The weddings of Buddhist couples are simple occasions, enjoyed by the friends and family who unite to rejoice in the extraordinary joining together of husband and wife. Because very few Buddhist temples are legally allowed to perform a marriage ceremony, this part of the day is often conducted in the home or garden of a [...]

The weddings of Buddhist couples are simple occasions, enjoyed by the friends and family who unite to rejoice in the extraordinary joining together of husband and wife. Because very few Buddhist temples are legally allowed to perform a marriage ceremony, this part of the day is often conducted in the home or garden of a close relative. Once legally married, the bridal couple will continue to a Buddhist temple, where they will receive the blessings of a monk. Many modern couples are not living near a genuine Buddhist temple. These ones have had to erect a shrine in another location and use this for the prayers and blessings instead. Part of this ceremony involves giving food, flowers, candles, and so on as gifts for the monk. They also present prayers to the Almighty and to Buddha.

Prior to the wedding, the groom’s family frequently bring trays of flowers, fruit and wine to the temple. They will also usually bring candles to the temple, which will be lit by the bride and groom to symbolise their new state of unity. Six and nine are considered to be lucky numbers. Therefore, these are usually the number of trays brought to the temple.

The dress of the bride, groom and their wedding guests is formal and conservative to show respect for the religious standards and expectations. The bridal couple traditionally wears colourful meditation robes that have been embroidered and embellished in exquisite detail. Colours like red, orange, pink and burgundy are popular. Some couples, particularly modern ones, opt for a more typical white gown. Because of the progressive times, this is starting to become more acceptable to the Buddhist communities. No shoes are worn in the temple by either the couple or their guests.

The marriage vows are quite different from those said in Christian weddings, but still hold the same commitments to love, respect and protect one another. The husband also promises to give pleasing gifts to his wife and she vows to be hospitable and welcoming to his family and friends.

After the formal ceremony, the couple and their guests proceed to the reception, which is a big celebration with great food, and plenty of singing and dancing. Buddhists are, traditionally, vegetarian or vegan (which excludes all animal products) and the wedding food is likely to adhere to these requirements.

Buddhist adherents can marry someone of any religion, as long as their new partner supports their love for Buddha, understanding its importance in his or her life. The customs of a Buddhist wedding are not as focussed on religion and faith as other wedding ceremonies, and are more about celebrating a happy, mutually respectful relationship. The ceremony and traditions around the marriage are, therefore, centered on the preferences of the couple’s respective families, and not on a religious set of strict requirements.

A Buddhist wedding is one of the simplest, but also the most special of all, as they are all about love and commitment.

Photo Courtesy of Calgary Buddhist Temple