Wedding Attire

With the shawl (and Leo!)

My friend and I were discussing wedding attire since we both had celebrations to attend this weekend. When I pointed out I'd be wearing a long dress, she asked me why (especially because it was supposed to be hot).  

I pointed out that I typically choose to wear longer dresses to weddings because it feels proper to me.  I like shorter dresses. They're fine for folks to wear.  I'll wear them to weddings, too, especially if I know it's going to be unbearably hot.  However, I tend to prefer longer gowns if I can suffer through the heat because I believe in the Presence of God that participates in a very special way during weddings.

She shrugged and said, "But isn't your wedding outside?  It's not in a Church."

I affirmed she was right, but it doesn't really matter where a marriage takes place.  The couple makes their vows before God and man.  God is intrinsically present during a marriage because sacramental marriage is one of His most precious gifts to humanity.  It is through marriage that a husband and wife most closely resemble the Holy Trinity - God, Himself.  This is even true of a priest.  A priest is not "God-like" even during Consecration.  In fact, during Consecration, he hands his body over to become a vessel for Christ.  For a married couple, however, their charge is to emulate the Trinity.  That's huge!

Just as the Father and Son are one, so too are husband and wife.  Just as the Father and Son bring forth the Spirit through their Love, so too do husband and wife bring forth children through their love.  The Trinity is, quite truly, a family.  Obviously Theirs is a divine relationship that we cannot begin to fathom, but through the marital bond, we come to understand this relationship a bit more.  

Because this Sacrament is calling us to such a holy and divine emulation, God is joyously present at the union of two souls.

Do not think for a second that just because you see two bodies still before you after vows that their souls are not linked.  What God joins at the altar through the free consent of his children, no one can separate.  It would be easier for you to melt two white candles together into one only to separate them once again.

God takes delight in the souls who find joy in one another.  So of course He is present when two souls take the step of coming together in such a sacred way.

Thus, I take care to dress in a way fitting His Presence.  Long gown with shoulders and back covered is typically the route I go.  The dress I chose fit her color scheme (spring-ish) but since it was a bit more showy of my shoulders and back, I wore a shawl throughout the ceremony and blessing.  Only after these parts did I dare remove the shawl. 

So that's what I tend to keep in mind when dressing for weddings (aside from the obvious "Don't Wear White and Don't Wear a Tiara" rules).  God is going to be present, and He's going to be SUPER giddy that two of His beloved children are vowing to live the rest of their lives in a way that more closely resembles Him.  

He's coming decked out with Divine Graces.  The least I can do is be somewhat presentable, ya know?  *Grin*

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Without the shawl (and w/ John). Taken with a B/W camera.