www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Faith & Theology Weddings on Sunday

I understand the Eastern custom is to have weddings on Sunday because Friday is a fast day and Saturday is a day to remember the dead. Also, not during and fasting seasons. I understand this, but I had one question/concern with it regarding planning my own wedding when that time comes.
I was reading a little checklist/examination of conscience. One of the sins it listed was scheduling people to work on a Sunday. I realized that I am not in favor of businesses being open on sunday or people doing unnecessary work on Sundays. I try not to work or labor too much unless charitably. I will go to businesses like sotres or restaurants because it is there choice to be open.
But regarding planning a wedding, I would then be the one responsible and hiring many people to work on this day of rest. Some would be Christians and some would not, but I still wonder about putting them in that position. Caterers, photographers etc... Not to mention people in the family who might skip church in order to be getting prepared etc.
Has anyone else run into this concern or have reassuring thoughts? Am I just being scrupulous? Should I just trust that if the priest is willing to schedule such a thing and attend that this is all the evidence that my conscience should not worry.
In fact, I think our church has scheduled more than a few Sunday banquets.
Still, if I were a business owner I would feel weird about scheduling people on Sunday, so why should I feel good about hiring loads of people to work at a wedding?

There is nothing written in stone requiring wedding receptions to be held on the same day as the wedding. If you and your prospective bride wish, you are at liberty to have your wedding reception at any reasonable time (following the wedding) that suits you.

Fr. Serge

well, I really prefer the idea of it being on the same day. I was just curious if anyone else thought of this, or could simply tell me that I am being crazy for thinking that it is a problem. Or confirm that it is sort of a dilemma.

It is also on Sunday because it is the day of Resurrection!

And I personally wouldn't worry about it...the reception is much cheaper on a Sunday...but that's just me...it is different than say working at a retail store or something...

The real reason for no Saturday weddings is also practical.

After a hearty happy wedding reception, no one attends the Eucharist on Sunday. A VERY good reason for avoiding Saturday weddings.

If you're a Christian, that is...

I don't know of a priest that will marry someone on a Saturday.

Alexandr

Father bless!
Many years ago I had the joy and honor to be a grooms'man in a wedding celebrated on a Saturday at Sts.Volodymyr & Olha Church in Chicago.There were four priests,two deacons, the full parish choir,and about 150 invited guests and family.
I think that this was also the ONLY time in the history of that parish that Great Vespers was cancelled - due to the fact that everyone who would be taking part in that service was at the reception.
The next day at the Divine Liturgy along with the usual congregation there were four priests,two deacons,the full parish choir,about 150 invited guests and family,and the happy couple.
It was the wedding of my koumbaro Rev.Fr.Pavlo & Pani Matka Christina Hayda!

A couple at my parish got married last year. The service was after the Sunday Divine Liturgy.

I was at a Saturday wedding just last week where the bishop was present. I've never seen that before. Not much different except one or two "Eis polla eta despota"s.

Anyway, the point is that the bishop didn't seem to have a problem with the Saturday wedding. Then again, Sat. weddings are the norm for the Carpatho-Russyns.

I have also attended an Antiochian sunday wedding, too.

One thing I was also curious about. Divine Liturgy and weddings. From everything I had read, I thought that the Orthodox did not have Holy Communion or Divine Liturgy like Catholics tend to have a Mass at weddings, but rather a different wedding service. That maybe at one time it had also been a liturgy but now is not. That instead of Communion there is however a cup of blessed wine that the bride and groom drink from three times as symbolic of sharing all the good and bad and everything of life.
But on the website for the eparchy of Parma (which I believe I am dealing with) I seemed to see a few statements that led me to believe that sometimes Divine Liturgy is celebrated in conjunction with a wedding. Unless I misread them. I think the one that led me to believe that was that in a marriage between a Catholic and non-Catholic celebration of Divine Liturgy is not encouraged. Will this differ from church to church and rite?

At my son's Sunday afternoon wedding in a Greek Orthodox Church, the bride and groom received the Body and Blood of Christ instead of blessed wine from the Holy Chalice (as the priest reserved the Holy Mystery for them from the Sunday morning liturgy). The bride and groom were told not to attend Divine Liturgy that morning.

Since the reception in the early evening (after 5) was technically considered to be Monday, there was no problem with hiring a crew to serve the dinners.

In the Serbian Orthodox Church, if both the bride and groom are members in good standing in the Orthodox Church, they will schedule their wedding at the Sunday morning Divine Liturgy, where the couple will be the first to receive Holy Communion. So, yes they do have a Nuptial Divine Liturgy.