Honeymoon over for church weddings?

By Laura Joint
BBC Devon

Tavistock Parish Church - perfect setting for a wedding

There was a time when the term 'going down the aisle' meant exactly that.

Now though, the traditional church wedding ceremony faces stiff competition from other venues offering the service.

To combat the downturn in church weddings, Tavistock Parish Church, Saint Eustachius, is marketing its service at a bridal fayre in the town.

Church officials have taken a stall at the fayre and are handing out leaflets about their wedding services.

It's the first time the church - which was dedicated in 1318 - has had a presence at a bridal fayre.

Prices for wedding services at Tavistock Church start at £340

The event is taking place at the Bedford Hotel opposite the church on 18 October 2009.

Priest in charge of Tavistock and Gulworthy, Rev Michael Brierley, told BBC Devon: "We are able to offer resplendent surroundings and we need people to know what we can do.

"We are doing fewer weddings than we did 10-15 years ago although this year, the numbers are up."

Rev Brierley believes a relaxation in the rules in 2008 over who can be married in church has led to the increase in people walking up the aisle this year.

But he added: "We can't always expect people to come to us. That would be arrogant."

Weddings bring cash into the church coffers - but Rev Brierley says finances aren't the uppermost consideration: "In the grand scheme of things, the prices are not a vast amount.

"Our starting price is £340, although the price obviously depends on if you have bells and a choir, for example.

"We want people to be married in church so they get their married life off to the best possible start, in the presence of God."

Rev Brierley believes that adopting a more proactive marketing approach is a good way of tempting more couples in: "We haven't done this before," he said.

"I just think it's important we let people know what we can do for them on their wedding day."