The Significance of Mary in Catholic Marriages
I have recently been reading a devotional all about imitating Our Lady and her 10 virtues. She is not only the Mother of God, but a Mother to each and every one of us! By staying closer to her, we can continue to grow closer to God Himself.
Mary holds a special place in Catholic marriages as the perfect model of faithful love. She shows couples how to say “yes” to God’s plan, just like she did at the Annunciation.
When a bride and groom start their married life, Mary offers them guidance through her example. She shows us:
- Unwavering faith even during tough times
- Selfless love that puts others first
- Quiet strength that sustains a family
Many Catholic couples find comfort in Mary’s motherly care. She understands family life – she raised Jesus alongside Joseph in their humble home in Nazareth.
“Looking to Mary helps couples see what true commitment looks like in action, not just in words.”
Catholic marriages often face challenges in today’s world. Having Mary as a spiritual mother gives couples someone to turn to when they need help. Her presence reminds them that marriage is more than a contract – it’s a sacred bond blessed by God.
For Catholic couples, honoring Mary on their wedding day starts a tradition of keeping her close throughout their marriage journey.
As you are approaching your wedding day, there are lots of details to iron out. The flowers, the cake, the dress, the timeline, etc. My encouragement to you today is to take a deep breath, slow down, and think of at least one way that you can honor your Mother, full of Angelic Sweetness, on your wedding day. I’ve comprised a list of 11 different suggestions on ways to honor her, and please comment below if you think of more!
1) Choose a title of Our Lady to devote your wedding day to!
You can do this in a subtle or in a more obvious way, but choose a title of Our Lady (she actually has SO many titles – look up the “Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary” for lots of suggestions) to devote your wedding day to!
Maybe you have a strong devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, Star of the Sea, Mystical Rose, Queen of Peace, or Our Lady of Guadalupe. You can choose to include elements of that title in your wedding details (through prayer cards, invitations, favors, or jewelry, for instance).
Not only is this a beautiful nod on the wedding day, but you and your fiancé can pray for intercession of Mary through this title during your engagement (and marriage!) There’s so much spiritual warfare going on during engagement that it can be a true blessing to have a specific title of Our Lady to call on during hardship, sorrow, temptation, and joy!
2) Have the rosary prayed before your ceremony begins.
This is such a beautiful way to set the tone of your entire wedding day, and it is a great task to delegate to someone who is important to you! For instance, we delegated this task to our groomsmen (and we actually had five so it was perfect for each to lead a mystery).
I’ve also seen it where the altar servers lead the rosary. Another idea is to have someone important to you (that isn’t in the wedding) lead it as a way to include them. For instance, you could ask one of your brothers, your godfather, or your uncles do it! I have also seen a couple do a first look before the ceremony and build in enough time into their timeline so that they themselves could pray the rosary together.
3) Include Marian Colors in Your Wedding Palette
The colors linked to Our Lady can inspire your wedding color scheme:
- Blue – The most common color tied to Mary, representing heaven and truth
- White – Symbolizes purity and works well with any wedding style
- Gold – Represents Mary’s royalty as Queen of Heaven
- Rose – A softer option that hints at the Mystical Rose title
Try incorporating these colors in subtle ways through ribbons, table linens, or bridesmaid dresses. A blue sash on your gown or blue shoes can be your “something blue” while honoring Mary.
Tip: Consider small Marian medallions tied to napkins or tucked into flower arrangements as meaningful favors guests can take home.
4) Wrap a rosary around your bouquet or include a rosary in your flatlay
Wrapping a rosary around your bouquet is one of the more common traditions I see at Catholic weddings – and for good reason! It is a lovely way to honor Our Lady because you are keeping her close to your heart! You can also include images of loved ones that have passed away, or a particular saint you have special devotion to.
This is also a great opportunity to include a rosary that means a lot to you, or you could find a rosary that is blue as a way to honor her in that way too! If you aren’t wrapping a rosary around your bouquet, you can also include it in your detail photos as a way to include Mary in the beginning of the day!
5) Get married during May or on a First Saturday
You may already have your wedding date set, so this might not be possible (and that is totally okay)! But if you’re still thinking of your wedding day, consider getting married during the month of May or on a First Saturday!
May is the month dedicated to Our Lady, and it is such a lovely spring time. However, First Saturdays are also dedicated to Our Lady! My husband and I got married on a First Saturday. We didn’t specifically pick that date because of it, but when we realized that it did land on a First Saturday, we were so happy to have that as a little way of honoring her!
6) Pick Marian Hymns to be sung before or during the Mass
This is one of those ways that is just so beautiful! It is said that, “He who sings, prays twice!” What a lovely way to honor the Blessed Virgin than by including hymns that recognize her.
Here are some suggestions of Marian Hymns:
-Salve Regina
-O Sanctissima
-Ave Maris Stella
Magnificat
-Arcadelt Ave Maria
-Queen of the Holy Rosary (you could also do this as an instrumental!)
7) Bring a rosary to your couple’s portraits
One of the things I love to do is include rosaries into my photographs. And, on your wedding day, it is so special to have a few images of you and your spouse with a rosary. It’s such a visual representation of how important your Catholic Faith is to you!
This rosary could be one that has sentimental value (maybe one that a family member gave you, or one that you received on your Confirmation day) or it could be a new rosary that will be sentimental because it’s from your wedding day!
8) Displaying Marian Art at Your Reception
Your reception offers the perfect spot to share your devotion to Mary with guests. Consider:
- Table centerpieces with small Marian statues or icons
- Framed prints of classic Marian artwork near your guest book
- Custom prayer cards featuring an image of Our Lady as guest favors
A subtle touch like a single blue candle on each table can remind everyone of Mary’s presence.
9) Consider the Wedding Lasso tradition
Have you ever heard of the Wedding Lasso? Don’t worry if not, I hadn’t heard of it until I started working as a wedding photographer!
The Wedding Lasso is a Catholic wedding tradition that is rooted in Mexican, the Philippines, and other Latin communities. It is considered to be a unity ceremony that is performed after the exchange of vows. The lasso is made of two large rosaries, linked together with one crucifix. The rosary is placed over the bride and groom in a figure-eight form (the infinity symbol), which represents the eternal bond you are creating in the eyes of God. It is traditionally placed on the couple by the bride’s godparents or by the priest after the exchange of vows and rings. This is a beautiful tradition to include, especially if you have a strong devotion to Our Lady and the rosary.
10) Offer a bouquet of flowers to Our Lady
This is another common wedding tradition that is done at most Catholic weddings I have photographed! The bride (or bride and groom depending on how the church does it) will offer flowers to Our Lady. During this moment, the bride (or couple) will say a few prayers. What a wonderful way to start off your marriage!
11) Include Our Lady in some of your jewelry elements
There are so many beautiful dainty jewelry options out there, but I love when brides decide to pick a necklace that features the Miraculous Medal, or another title of Mary (you can refer back to Tip #1 and base your jewelry off of whichever title you use!)
Also, consider incorporating custom jewelry into your wedding bands! I was amazed when I pulled out these bands to photograph them for the wedding day. The intricate and intentional detail was absolutely beautiful to me, and I strongly recommend that you consider doing the same, as they will always be a reminder of your deep love for each other and the Holy Family!
Bonus Tip! Don’t forget about St. Joseph!
This one isn’t technically specific to Mary – but don’t forget about her wonderful husband and patron saint of marriage: St. Joseph! I have seen couples offer flowers to him, include his medal in boutonnieres, or just have photographs with him in the background. He is a wonderful saint to have devotion to during this time, and Our Lady and Our Lord love him so much!
Capturing Marian Moments with a Catholic Wedding Photographer
When you honor Mary in your wedding, those special moments deserve to be captured by someone who truly understands their meaning. As a Catholic wedding photographer, I recognize the beauty in these sacred traditions.
Many couples feel frustrated when photographers miss important Marian moments because they don’t know what to look for. A photographer familiar with Catholic customs will:
- Notice when you place flowers at Mary’s altar
- Capture the reverence in your faces during Marian prayers
- Know the best angles for rosary and medal details
I help brides incorporate these elements by suggesting perfect timing and lighting for Marian traditions. Before your wedding day, we’ll talk about which Marian customs matter most to you.
Some of my favorite photos come from these tender moments:
- The bride’s quiet prayer before Mary’s statue
- A mother pinning a Miraculous Medal on the wedding dress
- The couple’s joined hands as they pray to Our Lady
Want a photographer who values these traditions as much as you do? Let’s talk about capturing the sacred moments of your Catholic wedding day with the respect and beauty they deserve.
I truly hope this guide has been helpful! If we haven’t met yet, hi, I’m Victoria! I’m a Catholic wedding photographer based in Cincinnati Ohio (although I have traveled many places in the United States to capture weddings!) I aim to not only beautifully capture couples on the wedding day, but also be there as a Catholic friend and ally! I know how the wedding industry can be; I aim to help along on this journey by bringing joy, praying for my couples, and providing resources that lend a hand as you prepare for this beautiful sacrament + vocation. If you have any interest in working with me, or viewing more of my photography, please contact me today to discuss your Catholic wedding photography!
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