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Planning a Wedding Rooted in Faith, Love, and Joy

As a bride and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, your wedding day is so much more than a party. It’s a sacred beginning—a covenant, a celebration, and a reflection of your love and your values.

Whether your big day is just weeks away or you’re newly engaged and full of ideas, I'm here to help you create a wedding that’s beautiful, personal, and truly centered on what matters most.

LDS Bride’s Overview

You're about to embark on the exciting journey of planning your wedding! It's such a special time, and while it can seem a bit overwhelming, especially when you're planning an LDS Temple wedding, remember that I'm here to help guide you through it.

Firstly, let's talk about your venue. One of the wonderful things about getting married in an LDS Temple is that it's free of charge. However, you'll need to consider how it will impact the rest of your wedding day plans. From selecting your dress to choosing your photographer and planning your grand exit, the temple setting will play a part in all of it.

When it comes to planning a temple wedding, there are two aspects to consider: the spiritual and the practical. The temple sealing isn't just a legal agreement, it's a spiritual commitment. It's a significant event in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so it's important to be well-prepared. You want to look back on your big day with joy and satisfaction, not confusion or regret.

So, how do you prepare spiritually for a temple sealing? Here are a few suggestions:

♥ Start with some church-approved materials. 'Preparing to Enter the Holy Temple' by Boyd K. Packer is a great resource.
♥ Consider taking a temple prep class from your branch, ward, stake, or institute.
♥ Have a conversation with your Bishop or parent(s) about the temple.

Before you can enter the temple, you'll need to secure a temple recommend. This means you'll need to arrange a meeting with your Bishop. They can provide you with valuable advice and resources to help you prepare spiritually. Plus, they can assist you in resolving any issues that might prevent you from getting your temple recommend. After you've met with the Bishop, you'll need to do the same with the Stake President. These are busy men, so try to arrange these meetings as early as possible.

A temple recommend signifies that a you are worthy to enter the House of the Lord to receive the ordinances of endowment and sealing. It's a beautiful spiritual journey: you start with the initiatory and endowment, and then move on to your sealing.

Some couples like to do their endowment session right before their sealing, while others prefer to spread it out over a few days. And then there are those who might have already done their endowments earlier, maybe before going on a mission.

It's important to note that the initatory and endowment ceremony in the LDS faith is a personal spiritual journey, not just a pre-wedding ritual. It's becoming more common for women to receive their endowment before going on missions, early in their engagements, or simply for their own spiritual growth. The endowment is a personal commitment you make to the Lord and is not tied to the wedding ceremony.

I would highly encouraged for you to attend the temple and receive your endowment well before your wedding day. This will allow you to fully understand and appreciate the significance of the endowment without the added stress and excitement of the wedding. It also provides an opportunity to return to the temple multiple times to reflect on the covenants you made during the endowment ceremony before your wedding day. This can enhance the spiritual experience of the wedding ceremony when it takes place in the temple.

There's no one-size-fits-all approach here, but it's good to know what you're getting into. The initiatory will take about 30-45 minutes, an endowment session is about 2 hours, and the sealing is around 20 minutes. So if you're planning to do it all in one day, you're looking at about 3-4 hours in the temple.

But don't forget about all the other things you'll need to do that day - getting ready for your sealing and reception, driving to and from the temple, and of course, the reception itself. It can be a lot to handle, so it might be worth asking your parents, bishop, or friends who've been through it for their advice.

One thing to remember is that everyone who comes to the sealing will need a temple recommend. This can be a bit tricky, especially for family members or friends who aren't members or aren't currently active in the church. They won't be able to attend the sealing, and that can be hard.

But remember, there are other ways to include them in your special day. They can help with the reception or ring ceremony planning, and keeping an open line of communication can go a long way in making sure everyone feels included.

Reserving a Temple for your LDS Wedding

Choosing to marry in an LDS temple not only simplifies your wedding venue selection but also lifts a significant financial burden. The temple is available free of charge, making it a more accessible choice than many other popular wedding venues. Once you've decided on the temple you wish to marry in, a simple phone call is all it takes to reserve it for your desired date and time.

However, don't assume the temple will be available on your chosen date without confirmation. Larger temples in areas with a high population of members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints may be in high demand, and smaller temples usually have limited sealing rooms. Each temple operates on its own schedule and may close for cleaning, maintenance, or on certain days of the week.

To ensure a smooth process, start your wedding planning by choosing a date, then reserve a sealing room at the temple before making any further plans. After all, the sealing is the heart of your wedding day. Everything else is just icing on the wedding cake. (I couldn’t resist the pun!)

Additionally, it's important to discuss protocol with the Temple Presidency. They can provide valuable information about parking, photography locations, guest guidelines, and other regulations such as decorating cars with "Just Married" signs. As each Temple President may have different preferences, it's best to call and discuss these details.

Finding Modest Wedding Dresses

Choosing the perfect wedding dress is a significant part of the wedding planning process. For LDS brides, finding a modest wedding dress that aligns with their faith's guidelines may present a challenge, especially outside of areas with a large Mormon population like Utah or Idaho. Therefore, it's advisable to start your search early.

LDS wedding dresses are worn over the temple garments, which for women include cap sleeves and a scoop neck. This means that options like backless or strapless dresses and low necklines are not suitable. This requirement may limit your choices, as many commercially available wedding dresses and bridesmaid dresses do not meet these criteria.

While your wedding dress will undoubtedly be the star of your wedding photos, you have several options for what to wear during the temple sealing. If you wish to wear your wedding dress for the sealing, it must meet additional "temple-ready" requirements. These include being white, long-sleeved, having a modest neckline, and reaching the floor. Trains are not permitted in the temple, so if your dress has one, it should be detachable.

If your chosen dress doesn't meet these "temple-ready" standards, temple workers can provide a white dickie to wear underneath your gown. Alternatively, you can opt to wear a plain white temple dress for the sealing ceremony. Regardless of your choice, remember that your ceremonial endowment clothing will be worn over your dress during the sealing, meaning your dress will be mostly covered. Ultimately, the choice is yours, and many brides find comfort in either option.

LDS Wedding Photography

When it comes to capturing your special day, hiring a wedding photographer who understands your vision is crucial. For LDS brides and grooms, the temple is not just a beautiful backdrop for wedding photos, but a significant symbol of their faith and commitment. The temple spire, representing the Savior, often holds a special place in the hearts of LDS couples. Therefore, it's important to communicate your desire to feature the spire prominently in some of your wedding photos.

When choosing a wedding photographer, ensure they understand the personal significance of the temple to you. Be specific about the number and types of shots you want that include the temple. Even if your photographer is a Latter-day Saint, don't assume they know exactly what you want. Also, remind your photographer and anyone participating in photos that behavior on temple grounds should be quiet and reverent.

The initial excitement of a marriage proposal soon gives way to the reality of planning a wedding. The sheer number of details that need to be coordinated can be overwhelming. LDS brides and grooms planning a temple wedding have unique considerations that need to be addressed.

Your wedding experience as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can range from fantastic to just okay, largely depending on your planning. By using these tips and other resources available at ChurchofJesusChristWeddingPlanning.com, any LDS bride can be both spiritually and practically prepared, ensuring a memorable and joyous temple sealing experience.

Remember, this is your day. It's a beautiful journey, and every step is a part of your story. And I'm here to help you navigate it all. You've got this!