Simple Priest, Simple Wedding

I'm lucky that our parish priest (whom I want to officiate our wedding) is a simple priest. Last Sunday, he talked about guidelines of the Church on weddings. He said the Church asks for a donation of P1,500 (USD32) for a couple to get married. Just P1,500 and two people can get married in Church. Weddings are expensive nowadays since people want to put non essential things in a wedding. For example, he said couples (and their families) want lots of flowers, a carpeted aisle in Church, a choir, videos, bright lights, etc. All these are not important in a wedding. The things that are important in a wedding are the couple who are getting married and a maximum of four witnesses (or sponsors). That's it. There's no need to have a long list of sponsors since only four names will be included in the registry. I feel that couples want many sponsors in their weddings to augment the cost of the wedding. Even if they spend lots of money for their wedding, they still have sponsors who will give them money (called “pakimkim”) as gifts. :)

The Priest said that we have to use our heads and common sense when having a wedding. There is no need for a “Little Bride and Little Groom”. What is the purpose of having them in your entourage aside from adding “cute” factor in the wedding? Not only do you pay for the bride's wedding gown, you also have to dress the “Little Bride”. Another non essential wedding thing. He informed us that children who will be included in the entourage (Ring/Bible/Arrhae bearers and flower girls) must be 6 years old and above. Children lower than that age would only disrupt the wedding ceremony since they would only be noisy and cry a lot and you need to pay more attention to them when they play around the church. I agree!

Everytime the Priest gives advice about wedding, I can't help but smile. We are on the same wavelength when it comes to what's important in a wedding. He wants to change the wedding norm in our parish. No lavish ceremonies, no designer wedding gowns, no long list of sponsors, no reception with lots of guests (whom usually are not known to the couple who got married) no to things that are not important. Just a simple ceremony that solemnizes the unification of two people who vow to love and be with one another till the rest of time. Oh so sweet!