Spiritual Preparation for Marriage

My finance and I are both traditional in our beliefs, as our most of our friends and family. That’s why when it came to getting married, we both take our future vows and the whole process of the marriage seriously. We do plan to have fun and enjoy the process of the wedding planning, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that we have no desire to partake in certain trashy events that have unfortunately made their way into such a holy event, such as strippers at the bachelor or bachelorette party. We do plan on having a bachelor and bachelorette party, but we plan on keeping the fun clean and respectful—more of a good time spent with friends and family than a wild night out.

So far our wedding planning process has been really enjoyable, and I have learned a lot about the differences between men and women already! For example, my fiancé enjoys focusing on all the little “feminine touches” of the wedding such as the cake topper, the centerpieces, the song list for the band, making sure that the bridesmaids all wear the same color of nail polish, while I am focused on her showing up, the priest, the vows and the family and friends. The way I look at it is, this day is about us declaring our intention to spend the rest of lives together in front of our friends and family. All the extras such as the band, the food, etc., is nice but not necessary to make this day the most important day in our lives.

Because of our traditional beliefs, our Minister gave us a pre-wedding gift book called Bound by God: Spiritual and Practical Preparation for Entering the Marriage Covenant. This book has been such a blessing in our lives and has helped us grow as a couple. Several nights a week we spend about an hour reading this book aloud and then discussing the various points together. Marriage is a commitment not to be taken lightly, and I highly recommend that other couples that may be contemplating getting married sit with their spiritual advisor (Priest, Rabbi, Minister, etc.) and ask them for their guidance and any reading materials they would recommend. The more conversations can be had ahead of time, the more in sync both soon to be husband and wife will be.