Although there may have been rare exceptions due to circumstances of war, Christian persecutions, or the destruction of a temple, the basic answer to your question is NO; Orthodox Christians are to be married in a Church, and here’s why:
Marriage in the Orthodox Faith is considered a sacrament of the Church and must always be treated with the greatest respect and highest dignity. It is the solemn joining together of man and woman into “one flesh” through union with Jesus Christ and is an important moment in the lives of two Christians who are both seeking salvation.
We seem to live in an era where marriage is often treated and taken way too lightly. Instead of absolute concepts like love, trust, and fidelity, many view it merely as a “temporary arrangement” instead of the “sacred commitment” that it is. The idea that weddings are simply an “event” as opposed to a “sacrament” is underscored every time we hear of couples exchanging vows while they parachute from airplanes, get married underwater, say “I Do” atop their favorite roller coaster, or when we watch a wedding party dance outlandishly down the aisle on You Tube.
The Church understands marriage to be an honorable and solemn covenant between a man and a woman. Christ’s presence at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee confirms this fact and serves as a reminder as to its importance; especially since this is where our Lord also performed His very first miracle!
The rich symbolism found in the wedding service emphasizes the strong and lasting ties that bind husband and wife together. The exchanging of rings, the crowning, the drinking from a common cup, and the procession around the Gospel Book – literally their “first steps” as husband and wife – have far greater meaning than simply being “nice touches” to punctuate an elaborate ceremony. Each of these is a deep, defining, and pivotal reminder that this couple is now united into one mind and one flesh with a single purpose in Christ for all of eternity. The fact that the wedding takes place within the confines of the Temple’s structure – God’s Own House, as it were – only helps to accentuate this fact.
Getting married in Church also becomes a sign of couple’s humility for it keeps the greater focus upon Jesus Christ. In a sense, one might even go so far as to say that the Sacrament of marriage is more about Christ than the couple; for who could be more important than the One in whom the couple are both to be joined? It is as if they come before God, saying, “Lord, this wedding is about You, not us; bless our union and make it holy in Your Name!”
