What some couples want in a ceremony borders on the bizarre.

"Can we include the song, 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' in our wedding?"

The question did not catch me off guard. By this time in my ministry, I've been asked to make many changes to the traditional wedding ceremony, from "Can we have the wedding at the rodeo?" to "Can another couple be married at the same time?"

Certainly weddings ought to have a personal, even unique, flavor, because God has made each of us with different tastes. Yet, as soon as we begin to explore the innovative possibilities, we have to match them up against some theological criteria to see if they really are appropriate for a Christian blessing of marriage.

Four checkpoints

Here are some questions to consider as wedding innovations are suggested:

Does the addition glorify God and uphold the grace of the gospel? Since God initiated marriage, he should at least have center stage. The ceremony is a time to worship him for who he is, what he has created, and what ...