Phaneroo Ministries weds 46 couples in inaugural ‘boutique wedding’; Apostle Grace Lubega says marriage is a covenant, not an event

Forty-six couples exchanged vows last Friday as Phaneroo Ministries International hosted its inaugural “Boutique Wedding,” a grand, fully-sponsored ceremony designed by Apostle Grace Lubega to redefine marital commitment by emphasizing that marriage is a divine covenant, not a costly social event.

The colourful ceremony, held at the Phaneroo Grounds in Naguru, Kampala, drew hundreds of family members, friends, and church partners who gathered to witness the ministry’s “first fruit of Phaneroo boutique weddings.”

Apostle Grace Lubega explained that the initiative was conceived to remove the financial constraints that often delay believers ready to marry, pushing back against the culture of extravagant public spectacle.

“There is nothing biblical in delaying people who are ready to marry,” Apostle Grace told the cheering crowd. “If a man has sufficiency to run his home, no scripture forbids him to marry. Many live in sin while waiting to afford a wedding, and that is not good.”

A Covenant Before Crowd

The Boutique Wedding model sharply contrasts with traditional Ugandan ceremonies, which often involve large budgets and extensive guest lists. Each of the 46 couples was joined by a select group of ten invited family members, keeping the focus intimate and sacred. Crucially, the ministry, financed by its partners and members, not only organized the entire event but also sent all newlyweds off on their honeymoons.

Apostle Grace stressed that the lavishness of a ceremony does not confirm the depth of love.

“We wanted this to honour your commitment to God but also to show the world that even a wedding of ten people can still be beautiful,” he noted. “You don’t need 400 or 1,000 guests to prove love. Even Adam and Eve’s wedding had no crowd, yet they led life together.”

He reiterated his core message: true marriage is a spiritual commitment witnessed before God, not a public performance.

“A covenant is built between two people with witnesses and a spiritual authority. Everything beyond that is an event,” he stated. “Some people have been waiting to have enough to hold big weddings, yet it’s more important to honour the covenant before God.”

The Three Keys to a God-Sustained Marriage

During his address, Apostle Grace provided the couples with essential spiritual guidance, outlining the three keys necessary to sustain a God-focused marriage beyond the wedding day excitement.

1. Prayer: He named prayer as the first and most important key, calling it the “glue that keeps a marriage from falling apart.” He instructed couples: “When couples pray together, they invite God to govern their home. Prayer restores peace where emotions fail.”
2. Communication: The second key addresses the danger of emotional distance. Apostle Grace observed that many homes break due to silence, not lack of love. “Learn to talk and to listen. Speak your hearts to one another and be quick to forgive. Love thrives where there is honesty.”
3. A Shared Vision: Finally, the Apostle emphasized unity in purpose. “You cannot walk together unless you agree,” he said. “A husband and wife must see the same future and submit to the same God. When your vision is one, no challenge can divide you.”

Following the vows and the powerful message, Apostle Grace blessed the couples, declaring fruitfulness and stability over their new homes.

The historic day concluded with a vibrant celebratory reception hosted at the Phaneroo Grounds. By evening, the 46 couples were dispatched to their honeymoon destinations, marking the successful close of an event that Apostle Grace Lubega promised would be the first of many to come.

“Marriage is not an event, it’s a covenant,” he concluded. “And when that covenant begins with God, it will stand the test of time.”