Each year in the region of 750 weddings are celebrated in churches throughout the diocese of Kerry. How has the economic crisis and the resultant austerity effected this? Are people incurring large debt to finance their wedding? Are there people putting off getting married indefinitely because they simply cannot afford it? Putting your life on hold like that, can it cause a serious strain?
People are conscious of large weddings where it seems to be a case of ‘no expense spared’. Other weddings do take place: a wedding party of twelve or less; maybe a guest list of 80 with a church wedding at 6pm and a buffet reception following at a local club facility; or the wedding reception can resemble the old style Station Mass in the home. We have some lovely small churches that are ideal. Many couples have the self-confidence to have a low-cost, wonderful wedding. The heart of a wedding day is a joyful, loving couple exchanging vows in church in the presence of family and friends. All else is optional. A simple small wedding can be experienced as intimate, moving and very special by all gathered.
It is a healthy sign in a community that such weddings take place. Encourage people to have a positive attitude towards them. Austerity and recession do not have a veto on people getting on with living their lives. As a couple do you feel the time is right to marry? If so, let nothing stop you. Talk to family and friends; make contact with your parish.