How to choose a church for your wedding

One of the most important decisions you will make for your wedding day will be where to hold your wedding ceremony. Although you will be primarily guided by your religious affiliation, your choice of a church will set the tone for the kind of wedding you desire. Will yours be an intimate wedding or a grand one? What kind of ambiance would you like you and your guests to experience? Such questions should come to mind before you make your choice. Here are some practical considerations before you decide.

Sentimental Value

Don’t just choose a church, choose one, if possible, that has some sentimental value or meaning to you. This way, you will feel an extra thrill from getting married not just in a "venue" but in a place that is special to you.

I’ve always loved my hometown of Nasugbu, Batangas, for it is where I grew up and lived all my life. I always knew that if ever I got married, it would no doubt be in Nasugbu. And in my town I had always loved Batulao in particular. With its high altitude, cool climes, and panoramic views, it is one of my favorite places there.

In 1997 when I was going to get married, I visited the Caleruega Retreat House in Batulao. One look at its Moorish-inspired Transfiguration Chapel atop a mountain that overlooks Nasugbu’s lush greenery, and I knew I just had to get married there. I was even more thrilled when guests – majority of whom had visited Caleruega for the first time – later told me that it was one place they would long remember because of its beautiful setting and scenery.

Location

A church must be readily accessible not just to you and your would-be groom but to majority of both your families and guests. If possible, the church must be easy to locate, have ample parking space, and is near the venue of your wedding reception. If your church happens to be far away, do include a map/directions to it in your invitation so that your guests won’t get lost!

Ambiance

A day wedding has a different ambiance from a night wedding. And even then, an early morning wedding would still differ from a late morning or afternoon wedding. Similarly, a formal wedding would exude a far different ambiance compared to a less formal one. In all cases, the choice of church will set the tone for the kind of wedding you desire. For example, the San Agustin Church, with its baroque design and ornate chandeliers, is a perfect venue for elegant weddings. In my case – I had wanted an early morning wedding since my theme was "spring" – Caleruega’s natural environs provided the ambiance I desired. If you want a simple, family-members-only wedding, then a simple chapel would be perfect.

Number Of Guests

This is a major consideration for choosing a church, especially if yours will be a big wedding. In the Philippines it is not uncommon to have as guests not only the couple’s friends, but their respective parents’ guests as well. More so if the parents are politicians or public figures with a whole battalion of compadres and comadres. Cathedrals or basilicas are suitable for such weddings. Make sure the church you choose can accommodate the number of guests in your list.

Budget

Many churches, especially the big ones, charge a fee for weddings. So check this out and compare it to the budget you’re willing to allot for it. Keep in mind, too, that the bigger the church, the more flowers you may require, thus adding to your budget. There are churches which provide flowers for weddings, so you can consider if this will be more convenient for you than buying flowers yourselves.

Other Considerations

When choosing a church, be aware of the rules and regulations followed in that church. For example, some priests are strict about the kind of songs that can be sung inside their church, the outfits which the bride and her entourage may wear (i.e., no plunging necklines, etc.), as well as the decorations that may be set up inside. One of my friends had an arch set up by the entrance to the church aisle, and had hung adornments on the chandeliers, only to be told that those were not allowed after he had already set them up. So do check out such details before you proceed.

But Most Of All...

Sometimes, we may be too caught up in wedding preparations including choosing a church and attending to all the details that we tend to forget that a wedding is first and foremost a sacrament. Hence, a couple must prepare themselves for this holy event with far more zeal than attending to all the other wedding details. For what is the point of choosing the "best" church and having the "right" ambiance without first being spiritually prepared? A wedding is not a spectacle; it is a holy event.

(E-mail the author at annmondo@yahoo.com)