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We love celebrating couples and families in all of our churches. Each of our church buildings offers a unique and wonderful setting in which to commit (or recommit) the rest of your lives to your loved one before God and your friends and family. You are welcome to inquire to the vicar about marriage (or about a wedding blessing following a civil marriage). We can also offer a thanksgiving (vow renewal) service for those couples wishing to celebrate their continued marriage after a number of years, or after significant life events or difficulties. For current fees for marriage services in 2024, please see the Church of England table of fees (here). For couples looking for a wedding blessing or thanksgiving service, please speak to the vicar about fees directly.
Please make sure, if applying to be married (or to have a blessing following a registry office wedding), that you prioritise your marriage service, and speak with the vicar before booking a venue. We are blessed to welcome all sorts of life events and services of worship in our churches, and whilst will will always try to help couples who have already booked a reception venue, we can't always guarantee that the church and vicar are both free.
To enquire about a marriage, scroll down to our wedding enquiry form. To ask about a wedding blessing or thanksgiving for marriage, please contact the vicar directly. If you want to read more about what to expect when meeting the vicar, read on!
To read more about inclusivity and marriage in the Church of England, please follow this link: Just engaged | The Church of England. Many of our churches are signed up to Inclusive Church, and whilst we're waiting for a time when we can celebrate a richer picture of marriage in the Church of England, all couples are welcome to contact the vicar, who will help you to find a church or minister of another denomination who can support you if, for any reason, we are unable to marry you at this time.
Meeting the Vicar? What to expect...
Meeting the vicar is the first step of planning your wedding, and we recommend that you make contact as soon as you can after you're engaged. The vicar's primary role is to help you to prepare for your life-long marriage, not just for your wedding day, and she will usually be able to check your qualifications to marry in the church you've applied for, and give you an immediate yes, as well as set the date, at your first meeting, if you all agree that a church wedding is right for you. Divorce is not necessarily a barrier to marrying in Church, but the vicar will ask to have a confidential conversation with you, if this applies, to make sure that you're ready for this next step and that you and your future spouse feel comfortable talking with each other about your previous relationships.
Your first meeting with the vicar might be at her house or at yours. We have to certify your identity, so video calls are not normally an option.
What to bring with you to your first meeting:
Proof of a qualifying connection to the Parish (depending on where you live, this could be proof of address, or date of your baptism or your parents' marriage in the church).
A form of ID that shows your place of birth (usually a passport or a combination of Driving License and Birth Certificate).
Any burning questions you have about marriage or your wedding day!
A Blend of Tradition and Personality
Couples have been marrying in some of our churches for over 1000 years!
Much of the service has stayed the same, as have the symbols of marriage, such as the taking of hands and giving of rings. There are some things that a wedding has to include, like the liturgy (the words the vicar uses to conduct the service), the use of a bible reading, Christian prayers, and specific wedding vows. However, each couple is unique, and the wedding service, or blessing or thanksgiving service, can reflect that uniqueness in other ways. such as music choice, decoration, activities for children and adults, and atmosphere. We always encourage you to choose friends and family members to do readings, and sometimes to lead the prayers if they have a Christian faith.
Speak to the vicar about your passions as a couple and what you're hoping for on your wedding day, and we'll support you in making it special and personal.
Marriage FAQs
Can I get married in any church?
Couples approaching Marriage must have a qualifying connection to their local church. Usually this is through a length of time spent living in the parish, but it might also be that a parent has been married in the parish, or lives there, or that you were baptised in the parish church. Speak to our Benefice administrator if you're unsure.
What is Marriage Preparation
The vicar's duty in marrying couples is to make sure you're both committed to a life-long relationship. Marriage is not a special day, but the rest of your lives, and so we take time to make sure you're able to talk openly with one another and others about your hopes for the future, your family values, any previous relationships, and the role that the wedding day plays in your life. If you are approaching marriage in one of our parishes and live further away, you might be able to find a marriage preparation course in your local church. Otherwise you will need to make about 6 visits to the vicarage outside of busy weekends like Christmas, Easter and Mothering Sunday.
Can anyone take the service?
Church of England Canon Law requires services to be led by an Authorised Anglican Minister. In the case of Marriage, this means that the local vicar, or a local retired priest, will take your service. Occasionally it's possible to invite friends or family members who are ordained or licensed in ministry (within a church that is in communion with the Church of England) to take part in the service, in which case we check their safeguarding credentials with their local Bishop's office. Invitations are always at the discretion of the Rector.
Does the service have to be Christian?
Yes, in short. All services in church are first and foremost Christian worship.
However, if you are marrying someone from a different faith background, or if you don't have a faith but feel a strong connection to marriage in church, then this is something to discuss with the vicar. We cannot hold an act of worship for another faith within our church building, by law, but we can find ways to incorporate elements of other faiths, or marriage traditions that might have come from other faiths, cultures or denominations.
If you are marrying someone from another Christian denomination, such as the Roman Catholic Church, make sure you speak to your partner's local minister as well. We are always happy to invite our colleagues from local Christian denominations to be present and to take part in services.
Will children and dogs be welcome?
Yes! We have lots of ideas for making children more comfortable in church, including providing them with bubbles during the service, or special colouring books about marriage. You are welcome to bring a jar of dog treats, too, but we do ask that all reactive dogs are left at home.
Is there a church florist?
Some of our churches have their own florists, who charge like any florist would. Ask the Vicar at your marriage prep.
How much does a church wedding cost?
People often have to wait a long time until they are financially able to get married but the wedding service itself is usually the lowest cost on your wedding day. It is almost always cheaper than the dress! You can find a link above to the parochial fees sheet for more information.
Vicars are not paid for taking a wedding service, so they are more than happy to help you understand the fees, and it's usually possible to pay in instalments before the wedding.
If you are worried about being able to afford a wedding, then before you book a venue or caterer for your reception, speak to the vicar about local options that might be more affordable. The simplest option for a smaller wedding party is to have your wedding service in church and to follow it with tea and cake in the church or in the churchyard if it is nice. All things are possible!
The vicar has seen lots of couples get married and may be able to help you to find local florists, photographers, drivers and affordable venues.
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