Bahá'í wedding traditions

The Bahá'í wedding is deliberately simple. It has no clergy, no required ceremony beyond a short vow, and it follows the teachings of Bahá'u'lláh that marriage is a bond of unity. The faith has communities in nearly every country, so local custom adds colour.

The vow

The couple each say, before at least two witnesses, the verse "We will all, verily, abide by the will of God". The marriage requires the consent of both partners and of all living parents, an unusual rule that applies to every Bahá'í marriage. A Bahá'í wedding may be held in a home or a hall, with readings, prayers and music, and the couple choose its form.

Local colour

In Persian Bahá'í families a sofreh aghd and other cultural elements may be included. In India, Africa and the Americas, local customs such as music, dress and feasts are welcome, so long as they are consistent with the principles. Weddings of couples from different backgrounds are encouraged as a sign of unity.

In the law

In some countries a Bahá'í wedding has legal recognition and in others a civil wedding is also needed. In Iran the community has long faced difficulty in having its marriages recognised.