Jehovah's Witnesses: Legally Binding Marriages Without A Priest?

A wedding of Jehovah's Witnesses typically consists of a simple and dignified ceremony that includes a brief Bible-based talk from a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. This talk usually lasts around 30 minutes and focuses on how the Bible can help the couple have a lasting, loving, and happy marriage. In many countries, the government authorizes ministers of Jehovah's Witnesses to solemnize marriages, allowing them to officiate weddings legally. In these cases, the couple exchanges vows and rings, and the minister pronounces them husband and wife. However, in some countries, the law requires couples to marry at a government office before the wedding talk. While Jehovah's Witnesses follow specific practices and principles at their weddings, the legality of their weddings depends on the laws and regulations of the country in which the wedding is taking place.

In some countries, a lay Jehovah's Witness can legally officiate a wedding

However, in other countries, the law requires that a couple marry at a government office before the wedding talk. If the couple did not exchange vows at the civil marriage, they may do so towards the end of the talk. If they did, they may choose to repeat them, this time in the past tense. The talk concludes with a prayer asking God to bless the newly married couple.

The wedding ceremony is usually held in a Kingdom Hall and is open to anyone who wants to attend, including non-Witnesses. The main feature is a wedding talk, which is about 30 minutes long and delivered by a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. The talk is based on the Bible and emphasizes how the Bible can help the couple have a lasting, loving, and happy marriage.

While there is no specific dress code for weddings at a Kingdom Hall, Jehovah's Witnesses strive to dress modestly and respectfully, in line with the Bible's direction. The ceremony may be followed by a social gathering or reception, which may include a meal.

In other countries, a couple must marry at a government office

In some countries, a couple must marry at a government office for their union to be legally recognised. This is the case in France, for example, where only civil marriage is legally valid. A religious ceremony may be performed after or before the civil union, but it has no legal effect.

Similarly, in Germany, only civil marriages are recognised by the state. Religious ceremonies may still be performed at the couple's discretion, but they have no legal bearing.

In Croatia, a civil ceremony is the only legally binding type of marriage. A religious ceremony can follow the civil one, but the civil ceremony must come first.

Turkey also only recognises civil marriages.

In the United Kingdom, a marriage license is required, and there are specific procedures that must be adhered to. The marriage ceremony must be performed by an authorised person.

In the United States, all states and the District of Columbia require a marriage license issued by local civil authorities. Ministers of religion, such as rabbis or Christian pastors, are typically authorised to perform marriages. However, the type of ceremony, whether religious or civil, has no bearing on the legal validity of the marriage.

In Canada, marriage licenses are issued by the relevant municipal office or Department of Vital Statistics, and the requirements vary by province or territory.

In summary, while some countries allow religious officials to solemnise marriages, others require a civil ceremony to be performed at a government office for the marriage to be legally recognised. These countries often still permit religious ceremonies to take place after the legal union has been officially registered.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not partake in toasts

The Bible makes no mention of toasting, and Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the practice is derived from ancient cultures such as the Greeks and Romans, who would pour out libations to their gods and drink to them and the dead during ceremonial banquets. This custom is thought to have evolved into the modern-day practice of toasting, where individuals request or wish someone happiness, good health, or a long life. While some may consider this to be a harmless social grace, Jehovah's Witnesses abstain from participating as they believe it conflicts with Bible principles.

Instead of toasting, Jehovah's Witnesses express their good wishes to the couple in other ways. They may offer a prayer asking God to bless the newly married couple or give them a gift. While they may choose to serve alcohol at the reception, it is ensured that it is made available in moderate quantities and only to those who are of legal drinking age.

In addition to abstaining from toasting, Jehovah's Witnesses also avoid other practices connected with superstition, such as throwing rice or confetti on the newly married couple, which is believed to bring good luck, happiness, and a long life. They also do not solicit wedding gifts or publicly announce the names of the givers, as this can make those in attendance feel uncomfortable.

Rice or confetti is not thrown at weddings

The custom of throwing something at newlyweds dates back to at least the Roman era, and possibly even further. The substance thrown varies by country, but it is usually a local seed or grain, thrown to represent the future fertility and prosperity of the couple. In recent years, however, rice has lost popularity due to the danger of slipping on it or getting it in one's eye. Many venues no longer allow the throwing of paper confetti either, due to the work involved in clearing it up.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not throw rice or confetti at weddings, as they avoid practices connected with superstition, including invoking good luck, which conflicts with Bible principles.

If you are looking for an alternative to throwing rice or confetti at your wedding, there are several options. Bubbles are extremely popular, though they may stain a wedding dress if the soap concentration is too high. Releasing white doves or butterflies is another option, as is throwing flower petals, dried lavender, or biodegradable, water-soluble glitter. You could also give your guests something to shake or ring, such as tiny bells or bicycle bells, or something to wave, such as pennants, ribbons, or flags. For a fun, casual wedding, you could provide paper for your guests to fold into paper airplanes to fly over the couple as they leave.

In terms of whether a lay Jehovah's Witness can perform a legal wedding, it depends on the country. In some countries, the government authorizes ministers of Jehovah's Witnesses to solemnize marriages. In other countries, the law requires that a couple marry at a government office. In this case, a Jehovah's Witness could officiate a wedding if they are authorized by the government to do so. However, if the Jehovah's Witness is an elder in the congregation, they are instructed to only officiate weddings between a man and a woman who are both at least unbaptized publishers. Ultimately, the decision to officiate a non-Witness wedding would be a matter of conscience for the individual Jehovah's Witness.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not attend interfaith activities

The Bible also compares interfaith activities to being under an uneven yoke, a mismatch that would harm a Christian’s faith. Jesus did not allow his disciples to practice interfaith activities, and God’s Law through Moses forbade the ancient Israelites to join in worship with their neighbours.

Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to discuss matters of faith with people of all religions and are interested in understanding the thinking and beliefs of "as many people as possible". However, they do not practice interfaith in the sense of worshipping with those who have other beliefs.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in interfaith activities or meetings because they believe that joining other religions in worship or religious discussions goes against their beliefs and could cause them to compromise their faith. This includes engaging in ecumenical activities and attending interfaith worship services.

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