CAPTION: Couples across Devon explore the possibility of getting married in church at the Wedding Extravaganza fair
Devon Church Weddings Team Matches Couples with Churches for Their Big Day
Engaged couples with their families and friends had the opportunity to explore the possibility of getting married in their local Devon Church at a recent wedding fair.
The Devon Church Weddings team had a stand at the Wedding Extravaganza at Westpoint, Exeter, and met many couples who are planning their big day.
The team of volunteers, made up of clergy and lay people, say they love meeting, and talking with, soon-to-be-married couples and their loved ones and helping match them with a church near them for their wedding.
With nearly 600 locations, getting married in Devon offers couples beautiful locations and historical sites which have been used for weddings for centuries.
Naomi is planning a church wedding at St Michael’s Church in Beer. Here she is finding out more from Rev’d Lewis Eden.
The Devon Church Weddings team say that many couples don’t realise they can get married in a church. Part of the value of attending weddings fairs is the chance to let couples know what is possible.
Rev’d Matt Selman is a vicar in the Sid Valley Mission Community. He said “It was genuinely delightful to meet couples and other folk at the fair, to hear a bit of their stories and to make connections.
“Many people also think there are barriers to getting married in church such as being baptised, so it was a chance to bust some myths and reassure them that they have a right to be married in church.”
A bride to be chatting to the team about the possibility of a Devon church wedding.
“Even those who know they want a church wedding often aren’t sure how to go about it, so to meet them face to face is gold dust – it means we can hear people’s questions and concerns, explain and reassure and, crucially, show that Christians are all about building relationship and that their vicar will journey with them.
“Amazingly, by the grace of God, I met three people who were planning to get married in our Mission Community here in the Sid Valley! How fantastic to be present to meet them there rather than waiting for a phone call.”
One of those people was Mel, came to the Wedding Extravagana with her daughter. She has chosen to get married at St Peter’s Church in Sidford, and her daughter will be her bridesmaid on the big day.
Mel has chosen to get married at St Peter’s Church, Sidford.
Rev’d Tracey Voysey, from the Axe Valley Mission Community, was another volunteer. She said, “It was lovely to be able to share with couples and their families how personalised church weddings can be.
Tracey is a church administrator as well as a priest, so is well used to dealing with every aspect of wedding planning: “Using my experience of presiding at a wedding the day before, I could talk about what was included.”
The team often find themselves talking about more than just weddings and the fairs are a good opportunity for pastoral conversations.
The Devon Church Weddings project was begun by the Bishop of Crediton and is currently managed by the Archdeacon of Exeter, Andrew Beane. Katharine Otley, who is a member of the Diocesan Communications Team works on the project one day a week.
The wedding fair planning and team organisation is done by Rev’d Sue Davies-Fletcher on a voluntary basis. She said just being able to talk to wedding couples can have an amazing impact:
“This weekend the mother of a groom came to us and said her son had visited our stand in the morning unsure about a church wedding.
“She said he had spent the afternoon with his fiancee driving around churches in their area and they now definitely will have a church wedding if they can!”
Sue and the team also give each couple they speak to a goody bag, with a prayer card in, some sweets and a candle. “There is something so uplifting about giving freely, just to communicate that God loves the person in front of us for who they are,” Rev’d Selman said.
Ben and Sophie have chosen to get married in a Devon Church.
Ben and Sophie attended the Wedding Extravaganza and stopped by the Devon Church Weddings stand. Their big day is taking place in July 2023, and they have chosen to get married at Aylesbeare Church because they feel it’s part of ‘being in the community.’
Rev’d Tracey said, “I hope what we achieved was to show that our beautiful churches, and those of us who take weddings, are warm, welcoming and wanting to share a couple’s journey.”
To find out more about getting married in a Devon Church, please see the Devon Church Weddings website for advice and inspiration.
If you would like to volunteer for the autumn wedding fair at Westpoint, please email Devon Church Weddings.
