AKRON -- Times are tough, there's no question about that. But in spite of how difficult the economy has been, Akron Pastor Jeff Wade says young women still have the same dreams for a magical wedding day.
"I think every young girl dreams of a beautiful church wedding that she can imagine herself walking down the aisle in a dress, and she imagines the pastor standing at the front and the candles being lit," Wade tells Fox 8 News.
Pastor Wade says it is not at all unusual for the price of a wedding to be between two and six thousand dollars by the time you pay for a church, the pastor, the musician, and all of the trimmings, not to mention the cost of the gown the rings, gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the reception.
Kristin Lee of Cuyahoga Falls says once she and her fiance started tallying everything up the total easily approached ten thousand dollars.
Enough to make them start to consider putting off their wedding plans.
"I'm unemployed right now, a full time student so right now, I would say 'yes' money is pretty tight and to try to pay for that and all of the finances," explains Lee.
Kristin says she and her future husband intended to pay for everything themselves, but even if her parents were to help things would still be tight.
"Things are tough for them too" she told Fox 8.
Understanding that times are tough Pastor Wade says he came up with the idea of offering something that was unprecedented, free weddings.
He approached others at the Celebration Church. where he is senior Pastor, and asked if they would help out providing music, making flowers, taking photographs, even allowing brides to wear their old wedding gowns, and he says everyone agreed.
"We are seeing a lot of people who are deciding to live together because it is too expensive very often there are children involved, and we decided as a church to try and do something to make weddings accessible," he told Fox 8's Dave Nethers.
So on three day weekends, once each quarter, the church is allowing couples to use the facility for two hours so that they can have a wedding at no cost to them.
"Theres free pastoral service free flowers, free photography, free music, free sound man, free use of the building, we cover everything except the reception."
Kristin is among the first to take the church up on the offer, saying she cannot pass it up.
Her plans for the perfect, over the top, all inclusive wedding have had to be scaled back but she says that is fine with her.
"Now I'm kind of to the point where I just want to get married for the whole concept, doing the whole traditional thing, for the whole meaning, because I want to marry him because I am in love with him and I feel this will be a lifetime."
One of the few requirements for any couples accepting the offer is that they have to attend two pre-marital counseling sessions, also provided for free.
The only other requirement is that they have a valid marriage license.
Pastor Wade says the counseling is important to address some of the issues that are most troubling for married couples, which include finances.
He believes providing the free weddings can at least help couples ease into their life together without having as much financial stress at the very start.
"Its important to have that wedding ceremony, and that they say this is going to be a lifetime thing, that they make that promise."
The church has posted a website for the free weddings, and has put a huge banner outside facing the busy route 8 in Akron.
When asked whether he expects to be overwhelmed Pastor Wade says he welcomes that.
"I think every young girl dreams of a beautiful church wedding that she can imagine herself walking down the aisle in a dress, and she imagines the pastor standing at the front and the candles being lit," Wade tells Fox 8 News.
Pastor Wade says it is not at all unusual for the price of a wedding to be between two and six thousand dollars by the time you pay for a church, the pastor, the musician, and all of the trimmings, not to mention the cost of the gown the rings, gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and the reception.
Kristin Lee of Cuyahoga Falls says once she and her fiance started tallying everything up the total easily approached ten thousand dollars.
Enough to make them start to consider putting off their wedding plans.
"I'm unemployed right now, a full time student so right now, I would say 'yes' money is pretty tight and to try to pay for that and all of the finances," explains Lee.
Kristin says she and her future husband intended to pay for everything themselves, but even if her parents were to help things would still be tight.
"Things are tough for them too" she told Fox 8.
Understanding that times are tough Pastor Wade says he came up with the idea of offering something that was unprecedented, free weddings.
He approached others at the Celebration Church. where he is senior Pastor, and asked if they would help out providing music, making flowers, taking photographs, even allowing brides to wear their old wedding gowns, and he says everyone agreed.
"We are seeing a lot of people who are deciding to live together because it is too expensive very often there are children involved, and we decided as a church to try and do something to make weddings accessible," he told Fox 8's Dave Nethers.
So on three day weekends, once each quarter, the church is allowing couples to use the facility for two hours so that they can have a wedding at no cost to them.
"Theres free pastoral service free flowers, free photography, free music, free sound man, free use of the building, we cover everything except the reception."
Kristin is among the first to take the church up on the offer, saying she cannot pass it up.
Her plans for the perfect, over the top, all inclusive wedding have had to be scaled back but she says that is fine with her.
"Now I'm kind of to the point where I just want to get married for the whole concept, doing the whole traditional thing, for the whole meaning, because I want to marry him because I am in love with him and I feel this will be a lifetime."
One of the few requirements for any couples accepting the offer is that they have to attend two pre-marital counseling sessions, also provided for free.
The only other requirement is that they have a valid marriage license.
Pastor Wade says the counseling is important to address some of the issues that are most troubling for married couples, which include finances.
He believes providing the free weddings can at least help couples ease into their life together without having as much financial stress at the very start.
"Its important to have that wedding ceremony, and that they say this is going to be a lifetime thing, that they make that promise."
The church has posted a website for the free weddings, and has put a huge banner outside facing the busy route 8 in Akron.
When asked whether he expects to be overwhelmed Pastor Wade says he welcomes that.
