Wedding

The public acknowledgment and celebration of a couple's marriage. The wedding followed betrothal and was a preliminary to sexual union. The occasion was marked by feasting, singing and rejoicing. The bride wore a wedding dress, jewellery and ornaments and both she and the groom were waited on by attendants.

Wedding garments

The bride's wedding dress

Psalm 45:13 See also Genesis 24:65; Ezekiel 16:10; Revelation 19:7–8, Revelation 21:2

All glorious is the princess in her chamber; her gown is embroidered with gold.

The bride's jewellery and ornaments

Isaiah 49:18 See also Isaiah 61:10; Jeremiah 2:32; Ezekiel 16:11–12

Lift up your eyes and look around. They all gather together; they come to you. As surely as I live,” declares the LORD, “you will wear them all as jewelry and put them on like a bride.

Wedding festivities

Weddings were occasions for rejoicing

Jeremiah 33:11 Genesis 29:27–28; Judges 14:12; Song of Solomon 3:11; Isaiah 62:5; Jeremiah 7:34

the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of the bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those bringing thank offerings into the house of the LORD, saying: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good; His loving devotion endures forever.’ For I will restore the land from captivity as in former times, says the LORD.

Wedding songs

PSA 45:0, Psalm 78:63

The wedding banquet

Judges 14:10 See also Genesis 29:21–22 A feast celebrates Jacob's wedding; Matthew 22:2 a wedding banquet given by a king for his son; John 2:3–10 Jesus Christ changes water into wine at a wedding feast; Revelation 19:9 the marriage supper of the Lamb

Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.

Guests and attendants at weddings

Wedding guests

John 2:1–2 See also Matthew 22:3–10, Matthew 22:11–12 Wedding guests were expected to wear appropriate clothes; Luke 14:8–10

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding.

Attendants on the groom

John 3:29 See also Judges 14:11, Judges 14:20; Matthew 9:15 parallels Mark 2:19, Luke 5:34

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

Bridesmaids

Psalm 45:14 See also Matthew 25:1–10

In colorful garments she is led to the king; her virgin companions are brought before you.

Wedding gifts

1 Kings 9:16 See also Genesis 24:59, Genesis 29:24, Genesis 29:29; Judges 1:14–15

Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.

Elements in the wedding ceremony

Covering the bride

Sometimes the groom would cover the bride with his cloak as a symbol of protection: Ruth 3:9; Ezekiel 16:8

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the aged, gather the children, even those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.