Their marriage was a multi-generational milestone and they knew it, so when Mr. Tuck gave away his daughter it was deeply meaningful, when the grandparents of the bride and groom lit 4 of the candles and the parents lit the two highest candles they were recognizing God's covenant to their children and their children's children. Jonathan and Chelsea then took the two candles lit by their parents and together lit a single candle to symbolize their unity in Christ--they are no longer two but one.
After the ceremony concluded, all the guests were invited to a true "wedding feast" generously hosted by the vanGelder family, where over 100 pounds of grapes adorned the tables symbolizing "the fruitful vine."
This was certainly the most self-consciously symbolic wedding I've ever been to. Scripture has a lot to say about how the marriage relationship reflects Christ and His church, and it is our role as the people of God to see that our weddings are clear and outspoken symbols of salvation.
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”--Revelation 19:7
"And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband."--Revelation 21:2
"For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you."--Isaiah 62:5
"I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."--Isaiah 61:10
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