Why the bride and groom face the altar

Over the years I would hear complaints about people not being able to see the bride and groom during the entire wedding because they were facing the front of the church.  I guess they wanted the bride and groom to face the audience.

Evidently there is a new push for this on social media.  The officiant stands in the aisle and the bride and groom face the guests.

Officiant - Pastor?  in the aisle.

bride and groom facing the guests.

Now if you want to get married and face the guests, I am glad to do that for you, if that is what you prefer, but here is my challenge with it...

You don't get married before the guests.  You get married before God.  It is a commitment between two people and God.  It is not a commitment involving the guests.  The guests simply witness the couple's commitment before God.

This is why the bride and groom face the minister.  It is why they face the altar.  It is why in some churches, they kneel before the altar.

A wedding with the bride and groom facing the crowd may work in a random wedding venue, but the visual in a church would be devastating.  Image that for the entire ceremony, the bride and groom have their backs to the altar, the candles and the Bible.

Again, people have their own opinions on this and I am glad to accommodate what ever the bride and groom want, but I want people to understand that the facing of the bride and groom towards the altar is for a particular reason.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.