What to Wear During the LDS (Mormon) Sealing Ceremony
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What to Wear During the LDS Sealing Ceremony
Photo courtesy of Wasatch Studios
We all know that the temple is the best and most sacred place to get married, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty of temple sealings it’s hard to know what questions to ask. Every Mormon bride wonders “What do I wear for a temple sealing?” but doesn’t want to feel dumb for asking the obvious. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll need to know about what to wear to the temple on your wedding day.
Do I Wear My Wedding Dress in the Temple?
LDS brides getting sealed in the temple have two options: they can either wear their wedding dress in the temple, or they can wear a plain white temple dress for the sealing.
If you choose to wear your wedding gown in the temple, it must be white, floor-length, long-sleeved, and high-necked with no collarbone showing. If your dress doesn’t meet these standards, temple workers can always provide you with a dickie and sleeve inserts to wear under your dress to make it meet temple standards. Trains are not allowed in the temple.
Some brides don’t wear their wedding dress for their temple sealing, choosing instead to wear a plain white temple dress that they’ve bought ahead of time. You’ll need a regular temple dress for future temple attendance, anyway, and every time you go to the temple you will smile knowing that you were married in this very special dress. Temple dresses are available through the LDS distribution center and a number of specialty Mormon apparel retailers.
Photo Courtesy of Cameron and Kelly Studios
Is wearing your wedding gown or wearing a temple dress better? It really boils down to personal preference. In either case, the ceremonial clothing from the endowment ceremony will be worn over your dress during the sealing – so your dress won’t really be showing much either way.
Do I Wear Garments on My Wedding Day?
No matter what you’re wearing for your temple sealing, you’ll have your temple garments on underneath. All LDS temple sealings are preceded by receiving the endowment and the temple garment.
Some brides are endowed a day or two before the sealing, others only minutes before, and some have already been endowed because of a mission or other circumstances.
Other Clothing for Your LDS Temple Sealing
Photo Courtesy of April Smith Photography
Other than your garments and a temple-ready dress, you’ll need white stockings and white slippers to wear inside the temple, which are available through specialty LDS retailers along with your temple dress.
The groom will need to purchase a white tie, white pair of pants, and white socks and slippers. He’ll need a white shirt, too, but one of his own white button-up shirts are fine for wearing inside the temple.
Photo Courtesy of Amelia Lyon Photography
Additionally, both the endowment and the sealing require wearing ceremonial clothing. You can buy them ahead of time from the LDS distribution center with your membership number, or in larger temples you might be able to rent them for one-time use. Ask your temple president for more details.
Brides can rest easier after knowing exactly what clothes they’ll need for their LDS temple sealing. You can wear your wedding dress or other white temple-ready dress, your garments, and other white clothing required by the temple. Good luck!
♥ Jenny Evans
Exclusively for WeddingLDS.com.
Copyright © 2010 WeddingLDS.com. All rights reserved.
I know this is a random question, but where is the bridal gown from on the top right of this page (sleeves to the elbows and long skirt). I’ve been trying to find a similar gown for myself with no luck. Thanks!
Hi Catherine!
Donna, from http://www.adressyoccasion.com/ can find or create sleeves on any gown for you. She is a new vendor here at WeddingLDS. Donna is wonderful and creative. Send her an email- I’m sure she’d love to help you.
Have a beautiful wedding!
Rose
Hi! This article is very helpful, thanks so much! I just have one additional question that maybe you can help me out with. My husband grew up in the Church but was inactive when we met and when we got married. Last year, we started looking into the Church together. He became active again and baptized and confirmed me, it was wonderful. We are getting ready to be sealed in the Temple, however we were already legally married when I joined the Church. My questions is:
Since my husband and I were already married when I joined the Church, I plan to wear a simple Temple Dress to our sealing instead of a wedding dress (I already have a few Temple Dresses in mind). Is there anything against wearing a Temple Dress to and from the Temple on the day of the Sealing, or is it only to be worn inside the Temple? The reason I ask is because I would really love to have pictures of the day we get sealed while wearing my Temple Dress, since (to us) it is much more spiritually significant than the day we got legally married. Is this allowed? Obviously we can’t have camera’s in the Temple (and for good reason), but I would love pictures of us in front of the Temple, with me wearing my Temple Dress. I feel silly asking this question so I really appreciate the help. Thanks so much in advance!
Hi Jacqueline!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the article. And congrats on your baptism and upcoming sealing!
Temple dresses are to be worn only in the Temple. However, if you think about it, if you purchase a Temple Dress to be used as your wedding gown, (don’t wear it to the Temple, change inside the Temple just before your sealing) have your pictures taken after the Sealing, and then later use that same “wedding” dress as a Temple Dress would that be so bad? Hmmm. I don’t see it as an issue, but to be sure, I would contact your Temple Matron. You can call your local Temple, and ask to speak to the Temple President or Temple Matron-in this case I think the Matron is best. They are always the most loving, kind, and helpful people. And no question is considered silly. Just tell her what you’ve expressed here and let her make the correct decision for you. Remember, even if you can’t wear the dress outside for photos, it will still be the dress you were sealed in and will be the most precious Temple dress you will ever own. I wish you a beautiful sealing and remember to go back to the Temple often. It is so good to listen to those blessing time and time again.
Rose
Thanks so much for the quick reply, Rose! I will ask my Temple Matron and see what she says. It’s confusing for me, since I’ve seen pictures of brides leaving the Temple in their beautiful wedding dresses which they were sealed in, and I’d just prefer to have something less “over-the-top” than a wedding dress, hence why I’m opting for a wrist length “Temple dress” instead (and I put that in parenthesis since the Temple dresses I’m looking at at latterdaybride.com and http://www.adressyoccasion.com are really just wedding dresses-minus the train and with longer sleeves, lol). I’ve actually already purchased a Temple dress from the Distribution Center that I’m planning to use for other ceremonies after my sealing, so the dress I wear to my sealing will be more like a wedding gown anyways. If necessary, I guess I’ll buy a wedding dress so I can have pictures of my husband and I dressed up on our special day. In my legal wedding, my dress was strapless and I’d love to have new pictures of me in a much more modest gown to show family and friends. Thanks again for your reply, I really appreciate the help!
You are so welcome!
If you would be so kind, please let me know the answer for future LDS brides.
Jacqueline, I’m in the same boat. My husband and I have been married almost 13 years and we will be sealed this summer. I have a temple dress that I’ll be wearing for the sealing. I’m also going to purchase a simple, white summer dress (informal wedding dress) to wear for pictures and for our reception after. Then I have my “pretty” dress for pictures and reception and my temple dress for the sealing.