Hank and Corrie Hayes, Broadus Chapel, Louisville, KY, 06/10/2023 (c) Nina and Wes Photography
I no longer officiate many weddings, but I have performed two in the past two weeks — one for the daughter of a good friend and the other for my granddaughter, Corrie. Corrie married Hank Hayes, a wonderful Christian young man from Nashville, Tennessee. The two met and began dating while they were students at Samford University.
Both weddings took place in a church setting, which seems less common today. Instead, whether for convenience, to save money, or to be fashionable, many couples choose to get married on a beach, at a resort, or other non-church-affiliated wedding venues or destinations.
There is nothing wrong with these types of wedding ceremonies. The Bible does not specify where or how a wedding ceremony should occur. God brought Adam and Eve together in the Garden of Eden and simply stated, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). So, where a couple gets married is not nearly as important as the relationship that develops following the ceremony. Getting married in a cathedral does not guarantee a lasting, happy marriage. Nor does getting married in a gazebo predict a disastrous outcome.
However, I would like to encourage young couples to strongly consider the value of getting married in a chapel or church. Having performed hundreds of weddings at all types of venues, I have found that weddings in a church setting are usually more effective and practical.
- A church wedding communicates the spiritual nature of marriage. Marriage is not a human institution that can be totally disregarded, easily dissolved, or dramatically redefined. Marriage was ordained by our Creator and is a sacred covenant between God and the newly married couple. Since God designed marriage as the basic building block of society, it seems fitting to get married in a place where the cross of Christ is exalted, the Word of God is preached, and hymns of praise are sung. It communicates to all who witness the ceremony that God initiated marriage and family. When married couples regularly return to worship in that same building, they are reminded of the covenant made with their mate and their God.
- A church wedding provides an opportunity for evangelism. Church weddings provide an opportunity to invite unbelieving friends and family into a building that serves as a house of worship. Not only will they hear the gospel, but they will also become familiar with the parking lot, the lobby, and the worship area. That experience often helps eliminate some of their apprehensions about going to church, and it becomes easier for them to respond favorably when invited to return.
- A church wedding is usually a more effective service. The facilities, acoustics, lighting, wedding coordinator, and tech crew are often more experienced and perform better than those provided at wedding venues. Plus, you avoid the risk of inclement weather compared to an outdoor environment and reduce the potential for noisy and annoying distractions at an outside venue.
- Most church weddings are less expensive. The amount of money spent on rehearsal dinners, flowers, tuxedoes, wedding venues, and receptions has become outlandish. Many wedding budgets now exceed six figures! Although weddings are important and certain expenses are inevitable, many newlyweds could pay off half of their mortgages with what is spent on many weddings. Since many destination weddings require guests and bridal party members to pay for their travel, meals, and hotel expenses and to take two or three days off work, couples ask a lot of family and friends when the wedding is a long way from home. A church wedding is not only often less expensive for couples, but they are also usually less expensive for the wedding party and guests.
- A church wedding and reception provide an alcohol-free environment. Most churches have a large room or meeting hall that provides adequate space for a wedding reception. Yet because most churches also have a “no alcohol” policy for their reception area, many couples choose alternative venues. However, I feel an alcohol-free reception demonstrates it is possible to have a good time without alcohol. Plus, the parents are able to save a lot of money!
A sign of God’s curse on a nation is that there is no sound of the bride and bridegroom celebrations. On the other hand, when God’s favor returns and there is a spiritual revival, “…there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voice of those who bring thank offering to the house of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 33:11).
God loves weddings! It also seems that the joyous, spiritual event of a wedding ceremony should be conducted in the same building where the author of marriage is worshipped.
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