www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship The Other Sacramental Mysteries Encouraging Modesty in Dress at Crowning

Brothers and Sisters,
I've been tasked with sending out the wedding invitations, and we as a couple are trying to figure out a delicate way to encourage our friends and family to dress modestly. The wedding will be taking place in an Eastern Catholic church and the bridesmaids will all be veiling. Most people could read "Semi Formal dress, ladies are encouraged to veil" and have a good idea of what to wear, but not everyone seems to realise how one should comport oneself at church. A little help would be greatly appreciated on how to... encourage propriety without ruffling feathers.

Christ is in our midst!!

If the bulk of your guests are not familiar with an Eastern Catholic Church or any Eastern Church, you might prepare a list of suggestions for what is considered proper behavior. It may not ruffle feathers if it is presented within the context of your wedding.

You might include a brief description of the wedding service and explain that what guests may encounter is something that is not akin to weddings they may have experienced in Western Christian settings.

I don't know what your experience has been with Western Christian weddings of late, but people seem to think they are in just one "hall" of two that they will be in before the wedding celebration is over. People talk and move about as if the place they are in is not a sacred space--probably because of the 1960s influence that has caused everyone to take a very informal attitude toward the space and what goes on there.

Given this, it might not ruffle feathers if you were to suggest that the approach is totally different and provide suggestions with the brief description of the service as I suggested.

In any event, prayers for your upcoming Crowning and many happy years together.

Bob