Jehovah's Witnesses And Wedding Celebrations: What's Allowed?

Jehovah's Witnesses do attend weddings, and they have their own wedding customs. Their wedding ceremonies are usually simple and dignified, with a focus on a Bible-based talk. The couple may exchange vows and rings, and the ceremony may be followed by a reception with music, dancing, and food. While they have strict religious beliefs that guide their participation in certain activities, they generally attend weddings to celebrate the couple's union and to show respect for their God, Jehovah.

Jehovah's Witnesses can attend weddings

The main feature of the wedding ceremony is the wedding talk, which is about 30 minutes long and delivered by a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The warm and uplifting discussion emphasizes 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. In that case, toward the end of the talk, the couple exchange vows. They might also exchange rings. The minister then pronounces them husband and wife. In other countries, the couple may need to marry at a government office before or after the wedding talk.

Jehovah's Witnesses also attend the weddings of others. They do not have anything against weddings but have strict religious beliefs that prevent them from participating in certain activities and celebrations that violate moral principles found in the Bible. For example, a Jehovah's Witness might not attend a wedding if any ritual or service that they consider "pagan" would take place. A pagan service or ritual would be anything that promotes ideas contrary to scriptural truth, such as the doctrine about people having immortal souls.

When Jehovah's Witnesses attend weddings, they do so out of respect for a higher power, whom they believe is the God who inspired the biblical writings—Jehovah. They view marriage as a union not only between a man and a woman but also with God.

They have their own wedding ceremonies

Jehovah's Witnesses do have their own wedding ceremonies, which are often simple and dignified, and include a brief talk based on the Bible. The ceremony may be followed by a social gathering or reception, which may include a meal.

The main feature of the wedding ceremony is the wedding talk, which lasts around 30 minutes and is delivered by a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. The discussion focuses on how the Bible can help the couple have a lasting, loving, and happy marriage. In some countries, the couple may exchange vows and rings during this talk, and the minister will pronounce them husband and wife. In other countries, the couple may need to marry at a government office before or after the wedding talk, and they can choose to repeat their vows. The talk usually concludes with a prayer asking God to bless the newlyweds.

Many Jehovah's Witnesses choose to hold their wedding ceremony in a Kingdom Hall, which is typically open to anyone who wishes to attend, regardless of their religious affiliation. The couple may then opt to have their reception at a different location. While there is no specific dress code, attendees are expected to dress modestly and respectfully, in line with Biblical teachings.

Jehovah's Witnesses are happy to give and receive wedding gifts, but they avoid soliciting gifts or publicly announcing the names of the givers. They do not participate in toasts, as this practice is believed to have roots in false religious customs. Superstitious practices, such as throwing rice or confetti, are also avoided. While the wedding ceremony at a Kingdom Hall does not include food or drink, some couples choose to have a reception afterward, where refreshments may be served. If alcohol is served, it is typically made available in moderate quantities and only to those of legal drinking age.

Music and dancing may be included at the reception, with the selection of music reflecting good taste and personal preferences. The wedding ceremony at a Kingdom Hall often includes music with themes based on Biblical scriptures.

These ceremonies are simple and dignified

Jehovah's Witnesses do attend weddings and view marriage as a "threefold cord" – a devotion that involves a man, a woman, and God. Their wedding ceremonies are often simple and dignified, featuring a brief talk based on the Bible. The ceremony may be followed by a social gathering, or reception, which may include a meal.

The main feature of the wedding ceremony is the wedding talk, which is about 30 minutes long and delivered by a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses. The warm and uplifting discussion emphasizes 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. In that case, toward the end of the talk, the couple exchanges vows and may also exchange rings. The minister then pronounces them husband and wife.

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

Many Witnesses choose to have their wedding ceremony in a Kingdom Hall if one is available. Kingdom Halls have no specific dress code, but Jehovah’s Witnesses strive to follow the Bible’s direction to dress modestly and respectfully. The wedding ceremony at a Kingdom Hall does not include food or drink, but some couples choose to have a reception afterward where refreshments may be served.

They may be followed by a social gathering

Jehovah's Witnesses do attend weddings and may host a social gathering or reception after the ceremony. This may include a meal, music, and dancing. However, they do not partake in certain rituals that they consider "pagan", such as toasting, throwing rice or confetti, or soliciting gifts.

The reception is usually held at a location separate from the Kingdom Hall, where the wedding ceremony often takes place. The couple chooses whom to invite to the reception, and it is common for music to be played, reflecting good taste and personal preference. If alcohol is served, it is done so in moderation and only to those of legal drinking age.

Jehovah's Witnesses view marriage as a sacred union between a man, a woman, and God, and their wedding ceremonies are simple and dignified, featuring a brief talk based on the Bible. While they do not have a specific dress code, they follow the Bible's direction to dress modestly and respectfully, and they expect the same from their guests.

The wedding ceremony is officiated by a minister of Jehovah's Witnesses, who is authorised by the government in many countries to solemnise marriages. The main feature of the ceremony is the wedding talk, which lasts about 30 minutes and emphasises how the Bible can help the couple have a lasting, loving, and happy marriage. Towards the end of the talk, the couple may exchange vows and rings, after which the minister pronounces them husband and wife, concluding with a prayer for God's blessing.

They do not toast at weddings

Jehovah's Witnesses do not participate in toasts at weddings. While they attend weddings and funerals, they have strict religious beliefs that prevent them from engaging in certain activities that they believe violate moral principles outlined in the Bible.

The practice of toasting is considered a false religious custom with roots in paganism. Jehovah's Witnesses express their well-wishes to the couple in other ways that do not involve toasting. They view marriage as a sacred union not only between a man and a woman but also with God, and their wedding ceremonies reflect this belief. The ceremonies are often simple and dignified, featuring a brief talk based on the Bible, which may be followed by a social gathering or reception.

The main feature of a Jehovah's Witness wedding ceremony is the wedding talk, which is about 30 minutes long and delivered by a minister. The discussion emphasizes how the Bible can guide the couple in having a lasting, loving, and happy marriage. In some countries, the couple may exchange vows and rings during the talk, after which the minister pronounces them husband and wife. The ceremony may be followed by a reception where music and dancing are allowed, but the selection of music reflects good taste and is chosen according to personal preference and culture.

While Jehovah's Witnesses strive to follow the Bible's direction to dress modestly and respectfully, there is no specific dress code for weddings held at a Kingdom Hall. They also do not throw rice or confetti at the newlywed couple, as they believe these practices are connected with superstition and invoking good luck, which conflicts with Bible principles. Although they do not participate in toasting, they do exchange wedding gifts, as the Bible encourages generosity.

Frequently asked questions