Sunshine Coast weddings - civil or religious?

The day you get married is one of the most special and memorable days of your entire life. Although every couple shares a union of love and trust, there is an increasing desire for Sunshine Coast weddings to reflect the individuals being married and for their special day to be completely unique.

Many couples are discovering the flexibility of civil ceremonies, compared to the more traditional religious ceremony. In Australia, over sixty percent of marriages are now conducted by a registrar as part of a civil ceremony. Rather than being an overt shun of religious traditions, this rising trend is due to the increased opportunities offered by a civil marriage.

Religious weddings can only be performed in certain locations and follow a set service template that contains religious readings and practices. While many religious couples and their families are still opting for traditional ceremonies, the boundaries of this kind of marriage are turning more and more couples away to civil ceremonies. A civil ceremony contains no religious references and is secular, meaning that the couple, their families and guests can all feel comfortable throughout the service, no matter their religious beliefs.

Civil ceremonies also offer the option of marrying your partner practically anywhere you wish! Tie the knot in a hot air balloon, on a boat, under water or on a mountain. You might choose somewhere a little less exhilarating and simply opt for the choice of having your wedding in a hotel, events centre or spa resort. The choice of ceremony location is much wider for a civil marriage than a religious one.

The sharp rise in civil ceremonies could also be explained by the increase in these marriages being second, third or subsequent unions. Divorcees might have trouble in arranging a religious wedding when they remarry or might wish to have a different kind of celebration to their previous wedding. Couples are waiting longer to get married, with more and more partners choosing to live together before they tie the knot. This rise in age of marrying couples may also be a reason why civil ceremonies are preferred by the majority of Australians.

As wedding packages can include a civil ceremony and reception all at the same venue, the commercial drive for custom means that hotels and other Sunshine Coast wedding venues are providing much more enticing marketing and package offers. The option of having one, fabulous location, on-site accommodation and often a wedding planner provided for you is too much to resist for many couples. Young couples who want to tailor their day to their requirements are choosing to marry in a civil ceremony to allow them the flexibility they desire.

A civil ceremony appeals to a lot of couples as the easier option. When marrying in a religious ceremony, the couple are required to attend the religious institute, undergo marriage counselling and comply with certain religious traditions during the service. Many places of worship do not allow secular readings or music to be used during the marriage service, although this is generally being relaxed as the world moves forward.

Whether you choose to marry in a traditional religious ceremony or tailor your Sunshine Coast wedding to your needs in a civil ceremony, there are more options available than ever before to make your big day one to remember forever.