Well, this is not my experience as an ordained minister in the United States. A large part of me fears that this disinterest in the UK church is due to faith communities that have lost their vision to welcome all for whatever reason brings them to the church’s door. I also fear that the UK church is beginning to suffer a radical lack of confidence that would deter all but the most devout in being married in an atmosphere of gloom and sadness.

Click – UK Couples shun church weddings

I have not been aware of any such decline in the US. Granted many of the church weddings at which I officiate involve a couple who have had little contact with organized religion but they still sense the magical, spiritual aura of what they are about to do and look for engagement with a spirituality that is grounded in tradition and also radically open to contemporary spiritual yearnings.

Of course, churches will expect a reverential deference for their own traditions within a wedding ceremony; but then remember, it is such a tradition that has maintained such glorious, inspiring buildings for centuries to be available at times of significant human events.

Those who wish to be married on-site of reception will often do so for the convenience of their guests and the attempt at economy. Such are not to be summarily dismissed a somehow non-spiritual nor as lacking an orthodox faith.

Wedding officiants need to be themselves grounded in a faith and spirituality that is both of the mind and of the heart; when you begin here the concept of “church” becomes incredibly wide and inclusive.

Some may even recall that “church” has more to do with a gathering of people than a striking historic building; oh beware the “edifice complex”.