Weddings are always a time of great joy and anticipation.

They can also provide an excellent opportunity for ministers to grow their churches.

Today, I share about a really bad wedding. We also share some tips for making any wedding memorable for the bride and groom.

Here is the free download, Wedding Resources For Ministers.

Transcript of Today's Show:

The two events most closely associated with ministers in our culture are weddings and funerals. These are two occasions when the need for a minister is universally accepted by nearly everyone regardless of their beliefs.

Weddings can be one of the most effective ways to grow your church as well. Does that sound odd? Well, before we talk about that, can I ask you a question?

Have you ever been to a bad wedding? What do I mean by a bad wedding? I’m talking about a wedding where the minister or clergy person was not a positive addition to the ceremony?

Let me unpack what I mean with a true story.

Several years back, one of my relatives decided to marry. The church building was rented and all the arrangements made. The facility was quite beautiful, out in the country and a reception was scheduled to follow on the enormous church grounds.

On the night before the wedding at the end of the rehearsal, the minister announced that there was to be no flash photography during the service. His conviction was that such flashes of light would distract from the sacredness of the ceremony.

Hearing this news for the first time, the photographer was mortified. He had not prepared for this possibility. To make matters more challenging, the front of the church where the ceremony would take place was poorly lit so using natural light would likely create dark, grainy pictures. Keep in mind that this was in the day before digital photography, so new specialized film needed to be purchased immediately.

Needless to say, this announcement created a high amount of tension for both the photographer and the bride, but the minister remained unaffected by their concerns.

With the rehearsal concluded, the minister said goodbye until the next day. Though invited, he did not attend the rehearsal dinner.

On the day of the wedding, guests arrived, some from several hundred miles away. Since many of my distant relatives hadn’t seen each other in a long time, there were many hugs and greetings followed by conversation in the sanctuary prior to the start of the ceremony. People were excited. The noise level was what you might expect during the few moments before any festive event.

Approximately ten minutes before the service, the minister appeared at the front of the church to remind the congregation that they were in the house of God and that it was improper for people to be talking to each other. Instead, he insisted they engage in quiet reflection more befitting a church. He then informed the congregation that no flash photography would be permitted.

All conversation abruptly ceased. Except for an occasional cough, the church was awkwardly silent.

After the ceremony got underway, the minister delivered a gospel message as part of the wedding ceremony, urging the congregation to give their lives to Christ. How many do you think were even the slightest bit interested? I’m guessing; none.

Finally the moment arrived for the groom to kiss the bride. The moment their lips touched, many in the congregation (including the photographer) took flash pictures totally ignoring the pastor’s wishes. Now it was his turn to be embarrassed.

After the ceremony ended, the happy couple went on to enjoy their reception and I am glad to report they remain happily married to this day. The pastor on the other hand spoke with very few people perhaps because no one really wanted