What if I don't go to church, and wanna have my wedding in a church?

Welcome to WW, Jessica! Many churches require a couple to be members of the congregation in order to be married there, but I know a couple that was married in a church without being members, so they do exist. You'd really have to speak to the churches near you that you are interested in getting married at. If anything, you have over a year so you can become a member of the congregation if you need/want to.

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As Reenski said most church like people who get married in their church to be members.

Have you checked with community churches in your area and thought about joining those? You have a little over a year to your wedding you have time to establish yourself as a member in the church.

In my area, there are a couple of historic places that are not active (no congregations) and are available for rent by anyone.

Maybe there's something similar in your area? Check with your Parks & Recreation Dept.

Most churches will only allow members of their church or a sister church to marry. However, Non-Denominational churches are more open to "outsiders"

Here is a list of Non-Denominational Churches on YellowPages.com in your area:

http://www.yellowpages.com/cass-city-mi/churches-non-denominational

If you don't go to a church, why would you want to be married in one? Traditions are really only traditions if you've embraced them. You can have a very meaningful, "traditional" ceremony almost anywhere.

If you want to go the church route, I'd try a Unitarian Universalist church. You might like it enough to start attending; several of my couples have gone that route.

We aren't members of any specific church due to moving around a lot for school and our jobs. Because of that, we asked my parents' church's minister to marry us and we are getting married there. Honestly, that is one of the only reasons that we can have our wedding there-my parents are members and they know that due to schooling we don't have a home church yet. We are required to take premaritaling classes with the minister and every time we meet he harps about the importance of finding a church to belong to and asks us how our search is going. If you have no intention of going to church or finding a church, be aware of the fact that ministers will do everything they can to get you to go to church. However, it is possible to find a church that will allow you to be married there without being a member, you just have to ask! And I do know that not all churches require the counseling, thats just how ours is! I do agree with Celia though about traditions. Good luck!

Ask around in your community, I am having mine in a small church and neither of us are members. I asked the pastor if that was ok, she said yes and I can use my own officiant. All she asked from us is, no beer and liquor (wine ok), music has to be respectful, and just clean up after ourselves after the event.

Well, I didn't mean to sound harsh, but a church is more than a pretty backdrop, and most ministers are a little protective of the spaces that are sacred to their congregations...

I don't know TOO much on this but i know some require you to at least do church counseling, some religions ask you to do like a weekend thing and a test and they would kind of make a decision if you are ready to or not. I think it may have a lot to do with your/their beliefs and how they consider it to add up. But i'm speaking for my FH's family history with it and his Gpa being a deacon.

I agree with Celia though. Yeah it's a tradition but do you want to look back at it and say maybe we shouldn't have just because it's what your supposed to do traditionally. I don't go to church and am in no way religious and used to think that's how i would do it but now the idea just makes me uncomfortable, and don't wnat somebody having to decide if i'm ready or not.