Marriage legislation is changing from 1 October 2008. From that date couples can be much more flexible in the choice of church in which to get married. As well as helping churches get to grips with the 'nuts and bolts' of the legislation, "Welcoming Marriage" helps churches make the most of the new opportunities arising from the changes. The topics include: making your church welcoming to prospective wedding couples; working with other churches to provide marriage preparation to couples who are marrying elsewhere; turning marriage into a mission opportunity; and, comprehensive coverage of the new marriage legislation and how it impacts on each church.This book includes ideas for promotion of church weddings. It features a chapter on 'the world of weddings'. It helps clergy to understand the current wedding market and what motivates couples today. It uses recent research, real-life case studies and focus groups from recently married couples to highlight best practice and areas for improvement. It helps clergy to minister effectively to couples - from first contact to honeymoon and beyond.