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SPECIALIST CEREMONIES

Everyone wants a perfect wedding but everyone has different tastes and opinions, different religious beliefs and views on the type of ceremony they'd like. With this in mind, this section is for those specialised beliefs, and to give a helping hand for these individual weddings.

Buddhist Ceremonies

•  Bit of background - In the Buddhist faith, the Buddha (the founder of the religion) didn't think of marriage as sacred, the ceremony is considered a social rather than a religious occasion. The Buddha did give guidance on the spiritual being of marriage, which was that it should stay solely based on a deep equal respect between both partners and that it should be a partnership of mutuality and equality.

•  Marriages - There isn't a category of who Buddhists can and can't marry. They are free to wed anyone from any religion, and their wedding should be a union of their strengths and abilities.

•  When does it happen - Buddhist ceremonies can happen at any time that the registry office or the temple is open. Also, there aren't any days that marriage is considered to be forbidden to wed upon. In some religions, you may have to attend pre-ceremony meetings, however none are required with a Buddhist ceremony, and there isn't a rehearsal of the blessing a day prior to the wedding either.

•  What to wear - The groom, brides and guests are free to wear whatever they like as long as it isn't revealing. Ordinarily the bride will wear a dress and the groom a suit. All people can attend the Buddhist blessing service as long as each guest fully respects the traditions of the Buddhist faith. Also, guests should remove their shoes and behave respectfully in front of the Buddhist monks.

•  What happens on the big day - The ceremony, if it is in the Buddhist temple, will be conducted in the shrine room and will last half an hour. The ordained monk's chant (which has been a tradition since the time of the Buddha). The guests and the couple to wed do not join in, they simply watch and listen. As there are no traditions such as fasting or rituals after the wedding the married couple may do as they wish.