Every summer, something happens that many clergy probably love and dread in equal measure…people get married. This is of course a positive thing and most clergy always say how much they enjoy seeing people tie the knot. However, with all the work of preparing the bride and groom (and relations!), wedding rehearsals and personalized sermons to write, maybe occasionally you feel like the wedding season is a bit of a headache, when you would much rather be relaxing in your garden on a sunny summer Saturday.

Over 50,000 couples chose to get married in an Anglican church last year. Here is what some couples said about their wedding:

'I thought I would never feel properly married if I didn’t get married in church; we’re not deeply religious, either of us, but I do believe in God and so in a way it was like a public pledge that we take with the little blessing of somebody else.'

'I think it gives you a lot more to remember… I think when we went to see the vicar and we went over the service… I’d never really listened to the words of the service before, but you really understood what you were saying.'

'Being able to help choose the hymns, music and readings made it a really personal, meaningful experience.'

'We weren’t particularly religious, but the church and the vicar were so friendly and helpful, we have started going to church more regularly.'

(Taken from ‘Married Life: A rough guide for couples’ and research by the Roehampton University Social Policy Unit for Churches, funded by the Lord Chancellor’s Department’s MARS fund)

Recent research on church support of marriage and adult relationships showed that couples really appreciated the time and effort clergy and parishes spent on helping them prepare for their special day.

The Church of England has recently taken the opportunity to promote weddings and marriage preparation in churches and at wedding shows, where brides, a few bridegrooms and plenty of anxious mothers are bombarded with information about wedding dresses, gifts, receptions and honeymoons  and the ‘special venues’ where they can now get married. One group from the Diocese of Gloucester, say that:

'Amongst all the tiaras, wedding rings and bridal gowns the Church has its own presence. Friendly advice is available such as whether the couple get married in church or not and, if so, which church they should approach.  We offer advice about hymns and readings. Church members are available to answer questions, chat with visitors and show them that the Church is a place where they will be welcome.'

There are many resources available for you to look at to help you make your own church’s welcome special and meaningful for couples who come to you to ask for an Anglican wedding and to make life easier for you in planning and preparing for weddings this summer. Why not take the opportunity to find out what is available?