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 If you have arrived at
this page because you have decided to become husband and wife, may
we offer our heartiest congratulations! We wish you a joyous and
memorable Wedding Day, and a long, happy and fulfilled marriage.
We believe
that a decision to hold the service in Church, seeking God’s
blessing, is the best start your marriage can have. Indeed,
marriage is a gift from God, and we at St. Michael’s are
committed to supporting you as you prepare for your wedding and
as you set out on the adventure of your future life together.
You have lots
to do, and it’s so difficult to know where to start! But once
you’ve told family and friends your wonderful news, and
they’ve all asked to see the engagement ring, their next
question will be: “When are you getting married?”! Even that
decision will often depend on where the wedding will take place
– you’ll want to speak to the people at the Church, and also
to the venue for your Reception, without delay!
So please do
contact us, by telephoning the Church Office on (01206) 228124
or
e-mailing
us -see the forms at the bottom of the
page.
But right now, you probably have lots of
questions in your mind. Let's see if we can anticipate a few!
Click on the question, and you'll see our answers below.
Can we get married in St. Michael's?
...even if we don't go to Church?
What happens when we contact you?
What will the service be like?
What about the music?
What will it cost?
What else should we be thinking about?
What do I do next?
Can we get married in St.
Michael's?
It's now a lot easier than it used to be, for a couple to marry in the Church of England Church of
their choice.
To be married in St. Michael's Church, it's fine
if either of you lives in the Parish. If not, the new rules (and
you'll have to provide proof of one of these) are:
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If either of you were baptised at St. Michael's
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If either of you have ever lived in the Parish
for 6 months or more
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If either of you have at any time worshipped at
St. Michael's for 6 months or more
Or if you can prove one of the following:
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One of your parents or grandparents was married
at St. Michael's
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One of your parents lived in the Parish for 6
months or more, in their child's lifetime
Being divorced does not necessarily mean that we
will not marry you. Please ask.
...even if we don't go to
Church?
Some couples tell us they felt like hypocrites,
because they would like to get married in Church, but haven't
thought about God for a while. We don't think that way! Please
be assured that God understands, and wishes to welcome you and
bless you; and so do we! The Church is a key part of the
community, at the centre of daily life, and is the traditional
place to gather for the important occasions in our lives.
What happens when we
contact you?
No doubt
you’ll tell us your preferred date for the wedding, and
we’ll confirm whether the date is free in the Church diary.
We’ll then send you a Banns Application Form to complete and
return with the deposit payable. We will tell you what the
current fees are. We will then arrange for the priest who will
be marrying you to meet you both, probably at his home. He’ll
take you through everything you need to know, and help you make
all the decisions about the service. There’ll be lots to talk
about, but we’ve jotted down a few things below to help you prepare.
But don’t think you have to make decisions before you meet us
– we’ll help you to decide.
What will the Service
be like?
The Service
is in modern language, but you could elect to have a service
with traditional words, dating back to 1662. You could see the
text of the modern service on the Church of England’s Website,
by clicking here.
The Priest
will explain the decisions you can make – for instance, you may wish to involve family and
friends in the service, singing, reading a poem or a reading
from the Bible. You can choose Bible readings, and may also
write your own prayers to include in the service.
The Priest
will also discuss and explain the vows you are to take,
who will
be the official witnesses to the ceremony, and there'll be a
rehearsal so that everyone is happy with the plans for your big
day.
The service would normally last about 35 minutes,
depending on what you choose to include.
What
about the music?
You will need
to decide what music you would like played as the bride enters
and you both leave.
You may also like to
have a hymn, or possibly two. It can be difficult to choose, but
if you
surf to one of several helpful sites such as
www.weddingguideuk.com, you'll be able to see
the words and even hear them!
Music is often played during the signing of the
registers - our organist can choose it with you, or for you; we
could even play suitable music from a CD through our sound
system.
A good way to decide on
the music is to chat to our organist after service on a Sunday
Morning, and our priest will also be pleased to help you choose
when he meets you.
What will it cost?
We ask for a non-refundable deposit of £90, and
then it depends on your specific requirements (the
organist's fee, etc), but the total cost would not normally
exceed £550.
What else should we be
thinking about?
Don't worry; we'll ask you when we see you - but
you could consider:
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What time would you like the wedding to start?
Make sure the light will still be good for photographs
afterwards!
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Are you going to
have an Order of Service printed? We’ll advise you on the best
way to approach that. Or you can use ours.
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Would you like us to
ring the Church bells?
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Have you booked a
photographer? We'll make sure he gets the best shots!
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Will you be having
the service videoed? There are copyright matters to consider.
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Will you be
providing flowers to decorate the Church? We can advise you on
what will look good.
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How many
Bridesmaids, Ushers & Pages will you have?
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Who’s your “Best
Man”, and is anyone "giving away" the bride?
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How many people are
likely to attend (useful for reserving seats etc)?
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What time will the reception start? Is there
just the right time in between the service and the reception,
for photographs, travel, etc?
As the day
approaches
At your
meeting with the priest, you will receive a leaflet with a
checklist of important tasks, and a booklet with lots of
guidance and advice. And of course we’ll be here to answer
your questions, and to share your excitement! In the days before
the wedding, there’ll be a rehearsal, and we expect all the
important people to attend so that we can all be sure the
service will go well.
From this day
forward….
When your
Wedding Day is a blissful memory and you are now husband and
wife, remember that the Church is still here for you! It will be
a pleasure to support you as members of the Church family, and
to share with you in your joys and challenges.
Now – why
not make contact with us?
Ring us on 01206 228124….
e-mail us -
or
why not print off the forms below and send them to us?
We look forward to seeing you. God bless!
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