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Jacksonville Church Provides Free Group Weddings

Orginally published on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 8:00 AM
by Todd Rhoades

Paxton Revival Center of Jacksonville, FL is providing free 'group' weddings. According to the church's website, "We want to see couples who can not afford a wedding to be able to get Married. You are able to get married in a huge church with many guests." Here are more of the details:

--Is it really free? – yes, the only cost that you will be responsible for is the ring & marriage license.

--Do I have to be a member of the church for the free wedding? No, you do not!

--Why Valentine’s Day? Why not? Valentines Day is the day of Love. This is the perfect day.

--Where do I get my Marriage License? At the Duval County Court House.

--Can I have this free wedding on the date I want? No, this is a special event and the free weddings will only take place on this one date and time.

--Do I sign up in advance for the Free Wedding? Yes you must be registered to take part in this free wedding.

--Is there a cutoff date to register? Yes, because you will be required to attend a pre marriage class prior to the free wedding date.

--Do I have to wear a wedding dress? No you are not required to wear a wedding gown, you just need to be dressed nice – this is a church wedding

--Can I bring my own bridesmaids and Best man? Yes, but you are limited on how many.

--Will other couples be getting married at the same time at this free wedding? Yes, it is done to some degree as a group, but each couple will be focused on and each couple will do their vows separately.

--Can I write my own vows? No, unfortunately due to the nature of this event the vows repeated will have to be the traditional wedding vows.

--Can I have my own minister? No, due to the way the weddings have to be conducted, you will be married by the Pastor of this Church.

--Can I have my own Photographer? Yes you can, however the Church does offer Wedding Picture Packages from our photographer.( Please inform us if you plan to have your own photographer)

--Can I purchase the pictures at a later date? Yes, but the cost will be slightly more and there is a cutoff date.

--Will the wedding be filmed? Yes, you will be able to purchase a Dvd/Vhs of the Wedding.

--Do I have to pay for my Picture Package in advance? Yes, otherwise the photographer will only take limited photos of you , and they will be focusing on the couples who have preordered a Picture Package

--What is part of the picture package? The package will consist of 15 photos, and a DVD of the service. All for $100.00

--Free Reception, How many guest can I bring? You can bring a good bit of guests, but we need to discuss the total when you make your reservation, as space is limited.

--Can I have my own cake? Yes, but you don’t need to, the church will supply a large tiered wedding cake for photos, and to be served to the guests.

--Can I have my own colors? Yes but only in the way of clothes, keep in mind that all the other wedding couples and Bridal parties will be sharing the stage.

--The church will be decorated in a beautiful neutral color that will not clash with any color you chose to wear.

More information here...

Question… good idea or bad idea?  How do you reconcile this kind of wedding policy with not being ‘unequally yoked’?  There is some marriage counseling in a ‘short session’ that is required.


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  There are 10 Comments:

  • Posted by Camey

    There’s alot of talk about cake, photography, and such… Personally, I do not think it is a good idea. There is so much emphasis put on the wedding itself and not on the marriage… the covenant. It is not a contract.  Ut oh, I better stop there lest I get on my soapbox.

  • Posted by Daniel

    Go ahead and get on the soapbox Camey. That’s where I’m going…

    The Church is not a tool of the State, and the Church is not a business. The Church is the Body of Christ, and Christian ministers have no business marrying anyone anywhere outside the Body. As Paul says, ‘what have we to do with those on the outside?’ Love ‘em, serve ‘em, sure good great. Marry them? Sell them DVD and picture packets? Cater to Western society’s dysfunctional romanticism? No!!!

    The Church needs to learn to be the Church first and foremost.

    My two cents.
    -Daniel-

  • Posted by Camey

    “The purpose of Free Weddings in Jacksonville is to see couples come together and be joined in Marriage in the sight of God. We want to see couples who can not afford a wedding to be able to get Married. You are able to get married in a huge church with many guest.”

    Personally, I do not see how they can reconcile the first sentence with the rest of the statement. What about the marriage? It is more than just the wedding day itself. And having a wedding in a huge church with many guest and being some what “free” does not mean that each couple involved should even be getting married. Counseling sessions are vitally important.. they should not be just a one time short deal.

    I’ve seen it time and time again. All this concentration on the wedding day that after the day is over.. sometimes up to six months later - the bride goes into a depression because she suddenly realizes she had this “blow out wedding day never to be forgotten because of being in love with Mr. Romantic who swept her off her feet,” but hasn’t a clue about who she is sleeping beside of and realizes she really wants nothing to do with. Then what?

    February 14th is not some thing that I believe the church should sponsor and support. What we should be teaching and modeling instead is love, commitment, marriage, and etc. is a 365 day decision. Marriage is a covenant between the two individuals and Him. Not the two individuals, Hallmark and some Jewelry store with a side of state conditions and insurance provisions.

    I’m going to stop there because I’m fresh off of counseling individuals about their marriages. Thanks Daniel for the invitation to join you… I’ll step down now…

  • Posted by Peter Hamm

    But…

    It could be a good idea for people who just don’t have the means to have a “big wedding” and want to have a wedding in a church. (Sorry to dissent...)

  • Posted by

    Weddings are one of the few times (a funeral being another) that a distant-from-Jesus person will show up at a church building. Couldn’t that wedding be something that God uses to draw them to Christ? (In Japan, “Christian Weddings” have been used by missionaries for years as an evangelistic tool). Obviously, the premarital counseling would have to be gospel-centered for this to be true.

    Many churches (like mine, sadly) are missing a huge opportunity to be salt and light in this area. Kudos to the Jacksonville people for taking the risk and getting into the messy business of connecting with lost people.

  • Posted by

    I agree with Camey.  We do not charge for weddings anway, so why the group thing?  Publicity?

    If they want to make weddings a ministry then do it, but I’m bothered by the Sun Yung Moon thing.  Sorry, but that’s the first thing I thought of!

  • Posted by Wedding Flower

    yes, Camey, i think you are right too

  • Posted by ottawa wedding

    great stuff!! nice post!

  • its so nice when you are in a group wedding.. very enjoying smile

  • Yes! I certainly agree with it.. lol

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