The Order and Content of an Interfaith Wedding Ceremony

There are many different Jewish and Christian traditions that can be incorporated into an interfaith wedding ceremony. Many couples get a bit nervous about planning an interfaith ceremony because each tradition has a specific order that the ceremony takes place in. The good news is that these traditions can be merged and many of the traditions are very similar. There are wedding planners and officiants that specialize in this type of wedding and they can help a couple incorporate traditions important to them and find an order for the ceremony that makes the bride and groom comfortable.

Merging Two Religions In An Interfaith Ceremony.
In both Jewish and Christian weddings the ceremony starts out with a procession of the wedding party. In a Jewish wedding the groomsmen and the groom walk down the isle, as do the bridesmaids and the bride. In a Christian wedding the groomsmen and the groom do not typically walk down the isle. They are generally already at the alter with the Minister and the procession starts with the bridesmaids and then the bride. Both of these religions can be flexible with this tradition and in either case the wedding will start with some sort of wedding procession.

Both religions allow for some flexibility as to the location of the ceremony. In the Jewish tradition the wedding ceremony often takes place under a wedding canopy. In many cases a Christian wedding also takes place under some sort of wedding arch. Thus, merging these traditions is also very doable.

The Jewish and Christian religions share many traditions such as the lighting of candles, the exchanging of vows, the exchanging of rings and the pronunciation of husband and wife. These are all very easy to incorporate into an interfaith wedding.

Other Jewish traditions include the Ketubah or wedding contract, circling, blessing the wine, the seven blessing and breaking of the glass. In Christian tradition there is also a wedding contract that is signed either before or after the ceremony by the bride, groom, clergy and one or two witnesses. This is very similar to the Ketubah, which is typically signed before the Jewish wedding ceremony. In Jewish tradition wine is blessed for the ceremony. In Christian weddings sometimes communion is taken. Merging these can be discussed with the clergy.

The other Jewish and Christian traditions are not similar. These include circling, seven blessing and breaking of the glass in the Jewish tradition. In the Christian tradition these include the bride being given away by her father and kissing the bride. However, it is your wedding and you should incorporate the traditions important to both of you.