To the Glory of Christ... The Marriage of John & Breanna

My family attended the wedding of John Joseph Bellino to Breanna Jean Fry. Breanna is Garhett's piano and bass guitar teacher. This was the most interesting wedding I have ever attended. The ceremony was a mixture of traditional Hebrew customs with traditional Christian ceremony. Both John and Breanna are long time Christians.

The ceremony took an hour and a half and here is how it went.

The bride and groom wore traditional symbolic clothing; he wore a "Kittle" the traditional Hebrew garment worn by every man attending a wedding. (It was white). She wore a traditional white wedding gown. The pastor wore a white robe with a stole.

In a traditional Hebrew wedding in preparation for the betrothal ceremony, both the groom and the bride were to separately take a ritual immersion in water as a symbol of spiritual cleansing.

The bridegroom's entrance was done by a groomsman sounding the 'shofar' (rams horn) and vocally announcing "Behold, the Bridegroom comes!". Then the processional began. The Pastor was first, followed by torch bearers, then flower girls, then the best men, then the maid's of honor (who were carrying oil lanterns according to Hebrew custom, that light the way for the groom) and finally the groom entered. A song of ascent was sung and then the Bride entered. She was beautiful! The procession was a feast of tradition and reverence!

The ceremony continued with another song, an invocation that involved a responsive reading for confession and absolution prayer then another song and two scripture readings; first the parable of the Ten Virgins, then the parable of the Wedding Banquet. At this point the sister of the bride read a passage from "Treaties on Christian Freedom" by Martin Luther (one of my favorites!). Another song, then the pastor lead a sermon on the parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matt. 22:1-24). I was very pleased to see that a bridal couple was focusing on our LORD and not on themselves!

Following the sermon and another song the congregation responsively read the Apostles' Creed. At this point the groom surprised the bride with a song he wrote for her as the wedding party signed the "Ketubah" (wedding contract), sealed the covenant with a communal cup of wine. At this point the pastor declared them husband and wife and the now married couple kissed for the first time! Yep, these two Christians, who have known each other for 8 years and were courting for the last 5 saved their first kiss for their wedding day. It was a joyous moment for the large gathering as everyone in attendance knew this! The couple then received an Aaronic Blessing (Num. 6:24-26) wrapped themselves in a Tallit which was imprinted with the symbols of the 12 tribes of Israel and the recessional began.

WOW, was this an event. Combining traditional Hebrew customs and Christian tradition was incredible, powerful and overwhelming - and that was just the ceremony. The reception afterwards was just as exciting. The most emotional part for me was when Mike (the father of the bride) and Breanna had their 'father / daughter' dance. I kept imagining how I will feel when Ashley and I have that dance - knowing her, and her love for dancing shows on TV, she is going to have us take dancing classes! The reception began at 3pm and by 7pm, when we had to leave, they hadn't even gotten to the cake! I have saved the wedding program to remind both of my children of this event when the glorious time comes for God to join them in matrimony.

I was very moved by this experience - especially the fact that these two role models saved themselves for their wedding day and shared their first kiss with over 200 people in front of God. What a fantastic gift to each other!

Way to go John and Breanna!!!