|
|
Chapter Eight
The Wedding Day
This booklet is about marriage preparation - preparing people for a lifetime
together. But it would not be complete without a reminder of the importance
of preparing for the wedding day itself. The most wonderful scheme of
marriage preparation could be negated if a couple felt that their wedding
service was not taken seriously. Indeed, when a couple initially book
a wedding, probably the only thing they consciously ask of the church
is that it provides a wedding service to remember. To achieve this requires
considerable effort. First impressions count. The way the telephone is
answered may be the first stage in creating a fruitful relationship with
the couple. Each denomination has its own questions here. It would be
impossible in this booklet to spell them out in detail. In general terms,
it is vital that every couple has ample opportunity to say what it is
they would like, even if all is not possible and some adjustments or compromises
have to be made. It is important that the couple is made aware of all
the choices - especially if two churches or faiths are involved. (They
may not like to ask much unless prompted to do so.)
The wedding service needs to feel 'personal'. Therefore it is essential
that whoever is conducting the wedding service gets to know the couple
well enough to make the service 'theirs'. This may require careful timetabling
if others are conducting the marriage preparation.
When the day comes the person conducting the service may have four weddings.
It is important to enable each couple to feel that this is their one and
only wedding. Their wedding may be one of the few contacts that they and
their guests have with the Christian church.
Many non-churchgoing couples are very nervous when meeting clergy. A
leaflet about planning for the wedding day could be immensely helpful.
It could include notes on:
- Legal requirements
- Denominational rules/requirements
- Possible order of service
- Choice of hymns, music and readings
- How to contact the organist
- Flowers, bells, red carpets, extras
- Printing order of service
- Rules re photography, recording, confetti
- Copyright issues
- Fees
- Marriage preparation scheme
- Service rehearsal
- Who to contact about what
© Churches Together for Families, 2001-2002
|