Baha'i marriage: (ritual, church, eternal, recall, pray)

[arthra]

Some maybe curious about how marriage is approached in the Baha'i Faith..

One of the distinct things about Baha'i marriage is that all living parents of the prospective bride and groom must voluntarily give their consent to the marriage... there is no such thing as "eloping" in the Baha'i Faith.

Baha'is are "married" by representatives of Baha'i Institutions and probably most likely a Local Spiritual Assembly... The Assembly must review the consents with the couple and find that they meet the above requirement.

Two persons are then appointed to witness the vows of marriage by the couple... What are these vows? That they will abide by the Will of God. Each must vow to abide by the Will of God in front of witnesses. This is the Baha'i "ceremony" pure and simple.

The Assembly marrying the couple does not charge them for this service so there are no large expenses that the parents of the couple are burdened with or that the newly married couple have to assume.

If someone wants to rent a large hall and have a hundred or a thousand guests they can certainly do that.. but it is not required or expected.

Another question usually comes up and that concerns marriage with people with differently faiths. A Baha'i can marry anyone of any faith... as long as the basic requirements noted above are followed. What happens is there is a Baha'i "ceremony" on the same day but in a different site from the spouses church, temple or whatever.

There can also be a marriage of non-Baha'is..that is as long as the requirements are met the Assembly could marry a non-Baha'i couple.

So these are some of things that make Baha'i marriage special and unique!

Here is a brief over view of Baha'i marriage:

http://bahai-library.com/index.php5?...bahai_marriage

- Art

[Hema]

That's interesting. Thanks for sharing. I like the idea of a short and simple ceremony.

[BruceDLimber]

Technocally, Art, the couple marries each other!

(The witnesses don't do the "marrying.")

Best, :-)

Bruce

[arthra]

What you have written Bruce is true..in a sense...Recall this:

"Bahá'í marriage is the commitment of the two parties one to the other, and their mutual attachment of mind and heart."

and

"Bahá'í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other's character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life." - `Abdu'l-Bahá
2
The pledge of marriage, the verse to be spoken individually by the bride and the bridegroom in the presence of at least two witnesses acceptable to the Spiritual Assembly is, as stipulated in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas (The Most Holy Book):


the couple are basically marrying each other and agreeing to abide by the Will of God but administratively they must apply to the Institutions for that priviledge I think.

And let's not forget the description of Baha'i marriage:

"The true marriage of Bahá'ís is this, that husband and wife should be united both physically and spiritually, that they may ever improve the spiritual life of each other, and may enjoy everlasting unity throughout all the worlds of God."

[Booko]

We had our wedding in Wilmette at the House of Worship there, in the gardens. It was a simple affair with only immediate family and a few friends, of which two of the friends were witnesses.

I was just reorganizing and ran across a copy of the readings and prayers we used.

[arthra]

That's really lovely to be married at the House of Worship!

My wife and I were married in a nearby Baha'i Center and while humble i can look back on it and remember how lovely it was... My mother in law had placed lighted candles around on a sill which went around the room ...

When I visit the Center which is pretty often it always brings back fond memories..

- Art

[Booko]

Originally Posted by arthra

That's really lovely to be married at the House of Worship!

My wife and I were married in a nearby Baha'i Center and while humble i can look back on it and remember how lovely it was... My mother in law had placed lighted candles around on a sill which went around the room ...

When I visit the Center which is pretty often it always brings back fond memories..

- Art

Well, I used to live just a few hours away from Wilmette, so it seemed a rather obvious place to get married.

It was in July, which is not as nice as May for the roses, but a very fine month to be in the gardens, and the weather was lovely.