They say that the number of people getting married in church has fallen over the last decade and that the COE is actively trying to encourage people to get married in church rather than at a civil ceremony. If my experience last Saturday is anything to go by, it is small wonder that people are not getting married in church.

The church was St. Mary’s Parish Church in Old Town, Eastbourne. This is a lovely church; one that makes an ideal setting for a wedding. However, the attitude of the vicar is less welcoming. The couple, Liz and David, were charged an additional £100 because they wanted their wedding filmed. Now you would think that as that the couple had paid a considerable sum for the privilege of having their wedding filmed that the vicar would at least be a little helpful. Nope.

I was told that I could stand in a choir stall to film throughout the ceremony. Fair enough. As the bride entered the church I moved to the edge of the stall and leaned out to get a shot of her coming down the aisle. (Otherwise my view was blocked by the pulpit).  The vicar hurried down the aisle, came up to me with a black look on his face and hissed “get back in the stall”.  I explained that I just wanted a shot of the bride coming down the aisle. His response was “get back in the stall were you where you were told to go – NOW”

To add injury to insult he blocked the groom from shot throughout the ceremony.  Now I know how I would feel if I had paid £100 and didn’t even get a shot of my wife entering the church.

When will some of these vicars come into the 20th century and realize that couples want a record of their wedding without paying ‘rip off’ fees.