THE right seating plan at a wedding is always overlooked by the organisers. Cards from the invited guests are received at the gate but ushering them to their seats is not done. They have to figure out where to sit. Jesus has given us the solution this problem.
In Luke 14:7-14 Jesus advised people not to rush for the best places at a feast. People today are just as eager to raise their social status, whether by being with the right people, dressing for success or driving the right car. Whom do you try to impress? Rather than aiming for prestige, look for a place where you can serve.
Jesus taught two lessons we can learn even today. As a guest do not seek places of honour. If you are not the guest of honor just humble yourself and you will be made great. Status in society is not a factor. The second lesson is that he spoke to the host not to be exclusive about who they invite.
Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place among the great. It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head table or near the head table than to be sent away in public disgrace (Proverbs 25:6-7).
I attended a wedding where the one leading the program gave the employer, co-workers a special treatment which is only given to the guest of honor. It was dinner time, the parents of the groom were told to lead the way followed by the bride’s parent and then the guest of honor.
It raised eyebrows among the guests when the Master of ceremonies (MC) called the boss and fellow employees to get food behind the guest of honor. The right order was to follow the table numbers. In defense the MC said protocol has to be observed.
I pulled my dictionary to check again the meaning of this word just in case the meaning has changed from the last time l checked. Protocol is a noun meaning decorum, formalities, proper manners and a set of rules. Its true protocol has to be observed and not abused.
The proper manners at a wedding when receiving food are bridal party, groom’s parents, bride’s parents and the guest of honor that’s all. Your boss, friends, fellow workers are all invited guests who will receive food according to the table numbers. If the sisters and brothers to the bride and groom are considered as invited guests, what more your boss.
A wedding has its own protocol which and should be observed at all times. At work function you can start your speech with “l will be falling in my duties if l don’t recognize the presence of my boss”
We all want to climb the corporate ladder sooner or later. Many want to prove to their employers that they are ready for promotion. Many are misinterpreting the scripture which says “As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer’s interest will be rewarded” – Proverbs 27:18.
If it is a company celebrations you can praise your boss, everyone should know that they are in the building and everyone there wants to know more about the boss. Promotion comes to those who work hard, dare to be different and run with the company vision.
It will not come by pleasing the boss this is not an added advantage. We gather at a wedding to celebrate with the bride and groom who are a leading example to those who are not yet married. Be mindful of the platform you at.
The right sitting plan is to put the parents from both sides near the head table, youths and singles on their own table. Be wise and sit in the middle tables avoid table numbers 1-5, it is a challenge where to sit because there are no ushers to give directions. As you plan your wedding include ushers to direct the guests, even those from Church can be used.
It is important to honor the invitation card when you receive it, attend the function and if you can’t make it inform the organizers and give the couple the present.
Luke 14: 15-24 ln the Jesus story, many people turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient too, many resist or delay responding to invitation cards and our excuses may sound reasonable, work duties, family responsibilities, funeral needs.
Make it a priority to honor that invitation card you are given, no matter how inconveniently it may be timed. To some people that claim that whenever they receive a present the timing is always bad.
The custom was to send two invitation cards to a party the 1st was to announce the event and the second was to tell the guests that everything was ready. The guest in Jesus’ story insulted the host by making excuses when he issued the second invitation
Matthew 22:11-12 AMP – But the king came in to view the guests and he looked intently at a man there who had no wedding garment. : 12- And he said, friend, how did you come in here without putting on the (appropriate) wedding garment? And he was speechless (muzzled, gagged)
It was customary for wedding guest to be given wedding clothes to wear to the bouquet. It was unthinkable to refuse to wear these clothes. That would insult the host who could only assume that the guest was arrogant and thought he didn’t need these clothes or that he did not want to take part in the wedding celebration.
We are not given clothes in our time necessarily to wear at a wedding but let’s dress modestly. No disco attires and casual wear. You can wear your Sunday best attire or the attire you are comfortable with. Its summer the weather is unbearable, many people don’t dress up or down they are almost dressed. When you are invited for a wedding remember to dress for success. Dress as though you will never see your wardrobe because it’s the day of rapture.
In real life going through the customs or police is often smoother if you are well-dressed, scruffy clothes get stopped. Dressing sloppy is bad for your morale.
Dress attractively and dress for emergencies when you step out of your front door. It’ll soon become a habit. Don’t wish you had done this when it’s too late.
Jesus is our role model when it comes to weddings and he never turned down an invitation card. He performed the first miracle at a wedding in Cana where he turned water into wine after they had run out of it. Jesus was excellent wedding coordinator and took some time off from his busy schedule to attend wedding.
Jesus told the parable of 10 bridesmaids, five wise and five foolish ones in Matthew 25:1-10. This parable is also about a wedding. What used to happen in the Jewish culture on the wedding day the bridegroom went to the bride’s house for the ceremony, then the bride and groom along with a great procession, returned to the groom’s house, where a feast took place, often lasting a full week.
The 10 bridesmaids were waiting to join the procession and they hoped to take part in the marriage feast. But when the groom didn’t come at the expected time, five foolish ones went out of lamp oil. By the time they had purchased extra oil, it was late to join the feast.
It teaches us to plan things in advance avoid last minute planning. If you want your wedding to be a success and memorable plan it in good time. Jesus has taught us about the right wedding etiquettes we can apply even today.
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