Wedding Blessings and Renewal of Vows

 

A wedding blessing differs from a marriage ceremony in that it is not required or governed by law, and is therefore not legally binding. A wedding blessing is a religious ceremony and usually held after a civil ceremony. In a civil ceremony, no religious music or words may be used. A couple who desire an element of religion in their union could elect for a wedding blessing after the civil ceremony. In this way, the couple can dedicate or ‘formalise’ their marriage in their chosen style and religion.

A wedding blessing normally takes place in a church, although it can also be held at an outside venue. A couple may choose a wedding blessing because either one or both of the parties is divorced. Couples from different religious backgrounds could also choose a wedding blessing, with elements taken from both religions. This would, however, be dependent on the official leading the blessing.

Wedding Blessings A blessing is often seen as a way of confirming the couple’s commitment to each other. In a church, blessing prayers can be read and hymns or songs sung. There is often no set format for the ceremony (dependent on the church or venue) and so this means that the couple may be able to choose the format and content of their blessing. As a wedding blessing is not an official marriage service, banns (in the case of Roman Catholic weddings) may not be called and no 'official' paperwork e.g. a licence is needed. The legal requirements of the marriage will have been satisfied at any civil ceremony prior to the blessing. A wedding blessing can also take place without the need for a prior civil ceremony. The couple would not be legally married after a blessing alone, but a blessing is the ideal solution for couples that wish to commit themselves to each other in a non-formal way.

Renewal of Vows A blessing is also the answer for couples wishing to renew their vows. This is when couples who have previously married re-emphasise the vows that they made to each other in their original wedding ceremony. This gives the couple the chance to show their continuing commitment to each other in a public arena. Research has shown that more and more couples are choosing to renew their vows to each other. The blessing need not have any direct connection to the original wedding ceremony. In some cases, couples choose to renew their vows with a blessing ceremony that is more lavish than their original wedding. It may be that the couple could not afford to have the wedding that they had dreamed of, but that they now have the financial means to celebrate their relationship in a way that they had always wanted. A blessing offers the chance for this, but without the need for any official paperwork.

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