3 things to keep in mind when preparing for a wedding at church |
Posted: January 14, 2021 |
Couples can get married almost anywhere these days, from the beach to a museum to their Burning Man tent, and the list goes on. However, there was only one suitable venue for a wedding ceremony a few decades ago, a location that even today remains popular with traditional couples: a church. There are many reasons why you want to have a church wedding. You may have a strong bond with your religion, or you may have fond memories of growing up in a church. Maybe you want to be satisfied with your typical relatives. You may just find the building is extraordinarily beautiful! But whatever the justification for "going to the chapel," make sure you first take these variables into consideration. 1.Your church membershipYour first instinct would probably be to visit your own local church if you are religious and you want to have a church wedding. It's the place where every week you worship, so it's bound to be fitting for a wedding ceremony, isn't it? Not always: You might consider checking out other churches in the region if your church is too small for your guest list or even too easy for the style you like. Some of the most beautiful churches are going to open their doors to everyone who wants their space to be used. They, irrespective of faith, would rent out the sanctuary to any couple. There are other churches, however, that only allow their members to use their rooms, and you'll need to figure out which one you're dealing with if you find a church that you absolutely love. If you're a church member already, you should have no trouble getting married there. You could have a little more work to do if you are not. When you locate a church you love, contacting their office is the first thing to do. Church workers will be able to tell you in their sanctuary where they stand on non-members getting married. They may have no concerns about it, they may oppose it outright, they may allow it if you are a member of their religion (although not their particular church), and they may require you to meet with their priest or take a course until they approve of the ceremony (such as Pre-Cana in the Catholic church). Be ready for any answer! 2. Availability of the churchI have a very large, very religious family, so for us, church activities are standard procedure. I have been to church marriages, baptisms, and masses for birthdays! And one thing I've always found fascinating is how busy it appears to be for most churches. My family has been ushered out of the sanctuary on more than one occasion to make room for another gathering. Once, after a funeral, we were also rushed out of room so another family could have their wedding! This is bound to occur once in a while, obviously. Usually, people tend to celebrate major, significant events (like weddings) on weekend days, and every year there are only so many weekends open. If a church wishes to properly serve its congregation, from time to time, it will have to double-book. However, it's really important that you know exactly how much time you're given if you're going to have a church wedding. How much time are you going to have for the actual marriage ceremony? When you're running late, what happens? Would you have time beforehand to rehearse the ceremony? How long will it take you to decorate this space? Don't be afraid to immediately ask these questions! The more data you have from the start, the less likely you are on your special day to be exhausted and stressed out. 3. The Church's Staff and Decor ChoicesI just mentioned "having sufficient time to decorate," which for many couples is an important part of wedding planning. You may want to post your wedding announcing custom signs. You may want to line the aisle or lay a runner down with flowers. You will want an arch over the altar to be set up. If the church you've booked doesn't allow it, these ideas are all fine and good. Some churches are very precise about the decor in their room that they would allow. Often it's a logistical problem (the carpet will be stained by flower petals strewn on the ground); often it's about aesthetics (the Wayfarers Chapel in California does not allow couples to carry bows or aisle runners to "preserve the natural setting" of the church). Either way, before you agree to holding your wedding there, it's important that you know exactly what the church will and will not allow. Likewise, some churches require couples to use the in-house wedding team they have. This may suggest that the church will provide everyone-the official, florist, musicians, wedding planner, and even caterer. This may be perfect for some couples (it takes all the hassle out of finding vendors), but this can feel really restricting for others. Maintain awareness of the choices for workers as soon as possible, as it can shape your decision to book a specific church.
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