~ A Mennonite Wedding ~

(Bride: Linda , Groom: Igor)

I know some of you asked what a Mennonite wedding is like, so I will tell ya!

The wedding service last 2 hours. I must say, it was the longest wedding I have ever been too...lol.

I didn't know what to expect so I didn't bring my Bible or usual notepad for note taking because at other weddings, well, that stuff isn't needed. :-)

What I love about Anabaptist weddings is that they take them very serious. They take marriage very seriously. It isn't about how beautiful the bride looks all dolled up or how precious the flower girl looks, etc.

Mennonite weddings do not have bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls, ring bearers or anything like that.

There is no "bridal march". No father walking his daughter down the aisle.

The bride doesn't hold a bouquet of flowers.

There were no fancy decorations in the church, in fact there were no decorations at all. :-)

There were no pictures taken during the wedding, but there was a set time to take them at the reception.

Upon arriving to the church we were greeted with car parkers. They told us where we should park. That was good though, keeps chaos from erupting...lol.

Once inside the church, we signed the guestbook (it was just a basic notebook pad), then were led by the ushers at the seat they designated for us.

Normally men and women would be sitting separately but because this is a special occasion, families sat together.

The bride and her family and the groom and his family sat in the front rows.

The wedding began at 10 a.m.

We sang 3 songs, "Savior, Like a Shepherd, Lead Us" , "When We Walk With The Lord", and "Blest Be The Tie That Binds".

Then we were led in prayer and a devotion by the bride's brother.

When he was finished, we sang another song "O Perfect Love".

Then we had a really good message (which made me regret not taking my Bible and notepad with me, but I didn't know) put forth by the deacon of the church.

When he was finished with his message we had a time of prayer.

When the deacon was finished with the prayer, we sang another song "O God Of Wisdom".

Finally, the part we all had been waiting for! The preacher gets up, the bride and groom stand, they take their right hands as the preacher says the vows. They repeat after him.

The 3 of them kneel in prayer to God and the minister gives their marriage up to God.

The 3 of them stand and the minister announces them 'Mr. and Mrs. ____'.

There is no kiss (that's saved for their private time), but there were tears and smiles and joy going around. :-)

There was another song "O Lord Divine, We Come", a time of prayer and then it was over.

Now normally everyone would have shuffled on out and caused a ruckus at the door. But not at this wedding.

The wedding party (bride, groom, and parents) went to the back door and lined up to be greeted at people left.

The ushers released us row by row.

Once the greetings were said, we all went to the reception hall (taken place at another church as it was bigger).

And that, my friends, was my experience at a Mennonite wedding.

I didn't go to the reception, okay, well, I went to the church and dropped the gifts off, but left after that because I had to get things done at home in order for me to go out to church today. :-) Oh the joys of not living close to church, right? :-)

Well I hope you got your curious minds answered.

Bless you all! <(((><

~ Dawn