Foot Washing Ceremony

I would have someone read scripture and explain the significance of foot washing before you do it and then have music playing during.

We do feet washings but religiously.

We have the minister say the feet washing will take place and everyone sits there quiet while it happens. Those who are religious usually pray for that moment of time.

In your case, I would have someone read the significance of what you are doing to the crowd while you are washing feet. Then the remainder of time have music

EW! If I were a guest I would be creeped out for sure. Some people hate feet. Why torture your guests who hate feet? I vote for hand washing over feet.

Haha, I am 100% sure that none of our guests hate feet, considering all of the foot massages that happen in our immediate families. It's pretty typical that at any one time if somebody is sitting next to another on a couch, a foot comes up into the person's lap for a 5 minute massage.

I'm curious why people find this gross as a guest though? The guests aren't having their own feet washed. It's just the bride and groom, to each other, and most guests won't even be able to see the feet because of the basin and towels. Or is there something else?

I don't think this really belongs at a wedding. I would feel awkward watching something like that. It's very intimate for the couple, but odd for onlookers. I would do it during your first look like PP said above

As a devout Christian: ew.

If this is very important to you, why do you need to do it as part of your ceremony?? Do it as a special moment alone between you, FH, & God.

I agree with @sagetree it would just be strange to watch as a guest.

I think you know your guests the best to decide if it is strange or not. However, I do agree with what someone said previously about it not making sense to incorporate a religious act in a non religious ceremony.

I love MrsSki's ideas (like so many if not all of them). We did that (at the reception) and it was perfect.

What? Yes, ewww! My husband can wash his own feet, he is a grown man. Second, as a guest I would be repulsed lol. Third, this is directly religious. So don't, please.

I come from a culture where this is traditionally a part of ceremonies, so it's definitely not "Eww" for me.

We're having a secular ceremony, but weaving in parts of both our cultures (not feet washing in particular, but others). We talked more about what it symbolizes than the scripture behind it. Ie. We're doing the stomping of the glass as you would in a Jewish wedding, but instead of mentioning any scripture, we're saying it symbolizes the breakdown of all barriers between us.

So I do think you can incorporate it and explain it in a way that doesn't get overly religious.

ETA: I think the way you explained it in your post is totally sufficient for your guests!

The only time I have seen a foot washing ceremony is on Good Friday and at one very religious wedding ceremony. If it is something special for you and your husband, I don't see why not. It isn't hurting anyone, or putting them in physical discomfort, or offending them. I would just do an instrumental during the ceremony. Maybe talk with your officiant about it as well.

UO, I think the foot washing ceremony is beautiful. I've seen it done a few times and I was never grossed or creeped out (and I generally can't stand feet).

However, it is a direct reflection of a passage in scripture and I would find it odd to see a ceremony, religious in nature, not be. I like the hand washing idea.

As a guest, I wouldn't want to watch the bride and groom wash each other's feet. But that's just me.

It's your wedding though. Do what you want!

Eh.

I've seen it done before. While it didn't creep me out, I didn't find the beauty in it for a wedding. That was mostly due to my understanding of it from a biblical context (see Celia's explanation above).

To me (being catholic) this is a profoundly religious ceremony. I personally would find it strange in a non-religious setting. The symbolism behind it is quite touching and IMO makes perfect sense in the context of a wedding. I hate feet, but I gladly humble myself during Lent to share in this time honored tradition. I think music would be a perfect choice.

My cousin and his wife had two of their friends sing while they did this.

"although I have thought about doing a compilation of examples from Christianity, Hindu, Muslim, and even some of the Celtic traditions."

I don't have as strong a reaction to the ceremony itself as some others here do, probably in part because I am not Christian so do not connect it so deeply with religion (although it clearly is- so if you are going for secular that definitely should be kept in mind), but I really don't think it would be appropriate to pull in readings from a variety of cultural traditions that are not yours as you suggested here. Just my two cents.

My FH and I are doing this at our ceremony. We are having someone sing "How Beautiful" by Twilla Paris while we do it. We are having it done right after the giving away of the bride, so basically right after I walk down. I think it's really a beautiful symbol of service in marriage (my dad, a pastor, said eww lol, he's officiating our wedding).

The problem is that it's not a symbol of service in marriage. One of the problems. Besides the EWWWW factor.