Weddings

First of all, congratulations on your engagement.

We’re so pleased that you are checking out your local church as a potential venue for your marriage ceremony. There are many things you get from marrying in a church that you cannot get from any other wedding venue.

Preparing for marriage. As a church we at St. Margaret’s believe in helping couples to begin their married life from a really secure and firm foundation. This is why we offer for free a marriage preparation day called “Marriage by Design” to all couples marrying at St. Margaret’s. It is held once or twice a year and details are sent after a booking is made. An introduction to this course is available on YouTube.
Some quotes from those who have attended a recent course include:

"I wish I had done these sessions before my first marriage, it might have made all the difference."
"We felt so welcome by yourselves, Kevin and everybody else who introduced themselves at church. We were a little unsure about what today might consist of but actually we had a lot of fun and really enjoyed it! It was lovely to reflect on our relationship, both strengths and areas we need to continue to build on."
"We just wanted to thank you for our wedding prep on Sunday, it was not only a very informative day, but a relaxing enjoyable day too. I think Marriage by Design should be a must for all couples preparing to get married".

A spiritual element. God’s blessing on your marriage is an attraction to couples no matter what your beliefs. God is with you all the way and wants to be involved in your loving relationship.
Vows. You make big vows in front of your family and friends. You can only make vows this big in a church. These vows will help you to stay together and grow together. God and St Margaret’s are there for you to help you keep your vows.
Making it personal. You’ll meet the Vicar fairly early on and he will want to get to know you a little before the ceremony and this means the most important part of your day can be made very personal, memorable, meaningful and beautiful by blending traditional with contemporary. You are involved at each step in planning your ceremony and you’ll also have a rehearsal before the big day to help put your nerves at rest – no other wedding celebrant offers this service.
The building. St. Margaret’s is a 12^th Century, Grade 1 listed church which has been well maintained and improved over many years. You can just imagine how many thousands of couples have said their vows on the spot you will say yours – amazing! The interior now is more modern to suit the church’s needs but the history is still very much there.
Making choices about your ceremony. You can be involved in making choices about your ceremony. We can offer an outline order of service to help you plan.
Special experience. For some people, a church simply seems like the proper place to get married. Churches can be described as ‘peaceful’, ‘serene’, or having an atmosphere that makes marrying there particularly special.
And after your wedding, you’ll realise that a church is more than simply a wedding venue. We’ll always be here for you.

What next?

Initially, please complete the enquiry form below and we will be in touch with you. Then come to a service one Sunday morning to meet the Vicar and his team before the booking is made and to check out the options available to you.

Important: Marriage Banns

Parliament has laid down that the publication of marriage banns is a legal requirement if you want to get married in the Church of England. It means the public announcement by the minister during a normal church service that two people wish to marry, and gives a chance for anyone in the congregation to put forward a legal reason why the wedding should not take place. This is extremely rare!

If you live in the streets in the parish, your banns will need to be read here whether you are getting married here or in another church. If you need us to read your banns, please contact the church office at least four months before your wedding day. There is a small fee payable. This is an essential legal requirement - no banns, no marriage! If you live in another parish and think you may be eligible to to be married here, you will need to have the banns read there too. The banns will be read at our main service at 10:30am on a Sunday morning, for three weeks in a row.

While you are waiting, why not look at some of the Bible passages that you can choose for a wedding service? Or have a look at some information about weddings from the Church Of England?

FAQs

One or both of us are divorced. Can we get married in the church?

Yes - but this is entirely at the discretion of the Vicar and you need to talk to him about this before a booking can be made. Attending the "Marriage by Design" course is also compulsory. Please contact the church office.

We don’t come to church; can we still get married there?

Yes, provided you fit into one of these categories and you can provide evidence where indicated *

One or both of you currently live in the parish of St. Margaret’s [Wolston, Brandon or Bretford] or St. Peter’s [Church Lawford & Kings Newnham] or lived here for at least 6 months during your lifetime. *
One parent has lived in the parish for at least 6 months. *
One of you was baptised or confirmed in the parish. *
A parent or grandparent were married at the church. *
Have worshiped at least twice a month in the parish for six months. *
Parents have worshipped regularly [at least twice a month] at the church for at least 6 months and/or are on the Electoral Role.

Do we have to be baptised and/or confirmed to marry in church?

No.

One of us is Roman Catholic. Can we get married in an Anglican Church?

Yes.

Can same sex couples get married in church?

Although same sex-marriage legislation is now in force, it remains the case that it is not legally possible for same-sex couples to marry in the Church of England.