Church Wedding Ceremonies

The image of a traditional white wedding in church is an appealing one for prospective brides and even those who are not regular churchgoers may still feel that marrying in church is the only proper way to do it.

If you have your heart set on a church wedding, contact your local minister, and explain that you would like to visit them with a view to discussing your wedding. You should both attend to this meeting. The minister will want to reassure himself that you both understand the implications and seriousness of what you are planning, and the Church's view of marriage and its responsibilities. No minister wants their church to be used simply a romantic setting for photographs.

This first meeting with the minister will ensure that the proposed wedding date is firmly arranged, and a further meeting to sort out details, such as music, reading the Banns, and so on, may be planned for nearer the day.

If you live in different parishes both ministers must be visited. In the parish where the wedding will not take place, a visit may be delayed until closer to the wedding date - around three months before. The same paperwork will be needed, such as your birth certificate, and many of the same questions will be asked in order to fulfil requirements.

The minister will recommend a rehearsal for the ceremony, probably in the week before the wedding day. You should attend with both sets of parents if possible and all the attendants so that they may practise their roles. Having a practice run will help calm nerves and ensure everyone is as relaxed as possible on the day itself.

Preparation

All churches view marriage as a life-long commitment that carries a great responsibility and every conscientious minister will be committed to helping couples prepare for their new life together. A minister is entitled to refuse to marry a couple if they have reason to believe that they are not committed to the Church's ideals of marriage.

The couple will probably be invited to participate in marriage preparation classes and encouraged to attend services and take part in church life generally, if they don't already do so.

A Catholic priest may ask about a non-Catholic partner's intentions for the future, to establish whether any children will be raised in the faith.

Music for Church Ceremonies

Having difficulty in deciding which music to have? Here are some popular music choices for your church ceremony ...

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