Foot Washing Ceremony

Foot Washing for a Christian Wedding.

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A foot washing ceremony is an option for couples having a Christian ceremony. Jesus washed his disciples feet on Maundy Thursday before he was given over to be crucified. It shows humility. 

By performing this ceremony during your wedding ceremony you are showing that you are dedicated to being in service to each other as spouses.  

A foot washing ceremony will take time, so you will want to either have music being played or performed while you are doing this.  

I think it's a great option for a smaller wedding, but I'll be honest, if you spend half a day getting ready for your wedding and then have to take your shoes off, get wet and crouch down to wash feet - it may be a little much.  Do you want to get wet?  

John 13: 1-17 New International Version (NIV) 
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”  “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”  “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”  Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.”  For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.  Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.​

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Name and Name would now like to wash each other’s feet.  You may be familiar with the idea of washing each other's feet from when, before the Last Supper, Jesus washed his disciple's feet. Jesus took the place of a servant to show he was no better than they were.  As human beings, we are all equal. In marriage, you are equal partners. There are times when you may stand in awe of the other’s greatness and rejoice in each other’s triumphs. You may also be drawn closer together in times of sadness and defeat when you show unwavering support. This is not only life; it’s the reason for marriage. As a married couple, you give these experiences depth because you approach them with unconditional love.  By washing each other’s feet today, you are saying, I don’t only stand before you, promising my love with a vow and a ring, but I’m kneeling before you, washing your feet, humbly accepting you as you are, not only with my words but with my actions. My love is not just a promise but an unconditional action of love. In your humility, you commit yourselves to each other today as equals. You bring all of who you are, and that is what makes you great together.

Music plays while you wash each other's feet.