If you’ve been to a traditional wedding in your day, there’s a good chance the priest or preacher or minister said at some point that this was the time to speak up if you had any reason the couple should not be wed, or forever hold your peace.
No one ever says anything, and in my experience, the statement is made and the officiant typically goes on without much of a pause, even.
Apparently sometimes people do object, though, and not just in Taylor Swift songs or their fantasies – these 15 people have stories, and you’re gonna want to hear them.
15. Pretty epic.
Went to a wedding for some friends of mine. Beautiful bride and awesome groom where saying the vows.
Unbeknownst to the family, the bride’s ex-boyfriend snuck into the church all dressed up as a guest and blended in. Priest says his line, and the ex boyfriend stands up and says “I object!”
Some of the male family members escorted the guy out of the church by his feet and his back and head dragging on the ground. Was pretty epic.
14. It’s easier to see from the outside.
During one of my sister’s weddings my sister in law leaned over and right when they said their vows whispered to me “I give it 6 months.”
D**n you could’ve set a clock by it, dead on.
13. I have SO many questions.
I was singing at a wedding once (hired in, did not know the couple at all) and when we got to this bit of the service, a dude said “yes, I have something to say”. The minister called him up to the front, and the couple, guy who spoke up, minister and best man went into the vestry. Everyone in the congregation was just dead silent.
After about 5 mins, the best man came out, and said “Sorry everyone, it’s off. Please feel free to go to the reception if you like, it’s all paid for, but no wedding today.” Obviously the congregation, who knew and presumably loved the couple, were really upset.
If those are your pals, that’s an awful thing, and you’d be worried about them. In the choir, however, we were LOVING the drama. We got paid, so we weren’t too fussed about going home early!
Still have no idea what the complainer said sadly, but we had fun speculating on the way home!
12. Some people just like the drama.
Always cough, scrape a chair on the floor and look around. It adds to the experience!
Had an uncle loudly clear his throat at that question. The stodgy old Baptist minister excused him from the service.
11. But what about the DRAMA?
That’s a jerk move, though. If you have something to say or negative information, clear the air before the wedding. He probably caused a lot of extra unnecessary hurt.
If you tell the bride or groom important information (like news of cheating or crimes or something) ahead of time and they still want to start the wedding to make a show of it in front of everyone, then that’s their choice. But anyone besides the bride or groom should have the talk with the bride or groom beforehand.
And, hey, maybe he did do that, and the groom wanted to play it out the way they did for the drama. But it seems somewhat unlikely.
10. Possible legal issues.
I was recently married. I asked this of my officiant. They never dealt with it, but they’ve seen it. Protocol for them (state laws, religious views, and other factors can effect how it is played) is to pause.
Take person who raises concern, and bride/groom to private chambers for chat. Most of the time it’s nothing, and they move on. Occasionally a party is legally below marriage age, or already married, in which case things are called off
9. That’s one way to interrupt.
Not exactly at that part. However while saying the vows. My family is sitting on those wooden bench chairs. So certain sounds echo. My uncle farted so hard I felt the rumble on the other side of the bench. The bride was visibly ultra fucking pissed.
The rest of the ceremony and all of us were trying hard not to laugh. Good times.
8. A good yarn.
I heard a story once about some woman that was going around the country, using different aliases, and marrying a multitude of men, something like 8 or so.
The part that got me laughing is that apparently, a detective had gotten into the church, and waited for that moment, then announced that she was married to x other men. Then arrested her for tax fraud.
I have no idea if this is true or not, but I love the story anyway.
7. Adorable for sure.
A cute one I saw:
Pastor: “…Speak now, or forever hold your peace!”
Little kid, maybe 6 years old. “Stop!”
He then ran up to the groom handed him a small jewelry box, and said, “You forgot the ring.”
The kid wasn’t loud, but you could hear a pin drop in the church.
He ran back to his seat, and at his mother’s prompting, he said, “Okay you can go on.”
Everyone just lost it laughing, and it was a couple of minutes before the pastor could continue.
6. It’s a holdover.
Back in the day the records were just kept in the church.
There wasn’t a database or anything, and if someone got married somewhere else, then left, people a few counties over might not know.
There are stipulations about how ‘the bans’ (intent to marry) must be published in both parties’ home churches several weeks prior to give time for investigation and people to travel to prevent unlawful marriage.
5. How curious.
My father has done many weddings and he says usually he’ll ask the couple if they want it reworded so nobody says anything but he said one time the couple said it was fine and nobody was gonna say anything.
Cut to the wedding, my father asks the question and one of the groomsmen steps forward (I think it was the groom’s cousin) and goes into a big long speech about how they shouldn’t get married without really explaining why he thought so other then don’t get married. He finally finished and my father said the groom looked like he was gonna murder the man and the bride just looked shocked.
My father ended up asking them if they wanted to continue and they both agreed so they finished the ceremony. My father said the last time he saw the couple they signed the marriage certificate and neither seemed mad at each other and he still has no clue why the guy objected other than he objected.
4. Nobody appreciates a good joke anymore.
At his own wedding my brother responded with “don’t worry, she isn’t here”.
Very funny, but he got a ticking off from the registrar.
3. Information that could have been brought up yesterday.
I was in a wedding recently where this same thing happened (Groom’s nephew of the same age said they shouldn’t marry).
After the awkwardness and the ceremony continued he told me and 2 of the other groomsman that she had started using meth.
That seems like something you’d bring up with the groom beforehand, rather than putting him on the spot.
Or maybe at least explain the reason you’re objecting when you’re objecting.
2. No great loss.
When my parents got married, my dad’s whole family loudly stormed out at that point as my mum was originally a Protestant.
He has 10 siblings so I imagine it was pretty awful and long winded.
They’ve been married 40 years though and we don’t speak to that side of the family, no great loss.
1. Just a (slightly dangerous) joke.
Saw a video of a couple who was having a wild west themed wedding.
When the minister asked the question a guy stood up and objected.
The bride grabbed the groom’s revolver, shot a blank at him and asked if anyone else had something to say before the now dead objector was hauled out.
It was a joke and everybody was in on it so it actually was kind of funny.
These are awfully fun to read but honestly I don’t think I could ever do something like this.
Have you? Have you witnessed it? If so, let us hear your tale in the comments!
