Who wants to be married?
Alum Roy Lloyd recounts a memorable TV wedding

The Rev. Roy Lloyd

Well, Regis was there. But no million dollars. There was, however, a "happily ever after" aspect to the wedding I performed on the Regis and Kelly show on ABC-TV around Valentine’s Day, 2001. The couple from Wisconsin had a sad story: her apartment burned with treasures lost—family heirlooms, pictures, favorite articles—including a wedding dress. What to do? Ask for help.

And that’s how a Wisconsin couple was selected to be married on the show. Several parts of the equation were answered: who, what, where, when and why. All that remained was how?

I became the "how" since I’d done a wedding on the show the year before. All that I asked was what I’d asked a year earlier, namely, to do what I’d normally do in church, albeit a little quicker! "Of course," was the immediate answer.

I met three times with the couple, discussed all the normal things covered in such pre-marital conversations, planned the wedding from the vows to the readings from the Bible, learned of the deep involvement of both bride and groom in their churches, met their families, all of whom were ardent church members, and was convinced that this was a godly endeavor. I even took them to New York City’s marriage license bureau (we didn’t have to stand in line—the "fix" was in with the mayor) and we talked about hopes and dreams, apprehensions and anxieties.

We rehearsed the marriage service as one would in a church building. The wedding party had to negotiate steps, flowers, the slick runner on the steps. I had to avoid getting bopped in the head with the boom camera ("Stand on that X and you won’t be beaned on national TV.") I was attentive to those instructions!

And I told the couple to pay attention to me and to each other, to look into each other’s eyes as they held hands and to speak from their hearts. We were "in church." The TV studio would be a sacred space and the show’s personnel would just have to adjust to that.

And that’s how it went -- the couple surrounded by family and friends from Wisconsin, oblivious to cameras and lights, pledging their lives to each other before God.

Afterward, I received a significant number of compliments, and a bevy of complaints from people distressed that I had officiated at a wedding on national TV. "It should never be on TV, only in church."

My response? More people heard the words of the Bible and witnessed a truly religious wedding than in all of the congregations any of us would ever address in a lifetime. The requirements placed upon me by my church for thoughtful interaction with the couple were honored and I was convinced that God had worked through this opportunity to reach others through a spiritual moment. It was not a show. It was a church wedding that just happened to be televised.

What’s your opinion? I believe I was responsible in setting standards for my participation and praying, speaking and officiating as I always do at weddings.

Plus, I didn’t get conked!