FOR most people eight days in a relationship isn't even long enough to start using terminology such as 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend'. But for James Kent it was all the time he needed to get down on one knee and propose to Rachel Kiesling a year ago. When the happy Gold Coast couple say 'I do' this month, they will join the increasing number of couples kicking the traditional church wedding when they marry at Cascade Gardens on October 23.

So far this year only 35 per cent of weddings have taken place in a church, compared to 85 per cent in the 1970s, according to a survey commissioned by Australia Marriage Celebrants. A wedding planning business owner said the trend for couples to opt for smaller casual weddings was forcing her business to expand further into the corporate market. She said the business had a full-time planner organising 35 weddings a year when the business opened three years ago. This year the company is only planning 15 weddings. "Church weddings are fading and can be expensive," she said. "For a beach wedding you only need council approval or many hotels will include the ceremony for free as long as the reception is at the same location.

Gold Coast marriage celebrant Carol May said she had noticed a stronger trend towards garden weddings over beachfront ceremonies as well.

This was also evident in the survey, with 38 per cent of respondents opting for a garden wedding, 20 per cent choosing the beach, while others went for locations such as boats, parks or even their homes.

Australian Marriage Celebrants president Keith Lammond said many couples felt uncomfortable pretending to have religious beliefs in order to marry in a church.
 
"Some even say they feel dishonest or hypocritical in considering a church wedding," he said. "Couples are seeing the appeal of having a personalised marriage in a location of their choice."James, 24, and Rachel, 17, said they had not even considered a church as they wanted a 'nice casual wedding that was all about us'.

James and Rachel, who turns 18 this weekend, have planned all the elements of the wedding -- including Rachel making her own bouquets. reception set for Jupiters Casino. They have been planning the wedding for just under a year after meeting each other through friends.

"We knew it was right from the start, even though everyone has commented on us being so young," said Rachel. "We decided on a small family wedding and a nice big honeymoon instead."