Mennonite Wedding Length: A Cultural Perspective

Mennonite weddings are rich with tradition and steeped in values of simplicity and modesty. Today, you might not feel like there is much of a celebration as there is no dancing except in the long line to the ladies’ room, no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Mennonite wedding traditions

Mennonite weddings are steeped in tradition and value families and community, so it follows naturally that when a new family is created, they celebrate. However, this celebration clashes awkwardly with their values of simplicity and modesty, which has resulted in the Mennonite solution for most dilemmas: rules.

If you were to attend a Mennonite wedding today, you might not feel like it is much of a celebration. There is no dancing except in the long line to the ladies’ room, no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Historically, weddings involving Mennonites had to be between members of the Mennonite church in order to have the approval of the congregation(s) involved. Until early in the 20th century, weddings were generally performed by a bishop or elder, or rarely, by a minister with the bishop's (elder's) permission. In those congregations where people did not become members of the Mennonite church until after marriage, it was customary for the couple to be married by a non-Mennonite minister or by a civil servant.

The strong sense of commitment to Christ and to one's fellow believers that characterizes Mennonites means that wedding practices are a matter of concern to the congregation and the wider Mennonite fellowship. Despite the inevitable diversity of practice across North American Mennonites, my study of Gospel Herald essays and marriage announcements between 1908-1960 made it clear that Mennonite Church leaders felt strongly that important matters of doctrine and practice were at stake in how church members conducted their marriage ceremonies.

Mennonite wedding rules

Mennonite weddings are rich with tradition and steeped in rules. Today, you might not feel like there is much of a celebration if you attend a Mennonite wedding. There is no dancing except in the long line to the ladies’ room, no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Historically, weddings involving Mennonites had to be between members of the Mennonite church in order to have the approval of the congregation(s) involved. Until early in the 20th century, weddings were generally performed by a bishop or elder, or rarely, by a minister with the bishop's (elder's) permission. In those congregations where people did not become members of the Mennonite church until after marriage, it was customary for the couple to be married by a non-Mennonite minister or by a civil servant.

The strong sense of commitment to Christ and to one's fellow believers that characterizes Mennonites means that wedding practices are a matter of concern to the congregation and the wider Mennonite fellowship. Mennonite Church leaders felt strongly that important matters of doctrine and practice were at stake in how church members conducted their marriage ceremonies.

Mennonite weddings are a celebration of family and community, but this clashes awkwardly with their values of simplicity and modesty, which has resulted in the Mennonite solution for most dilemmas: rules. In reality, there are as many ways to have a Mennonite wedding as there are Mennonites.

Mennonite wedding celebration

Mennonite weddings are rich with tradition and value families and community. When a new family is created, they celebrate. However, this celebration clashes with their values of simplicity and modesty. This has led to the Mennonite response to most dilemmas: rules.

If you were to attend a Mennonite wedding today, you might not feel like it is much of a celebration. There is no dancing except in the long line to the ladies’ room, no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Despite the inevitable diversity of practice across North American Mennonites, weddings were generally performed by a bishop or elder, or rarely, by a minister with the bishop's (elder's) permission. In those congregations where people did not become members of the Mennonite church until after marriage, it was customary for the couple to be married by a non-Mennonite minister or by a civil servant.

Historically, weddings involving Mennonites had to be between members of the Mennonite church in order to have the approval of the congregation(s) involved. Today, you might not think there is much of a celebration if you attend a Mennonite wedding. There isn’t much tinkling of glasses, no drinking, and the only dancing is in the long line to the ladies room.

In reality, however, there are as many ways to have a Mennonite wedding as there are Mennonites. Despite the inevitable diversity of practice across North American Mennonites, my study of Gospel Herald essays and marriage announcements between 1908-1960 made it clear that Mennonite Church leaders felt strongly that important matters of doctrine and practice were at stake in how church members conducted their marriage ceremonies.

Mennonite wedding rituals

Mennonite weddings are rich with tradition and value families and community. However, this celebration clashes awkwardly with their values of simplicity and modesty, which has resulted in the Mennonite solution for most dilemmas: rules.

Today, you might not feel like there is much of a celebration if you attend a Mennonite wedding. There is no dancing except in the long line to the ladies' room, no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Historically, weddings involving Mennonites had to be between members of the Mennonite church in order to have the approval of the congregation(s) involved. Until early in the 20th century, weddings were generally performed by a bishop or elder, or rarely, by a minister with the bishop's (elder's) permission. In those congregations where people did not become members of the Mennonite church until after marriage, it was customary for the couple to be married by a non-Mennonite minister or by a civil servant.

The strong sense of commitment to Christ and to one's fellow believers that characterizes Mennonites means that wedding practices are a matter of concern to the congregation and the wider Mennonite fellowship. Virtually no light is thrown by the Scriptures upon the wedding service itself.

Mennonite wedding approval

Mennonite weddings are steeped in tradition and values. Mennonites value families and community, so when a new family is formed, they naturally celebrate. However, this celebration clashes with their values of simplicity and modesty, which has led to the Mennonite response to most dilemmas: rules.

Today, you might not think there is much of a celebration if you attend a Mennonite wedding. There is no dancing (except in the long line to the ladies' room), no alcoholic beverages (only sparkling grape juice on the bridal table, please), and hardly any tinkling glasses.

Historically, weddings involving Mennonites had to be between members of the Mennonite church in order to have the approval of the congregation(s) involved. Until early in the 20th century, weddings were generally performed by a bishop or elder, or rarely, by a minister with the bishop's (elder's) permission. In those congregations where people did not become members of the Mennonite church until after marriage, it was customary for the couple to be married by a non-Mennonite minister or by a civil servant.

The strong sense of commitment to Christ and to one's fellow believers that characterizes Mennonites means that wedding practices are a matter of concern to the congregation and the wider Mennonite fellowship. Despite the inevitable diversity of practice across North American Mennonites, my study of Gospel Herald essays and marriage announcements between 1908-1960 made it clear that Mennonite Church leaders felt strongly that important matters of doctrine and practice were at stake in how church members conducted their marriage ceremonies.

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