Bahai Marriage Prayer

There are no other specific marriage rites. Most couples design a service to accompany the vows, but Baha’is are free to choose any readings, music, dance, food, dress, etc., that has special meaning to them. In fact, the most memorable wedding I’ve attended was between a woman from Tonga and a man from Samoa — they used traditional dances in their ceremony, including a group of men doing the Hakka!

Alas, their own wedding had no Hakka. We followed the usual American format of a couple of readings, a short speech by the officiant, and an exchange of vows and rings.

We opened with a Baha’i marriage prayer read by my mother. For readings, if left to they own choosing, we would have used excerpts from the “Baha’i Marriage Tablet” (which may be a talk instead of a Tablet, by one of the Central Figures of otheir Faith, unless it’s by someone else). But Mr. T found the language too “flowery,” so we went with something secular. Specifically, Marriage Joins Two People in the Circle of Its Love, by Edmund O’Neill, and a Hindu Marriage Blessing after their vows.

History

“Bahá’í marriage is union and cordial affection between the two parties. They must, however, exercise the utmost care and become acquainted with each other’s character. This eternal bond should be made secure by a firm covenant, and the intention should be to foster harmony, fellowship and unity and to attain everlasting life.”

The Prayer