People are always shocked to know that while my husband and I are deeply religious we never once considered getting married in a church. At the time we weren’t particularly invested in one church and the idea of getting married in a church that meant nothing to us seemed insincere. So we threw a church ceremony by the wayside and decided to get married outside in a rose garden.
When we explained our plan to our parents, I vividly remember my father-in-law questioning my husband as to why he wasn’t getting married in a place of worship. And it wasn’t just family members that were curious; I think a lot of people were surprised that we were not getting a married in a church. There’s an assumption in our society that religious acts can only happen within the confines of a cathedral—that God only lives and breathes in that place.
But for us that couldn’t be further from the truth. God is in fact around us all the time, regardless of whether we are sitting in our church pews. Matthew asserts this point in his book chapter 18 verse 20, “ For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” So if God is with us everywhere we gather we didn’t need to be in a church for Him to bless our marriage. As long as our ceremony was focused on our Christian principles and morals, we didn’t care where it was performed because we knew that He would be with us.
It’s a shame that society still looks at couples conducting their marriage ceremonies outside of the church as less than holy. In fact, I think it takes more spiritual strength and understanding to realize that you don’t need the crutch of church pews and stained glass and a cross with Christ on it to worship God. All you really need is to bring your heart and your mind and to place them at His ever gracious feet.
I, for one can, unequivocally say that I could feel the Trinity with us during our ceremony (even though it wasn’t in a “holy” place). As I made my way down the aisle to meet my groom, it was the Holy Spirit that guided me there. Then, while my husband was reciting his vows to me about sacrificing his life for me as Christ had for us, I knew that Christ was watching over us. Finally, when we were holding hands as our pastor said our final blessing and pronounced us as husband and wife, I know that God placed His hands on ours and said a silent blessing as well. The Trinity was, has been, and will always be watching over us no matter where we are.
