to have a church wedding?

[Sweetpea01]

Not relevant to me just yet really until next year but my friend recently got married in a church. She doesn't have a particular faith but it was where her in-laws wed.

I am an atheist and was a bridesmaid at the wedding, I really enjoyed the (CofE) service, I thought the hymns and words spoken were really lovely and actually shed a tear! The building was gorgeous and I love these types of buildings.

So IABU to really, really, reaaaaaaally want to get married in a church at my wedding next year? What with me being a brazen heathen

If it helps, DP has the faith

If you look on the C of E website they specifically say that they are happy to marry anybody, religious or not. You don't have to be a Christian to marry with them. And if the Church themselves say it's not a problem then I can't see why anybody else should object.

Not personally keen because I think it devalues the meaning of a Christian marriage to do that. Unless they remove all the religious things from the service which would be blimmin' hard. Seems hypocritical.

Since it would mean alot to your dp, I think its fine. You aren't a church hater so don't see the problem.

Fwiw I am catholic, dh isn't. We got married in the catholic church even though I don't consider myself catholic for one reason. The priest was my college Chaplin and he helped me through a really difficult time when I was in my teens. I don't think i would be the person I am today without his support. Possibly I wouldn't be here at all. He is lovely and it was important to me that he married us. He was fully aware of the reasons why, we didn't even have to go to the meetings. Just met him a few times for coffee.

I used to feel a bit the same way - I wanted to believe, but couldn't get my head round the supernatural stuff. It took a few years, but if you read around theology a bit, this position is not uncommon! Not all religious people believe literally in a humanoid God who created the world and sees everything. Religions are human attempts to understand any deeper meaning that there is and provide some guidance for how to live peacefully on earth. So apart from the fact that the CofE welcomes all comers, I think you can go to church with a clear conscience and enjoy the ceremony! My kids are baptized (husband brought up in the church) and I feel quite comfortable with them going to church and finding out more about it all - but would never tell them that I believe in anything that I don't. So far, so good...