Marriage is a special time where two people make a commitment to love and support one another for the rest of their lives. A church wedding provides a personal and spiritual experience where you receive God’s blessing in the presence of your family and friends.
All Saints Church is a beautiful building, and we can accommodate large and small weddings.
There are lots of things to do when planning a wedding. The earlier you contact us the better. We will help with advance planning and, if asked, booking of services such as Organist, Choir Quartet, Bell Ringers, Parish Centre, and services that will help to ensure that your special day is a day to remember.
The first thing to do is contact the parish office.
Email us | Tel. 01628 621933
The parish office will send you an application form to complete. Once we have this, we will contact you to discuss your marriage application.
More information about weddings in church can be found on The Church of England website. https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/your-church-wedding
We run a shared Marriage preparation course with The Church of the Good Shepherd and St Luke’s and that tends to happen on one Saturday early in the year. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in attending.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves. Romans 12:9-10
Marriage Legal Requirements
There are certain requirements when marrying in a church to ensure the marriage complies with both uk civil and church law.
In marriage you take on a whole new legal status. The following provides a guide to these requirements, they are not all inclusive and you will need to check these with the church before making any arrangements. If you have any questions, please contact us.
- You must be over 16 years old. If you are under 18 years old you will need your parents’ consent to marry.
- If neither of the couple live in the parish there are circumstances that allow you to marry in a church. These include the couple or their parents previously living in the parish, are regular worshippers in the church, have they or their parents been baptised in the church or were their parents married in the church.
- The wedding must take place between 8am and 6pm on any day.
- There are special guidelines on marriage in the church if you are divorced. There may well be a way forward, that the vicar can review with you.
Reading of Banns
Banns of marriage are to be be read before the wedding can take place. They should be arranged about four months before your wedding. If there is not enough notice given for the banns to be read prior to the marriage, or in the case of people who do not live in England or Wales, it is recommended that the Licence procedure be used.
Licences
There are some circumstances in which you may need a Special Licence, Common Licence or a Marriage Schedule from the register office to marry in church.
Documents
- Passports will be needed as proof of nationality. If you do not have a passport, there are other documents which would be acceptable.
- If you are divorced, you will need to present your decree absolute.
- We may require evidence of your connection to the church, such as utility bills, to show you live or have lived in the parish.