Blessing?

RashelA

Hi,
Our wedding venue is not a registered building, so we are getting married in the registry office a few days before (not ideal, but we are having our day on a Friday, and the registry office does not open on Fridays..).

We were initially looking to have some sort of 'ceremony/blessing' type thing at the venue, so that the guests see some sort of ceremony. However, after discussions with various family members, turned out some felt we should marry in a church (although this was not mentioned before). Anyway, it made sense as we were finding it difficult to arrange something at the venue, so we are now having a (non-religious) blessing in the church, but not sure what it involves. I figured it would just be the same as a wedding ceremony, but if anyone can clarify what happens during the blessing, I'd really appreciate it. I can't see the priest for a couple of weeks. Has anyone been to one?

johannalf88

I thought a blessing was a religious service. It's where the marriage gets "recognised by god". You basically 'convert' your civil marriage into a religious one.

mildred1978

RashelA wrote: »

Hi,
Our wedding venue is not a registered building, so we are getting married in the registry office a few days before (not ideal, but we are having our day on a Friday, and the registry office does not open on Fridays..).

We were initially looking to have some sort of 'ceremony/blessing' type thing at the venue, so that the guests see some sort of ceremony. However, after discussions with various family members, turned out some felt we should marry in a church (although this was not mentioned before). Anyway, it made sense as we were finding it difficult to arrange something at the venue, so we are now having a (non-religious) blessing in the church, but not sure what it involves. I figured it would just be the same as a wedding ceremony, but if anyone can clarify what happens during the blessing, I'd really appreciate it. I can't see the priest for a couple of weeks. Has anyone been to one?

A non-religious blessing in a church? That's a new one!

RashelA

Sorry, to clarify - without religious readings

Debbiecatal

Why don't you look at having a Humanist Ceremony? They are really lovely ceremonies that can be performed anywhere, and as you are doing, you get officially 'married' in a registry office prior to the ceremony. You can make them very personal. See here for some information. http://www.humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/humanist-weddings

White_Sapphire

Debbiecatal wrote: »

Why don't you look at having a Humanist Ceremony? They are really lovely ceremonies that can be performed anywhere, and as you are doing, you get officially 'married' in a registry office prior to the ceremony. You can make them very personal. See here for some information. http://www.humanism.org.uk/ceremonies/humanist-weddings

Took the words right out of my keyboard, Debbie! This is what my H2B and I are doing, with the legal bit being done the day before.

RashelA

Thanks girls. I did think about a Humanist ceremony, but since we're on a budget, plus the fact that we don't have to then turn the venue around from a ceremony to reception room, together with the fact that soon to be MIL would like us to do it in a church, it seemed the best option.

Neither of us are particularly religious though, hence the non-religious readings..

Having said this, it seems we may have to have a religious reading, from what I read, but I'm not very clear on this. This is why I wanted to know if anyone else has had one/has been to one. Perhaps I'll just have to wait to speak to the priest in a few weeks!

johannalf88

I have heard that you have to have at least one religious reading too.

Instead of getting married in the RO a few days before, then having a 2nd ceremony, then going to a different place for reception, why not just get married in the church?

Idiophreak

I'm with johannalf88 on this one...why not just get married in the church? They don't have to be too religious. Mine had a religious reading, the old corinthians bit, but that's not particularly god-this, god-that...Yes, there was a bit of religious stuff...but I imagine the same people that want you to get married in church would be rather put out if the G man doesn't get a couple of mentions...

rubysmummy_2

Hi, we went to a blessing a couple of months ago - the couple married a year earlier as she was pregnant and he in the army and was getting posted miles and miles away and she wanted to move with him so he could be there for the baby etc. Anyway thier "big day" was held the year after with the blessing in a church. they did have one reading - cant remember what it was because i had the baby of the couple on my knee trying to keep her entertained but it was a very nice service and the vicar was extremely funny - not how i expected it anyway. It was longer than a registry office ceremony - about 30 - 45 minutes i think.

Hope this helps you

burtons_angel

rubysmummy wrote: »

Hi, we went to a blessing a couple of months ago - the couple married a year earlier as she was pregnant and he in the army and was getting posted miles and miles away and she wanted to move with him so he could be there for the baby etc. Anyway thier "big day" was held the year after with the blessing in a church. they did have one reading - cant remember what it was because i had the baby of the couple on my knee trying to keep her entertained but it was a very nice service and the vicar was extremely funny - not how i expected it anyway. It was longer than a registry office ceremony - about 30 - 45 minutes i think.

Hope this helps you

we had same kind of wedding but without baby bit lol. we did have our registry wedding last oct due to various family probs but still wanted to have the wedding we had dreamed about all the time we been together. so we had a blessing ceremony with a bishop friend who was really funny and we chose to have corinthians reading which is light and romantic. we too just wanted to have some sort of ceremony rather than just a reception, i wanted to walk down the aisle, have BM's etc do our own vows with friends & family around us.Even with churches alot of places have fees now, nice licensed venues are expensive, cost of registrar/humanist are too so this works out alot cheaper too!

But blessings are religous to some extent as the vicar is religous and its his belief which by asking him to perform your blessing becomes part of it, to say u dont want religous stuff u might offend him? alternatively u could research (ie look at old programmes) ceremonys and have a friend, somebody u trust and sensible, well spoken, perform it just the way u want