In just a few days, Chelsea Clinton and fiancé Marc Mezvinsky will tie the knot, as Cupid reported last month.  Before the big day on July 31, the media is abuzz with speculation. Will the wedding really cost two million dollars?  What’s on their playlist?  But there’s one detail that hasn’t received quite as much attention: how will religion play a role in the ceremony?  Clinton was raised Methodist, while Mezvinsky is Jewish.  CBS’s Early Show had life coach and dating expert Donna Barnes offer her perspective on interfaith marriages last week.
What are some unique ways to incorporate religion into a wedding?
Cupid’s Advice:
With the number of  people marrying outside their own religion on the rise, discussing what role religion will play in the ceremony is important. Understanding and respecting your partner’s beliefs and practices can also help create a happy home life of mixed faiths. Here are a few circumstances to consider for the big day:
1. Interfaith weddings: If you and your partner don’t share the same religion, but want to incorporate faith into the ceremony, you could go the interfaith route and have one officiant from each religion present.
2. Want a religious ceremony in a non-religious location: You’ve dreamed of saying “I do” on the beach, or maybe even in your own backyard, with a religious ceremony. This may be difficult, as many faith-based officiants won’t perform wedding ceremonies outside places of worship. You could, however, opt for two separate ceremonies: an intimate celebration at a place of worship, as well as another at your dream location, led by a non-religious officiant, like a Justice of the Peace.
3. Non-practicing: If you and your spouse’s family have religious roots, but you don’t currently practice a particular faith, you may wonder if having a wedding in a place of worship is appropriate.  Ask yourself and your partner how comfortable you feel when inside these locations, talk to your families about the role that faith may or may not play at the ceremony, and seek advice from a religious leader.  Ultimately, do what feels right for you and your spouse.
