Weddings again.

Over the summer my graphic designer younger sister sent out a request for  'Vintage' family photographs - I suppose as she is the youngest of five children, she might just be excused for her assumption that we all fell into the 'vintage' age group. She said it was something to do with work so I was happy to help out. 

The project is now finished and Sister Dear has sent me a link to a particular web site to show me how the photographs were used. You too can have a lovely card with our wedding photo on it ( but actually you are suppose to personalise it with your own photo)!!

I did enquire about royalties...... !

At the last wedding we went to, a typewriter had been left out for guests to add their good wishes for the couple.... I had to explain to some younger guests how to use it as they couldn't get it to type on to the next line. Maybe that means I am 'vintage'.

A Wonderful Wedding

 Another weekend when The Curate and I were in another part of the country. We attended the lovely wedding of the youth worker from our last parish on the north coast. She was marrying the youth minister at this Baptist church in Stevenage. They are both committed Christians and wanted this to be a very God centred wedding service but it was also youthful and vibrant. There was no choir or organ music. The youth band from the church played and there were modern songs as well as a modern arrangement of 'Be thou my vision'.

The Minister for this church spoke of the joy of this Christian wedding and  the couple's desire to continue with their youth work. While the register was signed, we listened to favourite music and watched an amusing collection of the bride and groom's photographs. The Curate was involved and many of the young people joined him at the front to pray for the two of them . Yes - The Curate is still waiting to officiate at his first wedding in his own parish and so long distances were travelled to get some wedding experience...and then it was in a Baptist Church! 
He was very pleased to be involved with this wedding. 

There were cupcakes and tea for everyone while the photos were taken. Then the bride and groom left for the reception in a suitable vehicle.

The reception was lovely.The Curate and I always enjoy a Ceilidh and we danced until we were exhausted and until the newly married couple left for their secret destination. Ceilidhs are great for including everyone- young and old a like. There was a lot of laughter. It was lovely meeting friends and family and to be included in such a happy occasion.

 What they didn't see was the confetti being recycled!

....or the The Baptist Minister hoovering the church to get it ready for Sunday services. Church ministers have to be very versatile people these days!

Weddings are such joyful occasions and this one, with its modern service, was particularly delightful.

Waiting for a wedding.

The Curate has yet to officiate at his first wedding – one of the boxes that must be ticked as part of his curate’s training.  It should have been this summer but as we have moved parishes, the box remains unticked .  You might count attending the Royal Wedding of local school children – but thinking about it, The Curate didn’t officiate at this very happy occasion either. So, The Curate is still waiting...

People can choose to get married in so many different places today. They can choose from hotels and castles, on beaches and in even in the Natural History museum. Why would they choose a church, especially as the Church of England has decided to raise the cost to £425 for the privilege? ( I appreciate this is nothing compared to the price of some receptions, wedding dresses and honeymoons.)

As I approach our 31^st wedding anniversary, I look back and have no regrets for choosing to be married in church – despite having a husband who had no understanding of being a Christian. His RN Padre did nothing to encourage him to explore this and I married a man who was not baptised or confirmed. Yet this man is now a curate in the Church of England. Had my vicar refused to marry us – would we have chosen somewhere else (if we had had the choice then)? It was very important for me to be married with God’s blessing and for us to make our vows before God. Would a hotel room, a field or a beach have done?  I don’t believe so.

All married in church (not at the same time!) - my 3 sisters and their husbands and my brother and his wife and The Curate and me.