Foot Washing at a wedding

[sk!mom]

Have you seen it? Do you like it? Would you do it?

I was recently at a wedding where they did this and it was new to me. I didn’t like it at all. It felt like I was watching something really intimate and I was uncomfortable.

Here’s John Crist’s take...

 

[PollyannaMom]

Definitely new to me. - I mean, I've heard of it in terms of the bible story, but never seen as part of a wedding.

Yuck!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Some faiths consider it to be one of the sacraments of the church, so it is very traditional and done for important services and occasions. It should feel quite personal and intimate because it is meant to be. It is a form of humble, sacrificial service to show love for another person -- that's very personal! And feeling uncomfortable is pretty normal -- that happens to many people, especially because not many churches keep this tradition now. I've seen/experienced it most often as part of a Good Friday service, not usually at a wedding.

 

[Searc]

I love John Crist. Especially his video at Disney World.

 

[sk!mom]

This was at a Baptist church wedding so not a common sacrament in that faith as far as I know. It was the second wedding that I know of but the first I attended. I don’t know the faith of the other couple.

For John Crist to do a bit about it, and for me to hear of it twice recently it must be something of a new trend.

 

[Moliphino]

I've never heard of it at a wedding, that seems really odd to me. I know some Catholic churches do it during holy week after mass on Holy Thursday.

 

[tzolkin]

I have no issue with foot washing, but it does feel weird to me for a wedding.

I could see where this could be a sweet and meaningful thing if done privately or spontaneously, but to me it seems to counteract the "humility" aspect of the action by basically doing it on a stage in front of a bunch of people. For me, it would lose it's meaning because it would feel like my spouse and I were doing it for the audience ("Hey everyone, watch how humble and selfless I am") rather than each other. (I suppose that's kind of what the entire wedding ceremony is so maybe I'm just reading too much into it.)

I'm sure my personality plays into my feelings. I'm really against any acts of love that are done for "show" or out of obligation (like gifts for holidays) so I think this would fall under that category for me.

I've always been fine with foot washing done in church, but that has (at least at the various churches and denominations that I have attended) been something that everyone was participating in together rather than just two people going up front while everyone else watched.

 

[HopperFan]

Have you seen it? Do you like it? Would you do it?

I was recently at a wedding where they did this and it was new to me. I didn’t like it at all. It felt like I was watching something really intimate and I was uncomfortable.

This was at a Baptist church wedding so not a common sacrament in that faith as far as I know. It was the second wedding that I know of but the first I attended. I don’t know the faith of the other couple.

For John Crist to do a bit about it, and for me to hear of it twice recently it must be something of a new trend.

As a person who ... is not a fan of feet .... this would be hard ..
.. and I assume there were no beverages offered to dull the memory ...

 

[firefly_ris]

It's supposed to be intimate and an act of humility... at least that's how I have always viewed it as a Catholic (I've also attended a metric ton of Catholic weddings including my own and have never heard of this, yet). I don't really know how I feel about it as a sort of showy wedding display as another poster described above. To me that sort of defeats the point and puts it on the same level as the garter belt thing... maybe I'm way off base but that's my first impression.

 

[aprilgail]

hell no- yuk. I would hate to have to sit there and watch someone get their feet washed anyplace!

 

[L&Lfan]

I’ve only experienced it on Holy Thursday evening in the Catholic tradition. That night commemorates, among other things, Christ washing the feet of His apostles, indicating that to be a follower of Jesus is to serve one another. I’ve never seen it a wedding ( or anywhere else for that matter.)

 

[RUDisney]

My cousin did this at her wedding. I was in the back of the church and had to keep pinching my leg so I didn't lol.

I understand it on Holy Thursday, but at a wedding!?! Um, no. Plus, all the groom had to do was slip her shoes back on her feet. The bride had to force his foot into his shoe and then tie the laces. That's what loafers are made for, buddy... but I digress.

The bride also gave her promise ring back to her parents at the start of the ceremony and at the end, she was hopping on her toes before she was told she could kiss her husband. I told her mother that it was cute that she was so excited to be married. Her mother told me while that is true, she was probably more excited for her first kiss.

 

[BingoJoe]

It looks appalling.

 

[BingoJoe]

That's what loafers are made for, buddy...

You can't get married in loafers! What is the world coming to?! First the washing and now this!!!!

 

[L&Lfan]

She was probably most excited that that itch was finally gonna get SCRATCHED !

 

[GoingSince1990]

Wait..... what?

 

[disykat]

We were asked, so I'm giving my honest opinion here, so no offense intended. In general, I think those kinds of things should be offered to all rather than just watching the bride and groom. A whole congregation foot washing at a wedding would be awkward at best. I have never participated in a foot washing and would feel uncomfortable. Not a fan, though I certainly understand the Biblical significance. My son and dil had communion at their wedding without offering it to all. Good thing they didnt ask my opinion, because it just felt wrong to me.(you don't serve a meal without inviting everyone who desires to to partake IMO. Open table is a big deal in my tradition.) Odd as it sounds, foot washing was a hospitality thing so it seems weird to watch.

That said, i think i's nice to hear of a wedding that has religious ceremony involved. I miss those kinds of weddings because that's what I had and what was done during my generation. I haven't been to a church wedding or even a venue wedding that had much "ceremony " involved in years. (Usually someone's favorite uncle who got ordained online leads the couple through vows and then the party starts.) I'd much rather see a few more prayers etc though than something like a foot washing ceremony.

 

[Hikergirl]

Not something I would put in my wedding ceremony but it doesn't bother me in general.
I've sat through many long drawn out boring Catholic wedding ceremonies, a little foot washing to stir things up- go for it.

 

[Searc]

My cousin did this at her wedding. I was in the back of the church and had to keep pinching my leg so I didn't lol.

I understand it on Holy Thursday, but at a wedding!?! Um, no. Plus, all the groom had to do was slip her shoes back on her feet. The bride had to force his foot into his shoe and then tie the laces. That's what loafers are made for, buddy... but I digress.

The bride also gave her promise ring back to her parents at the start of the ceremony and at the end, she was hopping on her toes before she was told she could kiss her husband. I told her mother that it was cute that she was so excited to be married. Her mother told me while that is true, she was probably more excited for her first kiss.

Poor girl.

 

[Searc]

She was probably most excited that that itch was finally gonna get SCRATCHED !

Psst. You can have sex without being married.