Stories like that would probably make a good thread.

We aren't good Sunday church going folk so we had to find someone who would marry us without telling us we are going to hell. So, we found a highly rated person who seemed good. We wanted the ceremony to be quick and weren't really asking for much actual religion to be thrown in. Well, the guy we got called the night before and said he couldn't make it but would be sending a replacement who we met at the rehearsal dinner. All seemed fine.

He did a decent enough job but he decided to throw about 5 minutes of religious talk in, and then had us say our vows, and then said one more thing religious, and then had us say our vows a second time with the exact same script. I can only assume he forgot to turn the page.

Then, after about 4 weeks, I called the state of Illinois to get a copy of our marriage certificate and they said that none was on file. It turns out the guy didn't actually mail it in. So, we said our vows twice and still ended up not married.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

He's a younger guy...I don't even think he's my age yet.

We couldn't get married at her parents' church because it was already booked for the day, so the one we got married at took over for the church she grew up going to.

She wanted to go to a mass there about a month before the wedding when we were in town getting everything finalized. As we left, she asked for my thoughts.

My only response? "If this guy wasn't a priest, he would be living in his mom's basement playing video games all day".

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Was he drunk?

Actually, I've considered going through the process to get the license to marry people. Start a side business out of it. Non-religious theme weddings. I'll even do impersonations, within reason (think the Princess Bride priest). That will cover those of us that are heathens, and I'm pretty sure it will convince my in-laws that I'm going to hell (which they probably already figured out).

I'm all for the taking out the really religious part of the ceremony. I wedding ceremony should be what the couple wants and/or believes. It should be done to make them happy. I went through with the Catholic mass because my wife, while not a hardcore Catholic, was raised that way, and wanted to go with the church wedding. That was fine. I got my request for the blessing/grace at dinner...and even that didn't get the full Boyd treatment because we threw in an actual blessing from my wife's great uncle, who was a priest.

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No, but he was old.
That's basically what we used.
It wasn't bad. It made some of my more religious relatives happy so that was a bonus. We just didn't want to have to jump through all the stuff that others did to be worthy of a Catholic ceremony.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Honestly, the worst part of the Catholic process was my annulment.

Even the pre-cana thing wasn't that bad.

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It would have been for us.

My grandmother had to pay extra so I could be a godfather a few years later.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Awesome.

The craziest request I ever saw for a wedding was a buddy of mine that got married about 10 years ago. He was Catholic, she went to that megachuch cult place out in Hoffman Estates/South Barrington. They had a requirement that not only did Dave need to join their chuch, but every member of the wedding party and parents of the groom all had to as well. Needless to say, this didn't go over well with Dave Sr, who was a daily mass attending, hardcore Catholic. To compromise, they were able to procure the services of the pastor from the mega church to drive out and perform the service in the room next to the reception hall. They were divorced less than a year later.

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Rah and I are trying to decide if the bar should be open during our ceremony.

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@audioidkid

That's a requirement if you want Southpaw there.

Our venue has a strict "No Mascots" policy.

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@audioidkid

The scenario where hard core beer drinkers suddenly turn into hard core mixed drinkers.

RPB and I will be taking out the best man.

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So the Giant Frank Head is a no?

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