Church Ceremonies
Church ceremonies can be special and intimate, but there are some dos and don’ts before saying ‘I do’ at your wedding.
We would first like you to know that we work with all types of couples and their desired ceremonies. Please know that we at Elyse & Co. are neither encouraging or discouraging you to have a church ceremony. When we refer to a church, we are not referring to a specific denomination or religion. Since we have done quite a few, and will continue to do church ceremonies, we felt we could help supply you with some pros and cons to help your decision!
Photos by Chris and Annika Photography
Many benefits, from budget to space, come with a church ceremony:
Weather is no problem. A rare statement for a British Columbian bride to make, but by booking your ceremony in a church sanctuary, you eliminate your worry about rain or smoke.
Plenty of space: most churches are prepared to host weddings with plenty of seating.
Family tradition, if applicable, may be honoured. How incredible would it be to get married in the same church as your grandparents?
Convenience of equipment: a majority of churches either have sound equipment built-in or access to it. This works great for both live and recorded music.
Budget friendly: this one does not apply to all churches, however with a lot of them, there is no rental “fee” and it goes by donation.
Photos by Rivkah Photography and Jalen Laine Photography
With any wedding venue, nothing is perfect and there are things to keep in mind. A church ceremony is no different.
This can be a difficult process if you are not a member or parishioner of a church.
In some cathedrals, you can let the architecture speak for itself, but you may have to let go of creative control. The church may have guidelines to what décor and florals you may have and where they will go.
They might have restrictions around clothing (i.e. shoulders covered, heads covered).
You may have guests that are not comfortable in a church setting. We are not saying to un-invite them, but to be aware of this.
While a lot of churches are set up nicely to host your ceremony, they may not have the right space for your reception; you will have to allow time for your guests to travel to your reception space. Not only will your guests have to move, but your vendors will be moving décor and florals to the reception space. Be sure to allow time for this set up at the reception!
Photos by Rivkah Photography and Chris and Annika Photography
