It is a blessing to be a part of services of Christian marriage. Each one is an adventure. Here is a story from a service earlier in the year…
Earlier this year, I had an experience in a wedding which I would have loved to go back and do over again. This particular couple met online and it was quite an interesting story – one of them had been using the service for over a year and was planning to cancel the membership, but missed the deadline and thus was signed up for one more month. The other member of the couple had signed up just a few weeks ago. Their profiles were a match and as they say the rest is history.
I try to make the message at marriage ceremonies as meaningful as possible – incorporating both a response to the scripture and telling the story of the couple. I thought that the story of this couple meeting was great and would be wonderful to share with everyone. However, the moment that the sentence mentioning that they had met online came out of my mouth one of the couple shot me a glance that stopped me in my tracks. The couple had been looking at each other the entire time that I had been speaking until this time.
I quickly segued to the next section, but not before wishing those words had not come out of my mouth. After the service, they were bustling off to the reception and I did not have much of a chance to speak to either of them. The lesson I learned here was this – Always ask for permission to tell a particular story which a couple may not desire to be shared.
Rev. Andrew Conard 
3 replies on “Adventures in Marriage Officiation – Part 1 of 5”
I had a similar experience… I guess I had not made it clear that I would be using some material from our discussions in my remarks. I too got that same look from the bride that made me think, “What’d I say?” Perhaps there’s something with people getting married not wanting to be that transparent in front of close family and friends? Kind of a sign of the individualization of our times?
you know, this isn’t so taboo or shameful as it was once. one friend i know states of his now wife “i spend most of my time on the computer, why not be okay with using such to find and start my relationship with my wife.” sure, stories could use permission, but why the issue with this one?..
i’d say, they can get over it.
Dan – Glad to hear that you had a similar experience! I am not sure what it was with this particular couple…
Gavin – Thanks I think that you are right about that. I think a majority of the marriages at which I have officiated have been a couple who has met online.