Wedding

Congratulations

We are delighted that you are considering celebrating your wedding at our church.

Your wedding day is a joyful celebration of your love and commitment to one another,

and we would be honoured to share in this important moment with you.

We will work closely with you to help make your service personal, meaningful, spiritual and beautiful—

a day that reflects who you are as a couple and the promises you are making together.

Your first step is to contact us

We would be pleased to hear about your plans, answer your questions

and help you begin preparing for your wedding.

Church weddings must comply with both UK civil law and the law of the Church of England.
This means that certain legal and practical requirements must be fulfilled.
Normally, you will need to have a qualifying connection with the parish
or attend worship regularly for at least six months before your wedding.

The information below explains the process
and will guide you through the practical and legal steps involved.

Your wedding ceremony

You do have choices in how your wedding ceremony shapes up. It is your wedding after all.

We can help you make choices about your hymns, music and the readings you would like.
You have choices about who does the readings and prayers,
which can involve your family and friends.

It’s up to you what you wear and whether you have one ring or two.

If the church and the Vicar are free, you can marry on any day of the week.

Flowers

We can put you in touch with our church flower team,

however you are free to use your own florist.

Planning your wedding

At least Six months before

We will arrange to see you and fill in the wedding form with details of your names and addresses, occupation...

You will be asked to bring proof of your identity and your current address.

If your address changes between booking your wedding and your wedding please let us know immediately.

Your Banns

Your banns will be called on three consecutive Sundays at one of our Sunday services within the 3 months prior to your wedding.

If you don’t live in the parish you will need your Banns called in our church AND in the parish where you live. It is your responsibility to ensure that your Banns are called where you live. We will arrange for your Banns to be called here in St. James and let you know the dates.

Rehearsal

We will organise a rehearsal with you in the week prior to your wedding. We will take you through the wedding service, what to say, where to stand and what order it all happens.

Qualifying Connections

In 2005 the law changed to allow couples to marry in a parish where they have a qualifying connection.

Qualifying connections:

That one of you:

lives in the parish or
is on the church's electoral roll or
has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
was baptised in the parish concerned or
was prepared for confirmation in the parish or
has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church
for a period of at least 6 months or

That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:

has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months or
has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months or

That one of your parents or grandparents:

was married in the parish

If you don’t live in the parish or have a qualifying connection then it may still be possible for you to marry in this parish. You will need to become a regular attendee at a Sunday service, attending services at least for a minimum of 6 months prior to your banns being read.