Destination Wedding - Pastor Help!

I think it would be even more so as you have a close connection. Every pastor is just a person and started somewhere. I’m having my uncle officiate but he has been a pastor my entire life.

I personally think it means more to have someone you know get ordained to marry you. Especially if that person is your fiancé's father! It's a special bond/memory that you all will share together, which is really sweet.

I would speak with your pastor/church about their opinion since you are wondering if it's biblical to have your FH's dad marry you.


I doubt that your pastor would be able to travel if it's really far.
Faith is super important to us and it was always clear to us that we would be married by an ordained minister/pastor and we actually had more than one to chose from. A friend who is like a (spiritual) dad to my FH is marrying us. He's not working as a pastor anymore but has for many years. We're also getting married at our church - though it's really not the most pretty place. But I always wanted to get married "at home" (my church is home and family to me).

For me a wedding is about making a vow infront of God and the church (as in the group of believers who is there with you that day) as a witness. I wouldn't say a pastor is necessary to do that but I couldn't imagine it without one. Plus they usually know what to do.

I guess it's about priorities. It sounds like having your pastor marry you at your destination might not be possible. But I would start out with talking to your pastor.

How far away is the event? Does the pastor have kids? I think it doesn't hurt to ask if you really want him to officiate. People do this all the time, and he may appreciate the opportunity to travel and stay for free.


I'm Catholic so all of our pastors are single, and they will travel for weddings as long as they have someone to cover the masses they will miss

I would ask your pastor! I’m sure he would gracefully decline if he couldn’t make it, and be honored to accept if if he could/wanted to.


However, if you do go with your fiancé’s dad, I think that’s a great choice! We actually had my fiancé’s uncle, who is a man of God. We ordained him with an online service with a mission statement that aligned with our beliefs. We didn’t know it beforehand, but he wore his father’s, my fiancé’s deceased grandfather’s, PhD robes—he was a pastor and got his doctorate in theology. Super cool touch!

You could check to see in the area who is available. Your denomination may have churches there. Or your pastor could have connections there - first or second hand. Sometimes you find connections in the oddest places.

I also think it would be good to talk to you pastor - both to explore whether he could travel and perform the ceremony, and also to discuss how your church views marriage performed by someone who isn’t an ordained minister. That should help answer your questions about what is ‘right’ biblically. There are some Christian denominations that are fine with any legal marriage, and others that take a more restrictive line on what they view as ‘valid’.