The Buddhist Wedding

Buddhism is a cross cultural philosophy and practice.

In other words, cultural mindsets, regional history and tradition, and other factors influence how Buddhist ritual and teaching is expressed around the world. 

Here are some thoughts and images from a wonderful blog post, rich with ideas for buddhist wedding ceremonies and traditions...

From PINTEREST - Buddhist Wedding Images

From VibrantTable.com :

Buddhist Values & ways to represent them in a wedding

As there are no pan-cultural Buddhist wedding traditions, the ways a particular couple express their Buddhist values are designated by their cultural influences. Look for symbolic elements throughout the ceremony, reception, and venue.

• Love, Respect & Honor – altar with meaningful symbols and photos of loved ones or ancestors, meditation, victory banners,  tea ceremony
• Positive Space & Blessings – incense, prayer flags
• Non-Harming of Life – vegetarian menu, though not all Buddhists are vegetarians. Buddha ate whatever was offered, demonstrating gratefulness, another key value.
• Generosity — abundance of food, donations to a charity
• Transformation & Wisdom – lotus flowers, candles, prayer, meditation, bells or gong
• Joy & Happiness – golden fish
• Connectedness – red string, endless knot, white ceremonial scarf
• Protection – Buddha statue, victory banners, parasols
• Purity – water, white ceremonial scarf

Buddhist-Wedding-Ideas - From VibrantTable.com

• Some Buddhist monks do not officiate weddings.
• In Buddhism, the body is respected as a holy vessel with the head, being the highest point on the body, symbolizing enlightenment. For that reason, it is disrespectful to touch another person’s head or point the soles of your feet toward someone, including Buddha.
• Expect an abundance of food. It would be seen as a negative omen if provisions were to run out. Leftovers are most commonly given to family members or donated to relief agencies.
• In many Buddhist cultures, public displays of affection are viewed negatively, so the newlyweds may choose to forgo a kiss at the close of the wedding ceremony.
• Couples may change clothes frequently, and you may see lots of rich fabrics such as silks, brocades, and fine cotton.
• The traditional wedding colors vary depending on the country or culture.
  • Red, Crimson, & Gold – China
  • Saffron & Brown – Thailand, Burma, India, Sri Lanka, Laos, Vietnam
  • Black & Gray – Japan & Korea
  • Red, Blue, Green, White & Yellow – Tibet
• Common flowers are peonies, orchids, ikebana, roses, wisteria, and lotus