There are some things even the best Certified Wedding Planner cannot anticipate.

On Friday, the soon-to-be Adam and Julie Hatfield were posing for pre-ceremony pictures at Riverside Park in La Crosse, Wisconsin when they heard a cry for help. A young girl had fallen into the Mississippi River and was followed by her distraught grandfather.

Without hesitation, Adam, Julie, and their wedding photographer sprang into action to help rescue the pair and still make it to their wedding on time, although their attire was a little worse for wear. Alas, Adam’s pants were torn in the process. Hopefully, their wedding planner had an emergency kit at the ready.

As for the bride and groom, the park where Adam first proposed to Julie is now also the venue where they celebrated their wedding day by saving the lives of two strangers.

Not a bad way to begin a marriage.

Adam and Julie Hatfield

Religion and marriage have marched hand-in-hand for millennia with couples tying their love for each other with their faith and spirituality. While marriage can be viewed by different cultures as a social, religious, spiritual, or legal union of individuals, religious ceremonies inspire brides and grooms with the promise of sacred blessings and lifelong celebration of their devotion to each other and to their creed.

For the Certified Wedding Planner, an understanding of how and where weddings are celebrated by different religions can be the difference between earning a client’s business and wondering why they chose your competition. Use this overview as a starting point toward a greater appreciation for the diversity of religious wedding venues in our world.

Christianity – While early Christians were not required to validate their marriages through a Church ceremony, the writings of Tertullian, Christian apologist or defender, seem to indicate that by the end of the second century, it became customary for nuptials to be blessed with a religious wedding ceremony in a church edifice. In 1545 A.D., The Council of Trent declared marriage as one of the sacraments of the church.

Judaism – Hebrew tradition does not dictate that weddings take place in the synagogue, although many couples choose to do so. Often performed outdoors, Jewish wedding ceremony requirements include the chuppah, a prayer shawl, veil, or other covering, that represents the marital home and the desire for God’s protection and guidance, and the supervision of a rabbi, but not a specific venue.

Islam – Traditional Muslim wedding ceremonies are often spectacular events and consist of three parts. The pre-wedding ceremonies, including the Manjha and the Mehndi, and the main day ceremony, called the Nikaah, often take place at the bride’s home, but can be held at the groom’s place, a Mosque, or any common venue. Post-wedding ceremonies include the Rukshat, the emotional ritual passing of the bride from father’s home to the husband’s house.

Buddhism – After consulting a Buddhist lama, or priest, to determine the most astrologically-sound date for the wedding, the ceremony can take place at the bride’s home, an outdoor location, or the temple. Before sunrise on the wedding day, a marital shrine to honor Lord Buddha is prepared at the wedding venue with food, candles, incense, flowers, and a statue or image of Buddha.

Hinduism – Although Hindu tradition suggests that Vedic wedding ceremonies take place on the ground outside and under a four-pillared canopy called a mandap, an indoor venue or the bride’s home is permitted. Performed mostly in Sanskrit by a priest or Brahmin, the ceremony includes a sacred fire to invoke Agni, the god of Fire, to witness the couple’s commitment to each other and to comply with the Hindu Marriage Act.