What is marriage? It means something different to everyone.
To me, it means committing to the same person that you love. Your best friend who you want to spend the rest of your life with.
What it doesn't mean to me is that it has to be religious or take place in a church.
It's got nothing to do with how I was or wasn't brought up, it's a personal choice.
I got engaged in February and I'm at the start of planning a very special day. A day that I want to spend with my close family and friends and do the way I want to do it, not doing it the way it 'has' to be done.
I am choosing not to have my wedding in a church because it's just not what I want to do. I want to be free to create a very special ceremony with whatever music or readings I want. I also want to get married outside, weather permitting obviously.
All of these things I wouldn't be allowed to do if we have a religious ceremony in a church.
Another reason for not wanting to get married in a church is because I want the whole day to be in one location. I want my guests to arrive at our venue, park up their cars and be there for the rest of the day. It's more relaxing for everyone involved.
I don't want them to have to travel up to an hour after the church to get to the venue. I don't mind doing that for other people's weddings, I just don't want that for mine.
I don't feel that anyone should be pressurised from friends or family to have a certain type of wedding because society has dictated that it's the right one.
I have been learning about all the different types of wedding ceremonies you can have and the opportunity to put my personal touch on it is exciting to me.
I don't expect everyone to get it but I'm proud of my choice.
