Andrew Sharples had taken drugs and alcohol when his wife Gail woke to find him holding the 12 inch kitchen knife "like a dagger."
Preston Crown Court Prosecutor Mrs Hilary Banks said the defendant's wife was "hysterical and genuinely felt for her safety", when confronted by Sharples last December at the family home on Bonds Lane, Garstang.
Sharples made several other threats to kill his wife and eventually drove away, went to a police station and told officers that if they did not arrest him he would carry out the threat.
Mrs Banks told the court that when seen by police the defendant's wife said her wedding dress had been "shredded", cut to pieces.
The 43-year-old nurse pleaded guilty to two charges of making threat s to kill and criminal damage in relation to the offences in December and also admitted two offences of common assault against his wife on previous occasions.
Mrs Banks told the court that the defendant's estranged wife had been asked if she wished to provide a victim personal statement but had declined.
Mr Chris Evans, for Sharples, said the eight-and-a-half-year marriage was at an end and divorce proceedings were ongoing.
At the time the defendant was taking cocaine and difficulties in his marriage had left him in an "advanced state of turmoil and distress."
Mr Evans added, "when he picked the knife up he had no intention of harming her - he did not point it at her."
The knife was used to take the wedding dress out of the home and cut it up.
While on bail at an address outside the family home he had successfully addressed his drug use, explained Mr Evans.
The Recorder of Preston Judge Anthony Russell QC said it was sad to see any marriage break up in such circumstances.
He had admitted to what was "disgraceful behaviour" which must have put his wife through a "terrifying ordeal", the judge told Sharples.
Judge Russell sentenced him to a two year community order with supervision by the probation service together with 100 hours of unpaid work.