Weddings
We are delighted that you are considering getting married at St Michael's. We believe that marriage is a gift from God. In the marriage ceremony, a man and woman make a public declaration of lifelong commitment to love each other, come what may. Many couples choose to be married in church because they wish to demonstrate before God that they are serious about the vows they are taking. When we invite God to be a part of this special day, we are asking for his blessing and strength to help us live out our promises.
We hope that you will find the following information helpful, but if you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact our wedding coordinators through the contact us page. If you decide to get married at St Michael's, as hundreds of couples have done for centuries, we will do all that we can to make your day special.
- As long as one of you fulfill at least one of the "Qualifying Connections", you have the right to be married at St Michael's. This applies to those who have not been baptised as well as to those who are not regular churchgoers. People of all denominations have a right to be married in their parish church (provided they have not been married before). So it doesn't matter from the Church of England's perspective. We welcome all such enquiries.
- Of course, we would be delighted to see you in church. Our regular Sunday morning services are here and if you come along you will be very welcome.
The Church of England believes that marriage is for life. However, it recognises that sadly, some marriages do fail. At St Michael's, we are willing to consider remarriage. You will need to make an appointment to see the Rector. He will want to talk to you frankly about your past and your hopes for the future. Even if it is not possible to do your wedding, we may be able to offer you a service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony.
- In the Church of England, the normal preliminary to getting married is by banns. Your banns will be called at the Sunday morning service for 3 Sundays, 2 months before your wedding. If either or both of you live in another parish, you will need to arrange for your banns to be called there as well. Under certain circumstances, a licence may be required, but we will discuss that with you when you contact us, if your circumstances make that appropriate.
- If you are under 18, you will need the consent of your parents.
Our fees for 2016 range from £562 for a simple wedding to £832 for a choral wedding with bells after the service and video. You may also wish to consider paying for heating and for extra flowers in the church. We allow photographers and videographers to take pictures during the service from specific standpoints, agreed with the Rector. The fees usually rise each year by approximately the rate of inflation.
We are always delighted if there are children in the congregation. For very small children there is a carpeted area at the back of church with some toys and books. If you have children of your own, the Rector will be pleased to discuss with you how they may play a special part in the day.
Weddings usually take place on a Saturday at 12 noon, 1.30pm or 3pm. However, a weekday may be possible. You should speak to the Rector if you are considering this. Because of the administration involved, it is not usually possible to book a wedding with less than 2 months notice.
Please contact us by leaving your mesage on our Contact us page . Our wedding coordinators will make an appointment to meet with you in the Church Centre. These meetings usually take place in the evening of the second and fourth Mondays of each month. We will be able to tell you if the time and date that you want are possible in the church diary and to answer any other queries that you might have. Both of you will need to bring proof of address, passports and, if neither of you currently lives in the parish, you should bring proof of your "qualifying connection" (see first question). You will be asked also to pay the booking deposit of £30. If either of you is a non-EEA national, different arrangements will apply."
- You will be invited to come to St Michael's for a preparation day, early in the year of your wedding, to help you prepare for the special day and your married life together. We will guide you through the service and suggest hymns and Bible readings that you might like to consider. You may find this website useful as you plan your special day - Your Church Wedding
- The Rector will arrange to meet with you both in advance of your wedding in order to get to know you a little better.
- A rehearsal will be held during the week before your wedding. All those directly involved on the day are welcome to attend.
- The church is wheelchair accessible and there are three toilets within the church that cater for all church users irrespective of whether they have any disability or not.
- Those with hearing aids can use the T switch to access the sound system.
Yes. We are happy to do this. Please contact the Rector to discuss it further. Contact us
Yes, we are very happy to do this. Please speak to the Rector about a service of thanksgiving. Contact us
Please contact our wedding coordinators by leaving your message on our Contact us page and they will make an appointment to meet with you so that you may complete the necessary form and pay the fee of £41. The coordinators will tell you when your banns will be read at St Michael's. These meetings usually take place in the evening of the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. It helps if you can be in touch with us 3 months before your wedding.
