The Methodist Church at National Wedding Show
08 April 2026
The Methodist Church is attending this year’s National Wedding Show, taking place at London Excel on Saturday, 11 April 2026. The National Wedding Show is the UK’s largest and most well-known wedding planning event.
With only 15 percent of weddings now taking place in a church, the Methodist Church feels many couples are missing out on the richness and beauty of a church wedding and the support it offers in creating a marriage, while same-sex couples may not be aware of the warm welcome on offer to them.
The Methodist Church is the fourth largest Christian denomination in the UK, with over 4,000 local churches across the country, and the largest Christian denomination in Britain that celebrates same-sex weddings.
“This is the first time we will be attending the National Wedding Show,” says Bryn Lauder, Festival Events Coordinator. “As an inclusive, loving and welcoming denomination we can't wait to invite couples to consider getting married in a Methodist Church.
“The Methodist Church offers a non-judgmental welcome to all.” says Bryn. "We believe marriage is deeper and richer than simply a contractual relationship and a church wedding service reflects the deeper meaning. In a Methodist wedding service, not only are promises made, but God’s blessing is invited and the couple held in the prayers of the whole community.”
You do not have to have a particular connection with a local Methodist church to get married there. The minister will normally invite couples to marriage preparation sessions, these might be a full course or an informal conversation to choose the music, Bible readings and any particular prayers, poems or other elements to include.
One couple who had undertaken a Methodist wedding commented, "Our wedding day helped establish a strong foundation for the kind of marriage we aspire to have, one with God firmly at the centre.”
The Methodist Church is attending the National Wedding Show as part of its outreach programme. This involves attending a number of events across the country, including the Durham Miners' Festival, and the Grand Prix at Silverstone.