Best Ways for a Christian Couple to Start Planning Their Wedding
March 21, 2025
As a wedding photographer, I love capturing real moments and telling the stories behind them. Not all, but many of the couples I work with want to honour their faith on their wedding day. With that, I’m excited to introduce you to Natasha Grant, founder of Pearline Events. I asked her a bunch of useful questions to give wisdom on the best ways for a Christian couple to start planning their wedding.
Natasha is a wedding planner based in South East England, and her work is awesome. Before launching her business, she spent over a decade working in the Civil Service, where she learned to stay calm under pressure and solve problems quickly—both essential skills in the wedding biz, for sure. Similar to me, she’s a Christian who is passionate about marriage and helping couples create weddings that authentically reflect who they are.
In this interview, Natasha shares how her faith shapes her business, her tips on the best ways for a Christian couple to start planning their wedding., and ways to make a wedding personal and meaningful. Whether you’re deep into planning or just starting, you’ll find plenty of helpful advice here. Let’s go!
Tell us your story (the short version!) of how you came to faith.
Natasha: I became a Christian about 15 years ago now. I had been brought up in a Christian home but left the faith when I was 18 years old. After years trying to figure life out, it was heartbreak that led me back to God. I felt lost and confused and had so many life questions.
I visited a local church and signed up for their Alpha course. This was a fantastic way to help me to explore the questions I had in a safe and welcoming environment whilst learning more about the Christian faith. It was transformative for me and shortly after I gave my life to God and got baptised in front of my family and friends.
I have not looked back. It was the best decision I made!
How does your faith impact the way you run your business as a wedding planner?
Natasha: Running a wedding planning business over the last 7 years hasn’t always been easy, but my faith has been my anchor. It’s given me the strength to push through challenges, especially during the pandemic when weddings came to a halt. Prayer has been essential—not just for my business, but for my couples and their marriages. Having a network of like-minded suppliers who share similar values has also been a huge support to me.
I see myself as a huge cheerleader for marriage. Yes, I help couples bring their dream weddings to life, but more importantly, I’m honoured to play a part in launching them into the beautiful journey of married life. Marriage rocks!
Also for me, trust, integrity, and transparency are non-negotiables. For example, some wedding planners earn commissions from suppliers that they recommend. I don’t take kickbacks for recommendations. My focus is solely on what’s best for the couple—matching them with wedding suppliers who truly fit their vision.
It’s about their big day, not my bottom line. My faith keeps me grounded, guides my decisions, and reminds me why I do what I do as a wedding planner: to serve my couples with honesty and my heart.
What would you say is the best way for a Christian couple to start planning their wedding?
Natasha: My top 5 tips for a Christian couple starting to plan their wedding are:
1. Pray first
Before diving into the minefield of Pinterest or researching suppliers, take time to pray together. Ask God for guidance, wisdom, and peace as you begin this journey.
I also recommend that couples don’t just plan your wedding—pray through it. Invite God into every decision. Take time to pray for each other too, as well as your marriage. It’s easy to get caught up in the wedding details, but prayer helps you stay focused on what truly matters: celebrating your love and commitment.
2. Agree on your priorities
I cannot stress this enough—taking time at the beginning to discuss what matters most to you about your wedding is key. Agree on what you will not compromise on.
Is it a meaningful ceremony? Creating an unforgettable experience for your guests? Where you will get married? Make sure the two of you are clear on your priorities because everyone (usually with good intentions) will make suggestions about your wedding. But please remember—a wedding is about the two of you.
3. Set your budget
Money chats can be challenging, so tackle it early. Pray over your finances and create a realistic budget (always factor in for contingencies).
Also, if anyone is contributing financially to your wedding, find out how much influence they will have on wedding decisions. It’s tough, but ask so that expectations are clear.
Also, remember—a luxury wedding doesn’t have to mean excess. Splurge on the things that matter most to you (like a stunning venue or an amazing photographer) while saving on areas that are less important (like elaborate favours or excessive decor).
4. Build a support team
Surround yourself with people who share your values—whether it’s a faith-based wedding planner, a pastor, or trusted friends and family. Their support and advice can be invaluable.
5. Incorporate your faith
Think about how you can weave your faith into your wedding day—whether it’s through worship songs, scripture readings, or a prayerful ceremony. Let your wedding reflect the love and grace God has shown you.
What are some ways couples can demonstrate their faith in their ceremony and reception, whilst also being respectful towards those with differing views?
Natasha: Your wedding ceremony is the perfect opportunity to showcase who you both are and share your faith. You can make it a deeply personal and meaningful time.
For example, including your pastor within your ceremony to officiate or share a message, having someone read a scripture or blessing that is important to you. A couple that I worked with included a praise and worship section within their ceremony, which was such a joyful and memorable part of their day.
Also, as a multicultural wedding planner, I do suggest to couples to also consider having family members participate in symbolic rituals, creating a sense of unity and connection. Most guests will respect how you wish to honour your beliefs in a way that aligns with the two of you.
Within your wedding reception, you have opportunities to represent your beliefs, from simply getting someone to bless the food before you eat it, acknowledging God, to naming each table after a fruit of the spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, etc.—paired with a relevant scripture. We did this at our wedding, and it was a great conversation starter with guests.
A fun thing to do is to ask your DJ or MC to invite the three longest-married couples in the room to provide quick marriage wisdom/tips that you both (and your guests) can learn from too.
Plus, your music choices are also a fantastic way to showcase your faith, including some upbeat worship songs to keep the vibe joy-filled and meaningful.
What’s one thing you wish more Christian couples knew when planning their wedding?
Natasha: You do not need to compromise or hide your faith to have your dream wedding. Embrace who you are and your beliefs, and let that shine through throughout your day.
Don’t be limited to what others say. For example, if you are not getting married at a church, a registrar will say you can’t have scripture readings or a Christian song during your ceremony.
Remember—you do have options. You could have the registrar do the legal part and then they leave, and your pastor can provide a blessing afterwards. Or consider booking an independent celebrant who does not have these restrictions and can include any faith songs, scripture readings, traditions, or rituals that you desire so that you can have the most meaningful ceremony that reflects your faith.
Finally, what would you say to a couple that is thinking of exploring who Jesus is?
Natasha: Absolutely take that step! Exploring who Jesus is is a journey—one that I am still on.
One of the most important things to do is start reading a Bible to get to know more about Jesus for yourself. Start with the New Testament—reading Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—to learn about Jesus’ life and his teachings.
Or hop online—there are great Bible apps available with reading plans to kick-start your learning. Visit a local church together, which will also help you to discover who Jesus is and be welcomed into the church community.
Some churches run courses (like Alpha or New Life) which are fantastic opportunities to ask questions about the Christian faith. Join those courses and get answers to the questions you may have.
As you explore who Jesus is, start praying. Even if you’re not sure what to say, it doesn’t have to be a long prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God to build a relationship with Him. Be honest and heartfelt. Thank Him, ask Him to reveal who He is to you, and He will.
Exploring faith is different for everyone—but like marriage, it is a journey, not a race. So go for it!
Planning a wedding is proper exciting, but sometimes overwhelming. As Natasha has shared the best ways for a Christian couple to start planning their wedding, keeping faith at the centre for those that it means something to can bring so much peace and meaning to the process. Whether you’re just starting or finalising details, her advice highlights the importance of prayer, priorities, and staying true to what matters most—your commitment to each other and to God.
If you’re looking for a wedding planner who truly understands how to weave faith into your big day while making the whole process seamless and stress-free, be sure to connect with Natasha at Pearline Events. And if you’re still searching for a photographer to capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments who shares your Christ-centred values, I’d love to hear your story and help bring your wedding vision to life. Get in touch, and let’s make your day unforgettable!
