Comments on: Essex church offers free weddings http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/ by Dave Walker Thu, 23 May 2013 08:03:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tim Ball http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230421 Tim Ball Mon, 18 Feb 2008 21:45:19 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230421 Amazingly - a local professional photographer has contacted me and asked if he can add his free photo's to my free weddings - how fantastic is that!!! Amazingly – a local professional photographer has contacted me and asked if he can add his free photo’s to my free weddings – how fantastic is that!!!

]]> By: Karin http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230413 Karin Mon, 18 Feb 2008 14:37:50 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230413 My mum made my dress, mum-in-law made our cake and we hired the village hall for the reception, but we did have caterers and a photographer, so the fees for the church ceremony probably weren't too high a proportion of the overall cost. We still spent a lot less than the average wedding at the time and had a lot of fun. My mum made my dress, mum-in-law made our cake and we hired the village hall for the reception, but we did have caterers and a photographer, so the fees for the church ceremony probably weren’t too high a proportion of the overall cost. We still spent a lot less than the average wedding at the time and had a lot of fun.

]]> By: Steve http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230384 Steve Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:40:03 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230384 We have friends who've got married for under 1,000 pounds, so the fees were quite a chunk. My friends getting married shortly are having a bring and share supper for the evening do. Averages are always tricky to see in practice, but I imagine there are a lot of people for whom the fees dropping would make quite a difference. Money aside - I think this is a wonderful idea Tim, especially when the church is commonly seen as grabbing and hypocritical when it comes to money. What a great way to serve couples in your parish. If I may be so bold - Well done for taking the initiative. Steve We have friends who’ve got married for under 1,000 pounds, so the fees were quite a chunk.

My friends getting married shortly are having a bring and share supper for the evening do.

Averages are always tricky to see in practice, but I imagine there are a lot of people for whom the fees dropping would make quite a difference.

Money aside – I think this is a wonderful idea Tim, especially when the church is commonly seen as grabbing and hypocritical when it comes to money. What a great way to serve couples in your parish. If I may be so bold – Well done for taking the initiative.

Steve

]]> By: Tim Ball http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230316 Tim Ball Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:06:53 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230316 What Is should have written was:- I have one couple who have taken me up on it. SHe said she is not going to wear a ‘fancy dress’, her friend is going to france to get some cheap champaign and she said she is going to make some cup cakes. She also said, she could get hold of £20,000 if she wanted to but thinks spending that amount is just silly What Is should have written was:-

I have one couple who have taken me up on it. SHe said she is not going to wear a ‘fancy dress’, her friend is going to france to get some cheap champaign and she said she is going to make some cup cakes.

She also said, she could get hold of £20,000 if she wanted to but thinks spending that amount is just silly

]]> By: Tim Ball http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230306 Tim Ball Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:57:23 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230306 I have one couple taken me up on it. SHe said she is going to wear a 'fancy dress', her friend is going to france to get some cheap champaign and she said she is going to make some cup cakes. She also said, she could get hold of £20,000 if she wanted to but thinks spending that amount is just silly. I have one couple taken me up on it. SHe said she is going to wear a ‘fancy dress’, her friend is going to france to get some cheap champaign and she said she is going to make some cup cakes.

She also said, she could get hold of £20,000 if she wanted to but thinks spending that amount is just silly.

]]> By: joe http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230304 joe Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:25:46 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230304 Sure - but that is highly embarrassing for most people, Judy. I can understand why few do that. Sure – but that is highly embarrassing for most people, Judy. I can understand why few do that.

]]> By: Judy Redman http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230296 Judy Redman Fri, 15 Feb 2008 03:55:57 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230296 Here in Australia, there are no statutory fees, at least not in my denomination, but we still get people who say they can't afford to get married. My niece was one of them. In fact, she and her partner ran the line "now that we're pregnant, we can't afford to get married." What they actually mean is "We can't afford to have the kind of big glitzy wedding we'd like to have." My niece could have got married absolutely for free (although it would have cost thme $35 to get a copy of the full marriage certificate). I could have done the ceremony in front of two people over 18 and she and her partner could have worn clothes they already owned. As long as I used a form of ceremony approved by my denomination they would have been married legally and almost certainly also in the sight of God. :-) Here in Australia, there are no statutory fees, at least not in my denomination, but we still get people who say they can’t afford to get married. My niece was one of them. In fact, she and her partner ran the line “now that we’re pregnant, we can’t afford to get married.” What they actually mean is “We can’t afford to have the kind of big glitzy wedding we’d like to have.” My niece could have got married absolutely for free (although it would have cost thme $35 to get a copy of the full marriage certificate). I could have done the ceremony in front of two people over 18 and she and her partner could have worn clothes they already owned. As long as I used a form of ceremony approved by my denomination they would have been married legally and almost certainly also in the sight of God. :-)

]]> By: joe http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230274 joe Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:33:34 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230274 I think you'll find that a significant number of people who recognise marriage as an institution worth supporting (which according to recent surveys is more than 80% of people) but then don't get married give finances as an important factor. According to CofE funded research, anyway. That fact that those of us in church don't see it as a particular barrier just goes to show how out of touch we really are. Hardly any sane person on an average income is going to spend £20K on a single day. Yet the expectation (and the reality of most people's experience) is that weddings cost that much money. I am searching for research linking debt caused by weddings to divorce. Given that money is the primary cause of divorce, I suspect that there is a significant effect. Which is intolerable for those of us who believe in the institution of marriage - sensible people are put off by the cost and those who jump through the necessary hoops are lumbered with significant debts. I think you’ll find that a significant number of people who recognise marriage as an institution worth supporting (which according to recent surveys is more than 80% of people) but then don’t get married give finances as an important factor. According to CofE funded research, anyway.

That fact that those of us in church don’t see it as a particular barrier just goes to show how out of touch we really are. Hardly any sane person on an average income is going to spend £20K on a single day. Yet the expectation (and the reality of most people’s experience) is that weddings cost that much money.

I am searching for research linking debt caused by weddings to divorce. Given that money is the primary cause of divorce, I suspect that there is a significant effect. Which is intolerable for those of us who believe in the institution of marriage – sensible people are put off by the cost and those who jump through the necessary hoops are lumbered with significant debts.

]]> By: Tim Ball http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230263 Tim Ball Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:18:06 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230263 I don't think finance is an 'understandable reason' not to get married. it depends what is important to you. If you want to invest in a party which lasts a day and is gone forever then it will cost you a fortune. But if you want to invest in what is really important in life long commitment, then you don't spend your money on it - you spend your life. I don’t think finance is an ‘understandable reason’ not to get married. it depends what is important to you. If you want to invest in a party which lasts a day and is gone forever then it will cost you a fortune. But if you want to invest in what is really important in life long commitment, then you don’t spend your money on it – you spend your life.

]]> By: Mark Tiddy’s Blog & Website | himynameismark.co.uk » Blog Archive » News From Christian Circles…(and squares!) http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/comment-page-1/#comment-230260 Mark Tiddy’s Blog & Website | himynameismark.co.uk » Blog Archive » News From Christian Circles…(and squares!) Thu, 14 Feb 2008 12:05:00 +0000 http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2008/02/12/essex-church-offers-free-weddings/#comment-230260 [...] Once again something from Dave Walker’s blog interested me, when he reports that an Essex Church Offers free weddings. [...] [...] Once again something from Dave Walker’s blog interested me, when he reports that an Essex Church Offers free weddings. [...]

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