NewlyWeds-UK

I'm secretly praying for sunshine again tomorrow as I'm officiating at another wedding. The bride and groom are both lovely and, as we've spent quite a bit of time together, I'm getting to know them better. But it's Billy, the father of the bride, that I know well. Very well in fact, as I had a year long relationship with him last year. read more »

It's ages since I posted a blog - a combination of busyness and a virus on my computer that took some getting rid of! But while I've been absent there was a significant happening that will make it easier for you to marry in the place of your dreams. read more »

My husband got notice of a new tax code today. It took into account various criteria, except that he is married to a chocoholic with expensive taste (only the FairTrade 70% stuff will do) - or really that that he is married to anyone for that matter! read more »

Before the advent of agony aunts we used to determine the state of our relationships in slightly more organic ways. Picking a flower we'd pluck off the petals one by one chanting "loves me, loves me not." We also held buttercups under chins to see if there was a reflection - signifying that the person liked butter. read more »

Last Saturday was a perfect day for a wedding - so 'well done you' if you got married yourself. The day started in a really relaxed way with a trip to the hairdresser and a read through the latest gossipy magazines - and that was just the Vicar (me) - I have no idea what the Bride did! read more »

This weekend a very significant wedding will take place at our tiny local church. Every wedding is significant to the happy couple of course but this is the first wedding to take place in this seventy-year-old church. So their Marriage certificate is Entry number 1, Book 1. (There are 2 churches in the Parish and everyone else has opted for the bigger venue) read more »

I got in touch with an 'old flame' today. I wouldn't usually recommend this as it can be the cause of people wallowing in nostalgia about their lost youth and feeling discontented with their current partner. You see it on soap operas all the time! But today I thought I'd take a risk... read more »

Yesterday I was at York Minster to watch the Consecration of 3 new Church of England Bishops - two of them to my home diocese of Manchester. During the service I was struck by the similarity to a wedding. Not really surprising as the Bible refers to the Church as the Bride of Christ... read more »

If you are reading this because you are planning a wedding then according to the Office of National Statistics you are in the minority as fewer people choose to tie the knot. And everyone has their own version of why that should be the case. read more »

What is it that creates a happy person and hopefully a happy marriage? What is the secret ingredient?

Well according to the downbeat newspaper reports on the tenth anniversary of the invention of Viagra it's dawning on people that happiness has nothing to do with membership (sorry Bishop couldn't resist that) but everything to do with belonging.
Every survey seems to agree that having a solid network of loving family and friends around us is the top ingredient to happiness. read more »