage.

By learning the biblical significance of today's wedding customs, your special day is certain to be more meaningful. 

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Fairchild, Mary. "Christian Wedding Symbols: The Meaning Behind the Traditions." Learn Religions, Jan. 26, 2021, learnreligions.com/christian-wedding-traditions-701948. Fairchild, Mary. (2021, January 26). Christian Wedding Symbols: The Meaning Behind the Traditions. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/christian-wedding-traditions-701948 Fairchild, Mary. "Christian Wedding Symbols: The Meaning Behind the Traditions." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/christian-wedding-traditions-701948 (accessed March 19, 2024).