Should You Have A Religious Wedding Ceremony?

When it’s time to plan your big day, one of the most important questions revolves around the wedding ceremony. Most people will have one key question – should you opt for a religious ceremony or not?

What is a religious wedding ceremony?

You may call this a “traditional” ceremony as it usually takes place in a church or chapel. You have a priest run the sermon and follow the traditional rules of exchanging vows, etc. By contrast, a non-religious ceremony won’t be in a church. You won’t necessarily be married to a religious figure, and you can have the ceremony wherever you like. 

Should you have a religious ceremony if you’re not religious?

Some people can instantly say they’re religious, while others might struggle. Funnily enough, planning a wedding can be a moment when you question your faith and try to figure out if you do believe in God. One little way to do this – and it isn’t foolproof – is to watch 90 Minutes In Heaven the movie. It’s a story about a guy who dies and says he has seen heaven. If you watch this and believe his story, it’s a sign you have more faith than you believed. Or, you could watch it and think it’s all made up. 

If you are strongly against religion, then it doesn’t make sense to have a religious ceremony. Why put yourself through something that you don’t believe in? Some people may still choose to do this for tradition – the thought of getting married in a church and saying your vows at the altar is extremely nice and magical. For many, this is what they dream of when they think about getting married, regardless of if they believe in God or not. 

Obviously, if you are religious or have a religious family, partaking in a church wedding makes a lot of sense. Everyone around you expects it, and you want to have a traditional wedding anyway. 

Ultimately, it all comes down to the two people getting married and their backgrounds. Even if you aren’t religious, you can have a religious ceremony for tradition’s sake. But, as mentioned above, if you are actively against religion, it feels like a strange thing to do.

What’s the other option?

The alternative to a religious ceremony is a civil one. A big benefit of this is that you don’t confine yourself to specific wedding locations. If you and your partner want to get married abroad in the countryside or on a beach, this is a fantastic option for you. 

Again, it all comes down to what YOU want. I guess the bottom line is that you don’t have to have a religious wedding at all. Many people think they need to, but you can stray from traditional ceremonies if you like. Think about your own preferences and those of your partner. In many cases, a non-religious person could have a religious wedding because their partner is a person of faith. There’s nothing wrong with doing this to please the person you love, even if you’re not a bit churchgoer.