How do I make non-religious friends comfortable at my religious wedding ceremony?

Put it on the program. And if they are good friends of yours let them know beforehand. If they are good friends of yours they should understand your faith is your faith and shouldn't knock it

I don't think you need to say anything. If they are close to you surely they know how important your religion is to you.

I have been to many religious ceremonies, including a few in a different language and it was fine.

I like Alana's idea of putting it on the program or perhaps including it on the invitation. Your guests will decide for themselves if they are comfortable attending your wedding ceremony. This is the most meaningful part of your wedding day it should be the best of your world. Best wishes!

I can't speak for your friends, but as an atheist I'm not necessarily uncomfortable in the presence of worship unless I'm specifically required to take part or unless it involves hate in some way. I'm just not interested in it. And I think that for your friends, watching you get married will be exciting enough to mitigate that. And, if not, it's not really asking too much for them to be quietly respectful during the part of the wedding that really is about the couple.

If your wedding is in a church, they will very likely know what to expect.

Delfina put it (as usual) very well.

Our priest made everyone comfortable (Jews, Baptists, Buddhists, Hindi, Atheists, Agnostics and more).

When I went to my first Persian wedding, I Googled it first and enjoyed it so much more than if I hadn't.

We're making a program so all of our non-Catholic friend know what is going on. They all know it is a Catholic ceremony because we told them beforehand (and told them it would be an hour long)

I'm also with Delfina. I personally like learning about our faiths and traditions just prefer to not be there forever.

Do you know how many strict Catholics have raised children who became atheists? Do you know how many conservative Jews have raised children who became Buddhists or Messianic Jews? This is a fact of life. If you're having any kind of ceremony that sounds different to your family's prototype -- whether in accordance with a specific religion, belief, or philosophy -- you just add a printed program to the ceremony if you want them to follow along. It's that simple.

You asked for the honor of their presence, and if they accepted that invitation, they will behave honorably.

As for the reception, that when the "good time" begins. I trust you're hosting that correctly.

I don't think you need to worry about it honestly. If they are close to you and see an invitation to a wedding in a church, they're going to assume it's religious. And if they don't realize either of these, maybe they shouldn't be on the guest list.

Having participated with other officiants (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu) for ceremonies, I personally find it interesting, not discomforting. I just don't want to be forced to pass the peace, take communion or sing. And that usually doesn't happen.

I agree with PPs to have a program and make it clear what parts everyone participates in and what parts people outside your faith can skip (ie in a Catholic mass we kneel, but non-Catholics can sit at this time, and when we go up for communion non-Catholics can remain in their seats etc). You can also make your celebrant aware of the diverse group you have so he or she can give a very short explanation of what is going on and who should participate. Otherwise I'm sure everyone will be happy and understanding that this ceremony will be done in your faith.

I think putting an outline of the ceremony on the program would help. However, I wouldn't worry about it too much. First of all, I assume your friends know you are religious, no? Second. many of them have probably been to a Catholic or at least a Christian wedding ceremony before. It's not like a foreign concept.

When I go to a wedding ceremony, I am pretty much down for whatever is going to happen. Now, I don't really enjoy a long ceremony, but I get that people have different beliefs and ideas than I do. Like, as long as there isn't a blood sacrifice or anything, it's cool.

Wait, I could have been sitting all these times I got dragged to mass?

I think you should include instructions for how to politely decline to take Communion (i.e. cross your arms across your chest for a blessing).

ETA: This would go in the program.

Have you talked to your priest/pastor about this? They may have a way they usually deal with this.

Also, as far as other religions go, as long as I don't have to participate in a meaningful way (eg, as long as I'm not FORCED to take communion in a non-catholic church or do some of the witnessing that takes place in some protestant denominations), i am not uncomfortable at all by other religions. I think most adults can handle it.

I think your guests will definitely be clued in when they see where your ceremony is happening! Besides that, I'd definitely make programs so your guests can follow along in the service, and chat with your priest so that he can help make the service easier to understand and give clear instructions before communion.

I'd also decide with your fiance and priest what you would prefer non-catholics to do during communion. At some weddings I've gone forward and received a blessing, in other weddings they preferred non-catholics stay seated. I'd at least let your bridal party know what you'd like them to do here!

ETA: Just assuming this is a Catholic ceremony!

If they are your good friends I can only assume they know about your faith. I have good friends who are Jehovah's Witness (only saying this to prove my point), my friends are a little more relaxed than their mother whom I'm also close with. When she heard of my engagement she was super happy but bummed at the same time. I had no idea why. About a month we were talking and it finally came out, "Pia you know I love you like my daughter, but I just won't be able to attend your wedding inside of a church..." I laughed at first cause I couldn't believe that was why she was acting so weird. BUT I let her know I understood but was not having a church wedding. She assumed I was because I am a minister.

Said all that to say, people who are close to you will understand. If your ceremony is important to you and in the sanctity of your marriage do your wedding exactly how it is appropriate to do so within your faith and in your heart. If it is important to you maybe invite them to the reception/party even if they can not attend the ceremony.

ETA: I am choosing to take communion with my FH after our 3 strand cord ceremony simply because we are getting married on a Sunday, I thought that would be special. I am not presenting it to my guest although we all share the same faith. I'm not sure if that is an option for you or not. Just sharing.

Put it on the program! Maybe even figure out a way to make the ceremony optional so that if for some reason they are truly uncomfortable they don't have to go? It'll save you a few bucks too.

I don't think you need to tell them or warn them about anything. People should know you are religious and therefore should expect a religious ceremony. If they have a problem with it they won't attend.

Tell them straight up what to expect and to google it if they are that curious

If there's anything specific a guest needs to know, I'd let them know on your wedding website (maybe UO but if a place of worship had a dress code like keeping shoulders covered or something I'd want to know about it).

Otherwise, maybe in your program you could include the meaning behind certain traditions or elements of the ceremony so that your non-religious guests can follow along. My DH and I are very religious but we are Protestant and our ceremony didn't have many traditions like Eucharist or anything similar. I always enjoy learning about traditions of other religions, so I wouldn't be uncomfortable at all! (As long as you didn't do something like an altar call...haha).