Marriage

Your Wedding day will be a very important day for both of you and we are pleased that you have decided to make your Marriage Vows at a service in St. Paul's Church

As the date of your Wedding approaches, there will be lots of things to sort out. We hope the following information will be of help to you.

First Steps

Marriage arrangements are made at our Parish Office in the Parish Centre which is open on Tuesday mornings between 10am and 12noon and Friday evenings between 7pm and 8pm. To be married at St. Paul's the law requires that at least one of you must live within the Parish boundaries at the time of the calling of your banns, or that you are a regular worshipper at the Church. Any change of address or other personal details that occur after the booking should be communicated to the Parish Office.

Banns

Notice of your intended marriage has to be given by the 'reading of banns'. We will arrange for your banns to be read at St. Paul's but if either of you is living in another Parish during the three months up to your marriage, you must contact your local Vicar and ask him to publish your banns in his Parish Church. When your banns have been read three times, he will issue you with a banns certificate (there is a fee to pay). You must bring this certificate to the Parish Office at St. Paul's before your wedding can take place. It is best to contact your Vicar about three months before your wedding to ask for your banns to be read.

Your banns will be read at St. Paul's at the 10am service on three successive Sundays. We hope that you will make every effort to attend Church on these Sundays so that you can hear your names called and begin your preparations with regard to your Christian Marriage service.

Fees

Wedding fees are fixed at the beginning of each year by the Church. The fee for 2007 is £350 and includes everything such as Organist's fees, Vicar's fees, Registration of Marriage, payment to Church Council, Verger's fees, heating and lighting, Church maintenance and some flowers in the Church. A non-returnable deposit of £50 is payable when the wedding is initially booked. The remainder of the fees has to be paid at the Marriage Preparation meeting two months before the wedding date.

Forms of Service

We now use a new service of Marriage taken from the 'Common Worship' Prayer Book. The clergy will go through this service with you on your preparation evening. If you wish for any special prayers, readings or music to be included in the service, please bring your ideas to that evening. If you are having an order of service prepared, please first check the draft with one of the clergy.

Marriage Preparation

You will be asked to attend a Marriage Preparation session with the member of the clergy who is conducting your wedding. This will take place two months before your wedding and provides an opportunity for you to look at the service together in order to understand fully the vows and commitment you are about to undertake in Marriage, to choose your hymns and readings, and to sort out any queries with regard to the Church service. The clergy will be in touch with you to let you know the date, time and location of this session.

Flowers

There are flowers in Church throughout the year (except Lent), but if you would like extra arrangements on your wedding day, you are welcome to arrange and pay for these by contacting our Flower Lady Mrs. Jo Male on 024 7632 8668.

Photographers

We do not want your special service disturbed and so photographs are only allowed to be taken during the signing of registers and as you leave the Church.

Video Recordings

We do allow a video to be made of the wedding service provided the photographer films from a position agreed with the member of clergy and is discreet. Professional recorders require a copyright licence.

Music

It is usual to have one or two hymns at a wedding. We have a good variety in our Church hymnbook and the clergy are happy to help you make a choice.

Wedding Rehearsal

When you come to the Marriage Preparation session we will arrange a date and time for your wedding rehearsal. This is usually in the early evening a few days before your wedding.