Anybody else washing each others feet at the ceremony?

Very well put, Centerpiece. I have seen this done at one wedding, I thought it was very sweet and the religious symbolism made it all that more special, because faith is a very big part of their lives. It wasn't gross...I couldn't even see their actual feet, because one person being bent over the other's feet obscured the view. For those that were asking, the couple identify as 'non denominational' Christians.

ETA: oh and to answer the OPs original question, I can't remember if the couple had music or a reading or what. But if you have a lot of non-Christian guests I would recommend explaining either in the program and play music during the ritual, or have a reading. Or if you think everyone will know what's going on, just play music. Kassey's scripture quote would be a perfect reading.

We were going to until we went to a wedding where they did this. You couldn't see anything at all and even though they had music and a reading it was just awkward. HOWEVER- it's not about your guests, it's about you. I think the people who are responding negatively to this are only doing so because they don't run in a religious crowd and don't understand the significance behind it. I think the sentiment is absolutely beautiful and that if you want to, go for it!

Awkward. I won't be doing this, but I also want to gag when I see FH's feet. No thank you. We want our ceremony short and sweet. Without frills and extra crap.

This is what would have happened, if the bride had been able to sit.

Nancy says,

“In John 13: 3-5, it is written:

‘Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God and went to God, He rose from supper and laid aside His garments and took a towel and girded Himself. After that He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith He was girded.’

“Through this foot washing ceremony, (bride) and (groom) will start their marriage in humble love. Based on the idea of service to one another, each becomes less than the other, and thus the couple becomes more. By washing each other’s feet, they are saying, ‘I love you.’ They show honor and respect for one another. They demonstrate humility by kneeling before each other, saying ‘I will be here for you through the muck and mud of life.’ By having their feet washed by the other, they receive support, communicating to one another, ‘I will let you help me’ and ‘I know I won’t go it alone.’ Together they make these promises to each other in front of all of you, their loved ones, from prayer position, in the name of Jesus Christ.”

Bride’s father sings while bride and groom wash each other’s feet.

Centerpiece, the way you worded that was just amazing. Seriously I want to be friends with you lol! I can tell you are an amazing woman!

OP I think that you should do whatever you want. Personally I wouldn't do it but I in no way would be disgusted by someone that did. I am Christian and I think people that aren't religious just can't possibly understand.

Well for the most part my family are atheist who are going to hell. So we won't be doing anything religious related. But my brother who became an hebrew israelite late in life did this at his wedding.

@Nancy T

I really like that wording. So sweet

Um…no!

Foot washing should only be done on Maundy Thursday IMO. It's a religious rite, but only in the appropriate season. If you're getting married on Maundy Thursday, then by all means, include it. Otherwise, I follow the religious calendar.

@Centerpiece- bravo!!!

Never seen it done, and I have zero interest. I understand the symbolism, but I personally find it very unappealing.

Ally, you are a sweetheart, There's no doubt about it. Thank you.

I think if this is an important act of religious significance to you, there's nothing that says you can't do it "off stage" so to speak. If you think it would bother guests, you could always do it directly after the ceremony in a more private moment and symbolically enter your marriage cleansed and it would be literally your first act of service as husband and wife.

Hells No. I wouldn't want to eat after seeing people wash each others feet.

To @PP it's not a Lutheran wedding tradition as I've basically only been to Lutheran weddings/am Lutheran and have gone to several church's throughout the country.

To @OP I understand the symbolism but the other girls mentioning the view is a very good point. I'm all for any unity, religious, etc symbols but IMO it may not go smoothly and might be cheesy depending on the reading, as I'm assuming most guests know you're going into a marriage willing to "serve" each other. Mostly I'd be concerned about the logistics of removing shoes/socks gracefully, I know in my wedding dress putting on shoes isn't the easiest thing- and I've tried to take off FHs dress shoes when he was drunk and it's not the most graceful thing.

I would try it for the rehearsal and have a guest sit down somewhere and record it from their phones so you have an idea that it'll go smoothly

My FH cousin did this at her ceremony and it was beautiful. While I wouldn't want to do it at my own wedding, her wedding was small and intimate and the feet washing was really meaningful for both of them. They are both very Christian people. People cried while it was happening. We are in the bible belt too so maybe its more common for stuff like that down here too.

And man there continues to be a lot of rude, b*tchy women on this site.... I'm sorry for all the rude responses.

I don't think the responses are rude or bitchy; if you put something out there, you're going to get opinions. Replies that say, 'what a great idea," are comforting but hardly helpful.

OP asked if anyone was thinking about it; I presume she asked because she actually wanted an answer, and she got them, overwhelmingly in the "no way" column. Should she eliminate it if she wants to have it? No, but she did ask for input and she got it, which is ultimately more useful than, "yep, love it, go for it."

There are many ritual elements, in every tradition, that don't translate as well as we hope they will when we write them into a ceremony. I think it's really worthwhile to bring that up and maybe suggest thinking of other elements that will communicate the same thing in a way that is more accessible, understandable and meaningful to the audience to whom, presumably, you want to communicate. It's kind of like doing the ceremony in a language or dialect that no one understands and then wondering why no one got it; of the "audience getting it' factor doesn't matter, then it doesn't matter. But most of the time it does.

View Quoted Comment True - you don’t sound like the “serving” type. Probably not for you then. But the point of washing feet isn’t to be graceful, but to humbly submit to one another, which is why it is done by both sides for each other.