Buddhist weddings

Buddhist wedding traditions include a blessing for the happy couple. Here’s what you need to know...

What to wear at a Buddhist wedding

The bride, groom and guests are free to wear whatever they like, as long as it is not too revealing. The bride usually wears a dress and the groom a suit.

Guests should be aware that they must behave respectfully towards the Buddhist monks in the temple and should remove their shoes before entering the shrine room.

What happens at a Buddhist wedding blessing

The blessing ceremony takes place in the shrine room of the Buddhist temple.

• The ceremony lasts about half an hour, during which time ordained monks chant from Buddhist sacred texts in the Pali language.
• The style of chanting has been handed down since the time of the Buddha. The guests and wedding couple listen and observe, but do not participate. For this reason there are no service sheets.
• Confetti is not thrown as it has no place in Buddhist culture.
• There is no organist or choir, other than the monks themselves.
• Photographs and videotapes of the ceremony are allowed.
• After the blessing, the couple and guests would usually go to a reception. As there are no hard-and-fast marriage traditions in the Buddhist faith, what happens next is entirely up to the couple!

Previous 1 2 Next