I always thought I wanted to get married in a church. When I was little, my mom “dragged me out of bed by the big toe” every Sunday to go to church knowing that somewhere along the way it would become something I did all by myself. I thought she was crazy — who would want to get up that early on a Sunday unprovoked? Then at some point, 10am seemed really late and somehow found myself wanting to go to church on Sunday mornings (more evidence that I might be a grown up…).
So, when I got engaged, getting married in a church seemed like where I was headed. Then we visited High Hampton and right across the street was the cutest little Episcopal church — this had to be a sign, right?
After deciding on High Hampton as our venue, I excitedly called the church. Here comes the bad news: the person I spoke with told me that, despite the fact that I was a practicing Episcopalian in the same diocese, they were unwilling to turn their church into a “Las Vegas-style wedding chapel” by having non-members marry there. After being rebuffed in a very (what I deemed) un-Christian-like manner, I determined that this was the sign. I knew there was something better out there for my wedding.
Enter Sue Kennedy:
(here’s Sue with my godfather, Chip, and his wife, Theresa, during their vow renewal)
Sue was a college friend of my dad’s and is now a practicing non-denominational reverend in nearby Greensboro. She was not only willing and able to perform our wedding ceremony, but she was excited about it! She told us that she would write a ceremony *just for us* that could be as traditional or non-traditional as we liked. Plus, because she has been a friend of my dad’s since college, she’s known me my whole life — and the story about how i put my whole body into one of her stockings when I was two just doesn’t get old.
Brian and I just signed off on our ceremony and it is perfect. I don’t think I realized how special it would be to have someone who knows me and my family so well marry us… Initially I was worried that I would miss the traditional aspects of a church ceremony, but after reading Sue’s words, I can’t imagine marrying Brian any other way.
How did you settle on your ceremony location? Have you thought of having someone special marry you?