What To Expect at a Mormon Wedding

by Maria

If you’re a non-Mormon who has been invited to a Mormon wedding, you may be surprised – though Mormonism is a branch of Christianity, the marriage ceremony is very different than what you may have seen at other Christian weddings.

For starters, you won’t be allowed into the ceremony.

A traditional Mormon temple sealing is a private event, open only to Mormons in good standing, and even then usually only to family members and a very few close friends.

(If one member of the couple isn’t a Mormon, or if one or both members aren’t yet considered ready to enter the temple, the couple will either have a civil wedding in a courthouse or a chapel wedding that’s much more like what you’re used to. They may then have a temple sealing in a year or so.)

As a guest, you’ll probably be asked to wait on the temple grounds or in the visitors’ center while the actual nuptials happen. You may have to do some waiting – guests usually arrive about half an hour before the ceremony, and the proceedings can take another half-hour or so. If it’s high wedding season, the bride and groom may actually need to wait in line behind some other couples, so bring some conversation starters. Fortunately, the temple grounds will probably be a beautiful and peaceful place to spend a little time.

The other bit of good news is that you will probably get to see the newlyweds exchange rings, as that isn’t considered a part of the temple ceremony. The newlyweds will either do that immediately (and rather quickly) after they leave the sealing, or they’ll have a more elaborate ring exchange at the start of their off-site reception.

Important notes
• While you’re on temple grounds, you shouldn’t take photographs or videos without explicit permission. If in doubt, don’t.

• Both male and female guests should dress conservatively. Err on the side of long sleeves and high necklines.

• While your friends want you to feel included, it’s considered a sacrilege for them to talk about temple ceremonies to outsiders, so do keep your curiosity at bay.

• Don’t expect alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine to be available (or acceptable to have on you) at the reception. Plan accordingly.

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  • 1. Anonymous (not verified) said:

  • Photographs and videos are very welcome on temple grounds:) It's a beautiful place to take photos with friends and family. Inside the temple, however, is not an appropriate place for pictures.
    Long sleeves and high necklines are a bit overboard, don't you think? Here are the general modesty guidelines we try to follow:
    knee length dresses/shorts/skirts (not slits)
    cap sleeves are the shortest sleeve-length that's appropriate
    please cover your back and cleavage
    If you wouldn't wear it to a job interview, then it's not appropriate at a reception:)
    Wine, coffee pots, and other gifts that are contradictory to our standards are not appreciated. I'm getting married in a few months and (since we have only a bed, books, and a few kitchen supplies) I would LOVE to receive necesseties such as cooking pots, furniture, even bleach and windex!

  • 2. Rose Haller - WeddingLDS.com (not verified) said:

  • LDS TEMPLE WEDDINGS: QUESTIONS & ANSWERS ♥ AN OVERVIEW:
    Weddings are busy and emotional times. On top of the stress of planning and coordinating flowers, dresses, photographers, and caterers, there are two families’ worth of traditions, beliefs, desires and expectations to address. If you are getting sealed in an LDS temple and have family members who will not be able to attend the sealing, it can become a point of misunderstanding and conflict, clouding what should be a joyous occasion. President Boyd K. Packer counseled, “The young couple must understand that their parents may have looked forward to the wedding day during the entire lives of the bride and groom. Their desire to attend the wedding, and their resentment when they cannot, is a sign of parental attachment. It is not to be resented by the young couple. It is to be understood and planned for carefully as a part of the wedding” (The Holy Temple, 66-67).

    Remember that the family is the basic unit of the gospel. Your families, the one to which you were born and the one you’re starting… Please read more at: http://www.weddinglds.com/what-is-a-lds

    Ros Haller, Editor-in-Chief, www.WeddingLDS.com and www.WeddingLDS.info