Good Friday Wedding??

[flowerpower7]

I help with arranging flowers in our Anglican Church and I've just found out that our Vicar has organised a wedding in our Church with flowers for Good Friday.

I've heard that this is because the couple (who are not regular congregation members) can only get the reception venue they want on Good Friday.

I know it's up to the vicar and nothing to do with me, but it seems awfully wrong to me. Am I being unreasonable?

No you aren't being unreasonable. There is no place for flowers or decorations in the church during Easter.

Clearly an odd choice of day to celebrate your marriage....

But I suppose if you are not religious, the day does not mean anything. So why get marriage in Church? The mind boggles.

I would refuse to help with flowers for a Good Friday wedding, if it is against your conscience.

In the RC church you can't get married on Good Friday, but there is no such rule in the C of E, although many vicars won't allow it, or weddings in Lent either.

Presumably the vicar has taken the booking because the couple will be paying for the wedding and the church needs a (figurative) new roof

Am surprised though

The fees are set though, churches don't bump them up because its a particular day. It is more likely due to "pastoral reasons", which covers a huge variety, but is at the discretion of the vicar.

Quite Mary, but if that was the "only" date they could get the reception venue, they might have had the wedding elsewhere?

Glad it's not just me who thinks it's odd. I won't be helping with the flowers, it would go against my conscience. I did wonder about talking to the vicar about it, but I don't really want to cause a row and be confrontational, especially in Lent

Wow! You wouldn't get that in an RC church, it's the most somber day of the year.

You MAY be right forward, but the fees churches charge are small compared to most other venues. Our church is desperately short of money, but not so desperate that we would compromise our principles to "get a booking". Which is why I said pastoral reasons.

Whilst I don't agree with holding weddings on Good Friday, or indeed any day during Lent or Christmas Day and a few other days as well, it is down to the vicar and/or PCC to make those decisions.

I'm sure Jesus wouldn't have minded, especially as he died at Passover and Good Friday is an invention of the Church. Liked a good wedding did Jesus.

Well said faeriefruitcake. The other comments sound terribly pompous. At least the vicar is welcoming in the couple.

Could it be something terrible like one partner with a terminal illness? The priest might well have wanted to exercise discretion for a case like that.

I don't think a booking would have anything to do with needing a new church roof. It will have all to do with the CofE having pastoral obligations to everyone who lives in a parish.

www.yourchurchwedding.org/faqs/can-we-marry-on-christmas-day-easter-day-or-other-national-holidays.aspx

This is really sad that the vicar would allow this. Our church has a quiet service of reflection through the day on Good Friday to remember that Jesus suffered a terrible death for us all, which seems the most fitting way to use a church on Good Friday.

C of E link

Odd, suggest you tell the vicar you can't do the flowers and explain why not.

What's the problem with flowers?

Flowers aren't present in Churches on Good Friday because it is the most solemn date in the Church calender. As a mark of respect for Christ's sacrifice, all happy, jolly things are put on hold until after Easter Sunday.

I don't think people should marry on Good Friday. I think it's highly disrespectful and I would not attend a church that sanctioned this. You have to draw the line somewhere.

We have flowers in our church on Good Friday.

We also have a Walk of Witness, hour at the cross, and a labyrinth - so we know how to be solemn in our hearts.