Booking the Church

You need to book the church for your chosen date as soon as possible. Call or email the minister or church office to do this. Weddings usually take place on a Saturday but don't have to. As long as the church is available you can be married on any day of the week at any time between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm. Bear in mind that the church may be being used by other people or the ministers may be busy elsewhere - so make sure you book your chosen date before going ahead with any other arrangements.

Banns of Marriage

Banns of marriage, commonly known simply as ‘the banns’, are the public announcement in a parish church that a marriage is going to take place between two specified persons. The purpose of banns is to enable anyone to raise any legal impediment to it, so as to prevent marriages that are legally invalid.

The law says that you need to have your banns read at the main service in church on three Sundays during the three months before your marriage. This has to be done at the church where you wish to be married and also, if appropriate, at the church in the parish where your future husband or wife lives. Do come along to the church to hear them if you can.

There are circumstances where banns are not appropriate and you will need to be married by licence instead. Your minister will help you make the arrangements for this.

Rehearsal

A wedding rehearsal with the bride, chief bridesmaid, groom, best man and the bride's father (especially if he is to give her away) is usually held during the week before your wedding (or at another convenient time).

Fees

Apart from the cost of having your banns read, you will also need to pay the legal fees decided each year by Parliament for the wedding itself and the marriage certificate. These fees are usually increased in January of each year and you have to pay the fees in operation at the date of your wedding.

Form of Service

Most couples who marry in church opt for the modern language service from the Church of England's modern prayer book, Common Worship. Click here to see the text of this service. Some couples choose the form of service from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, which uses traditional language from the seventeenth century. Click here to see the text of this service. Although undoubtedly very beautiful, it does contain some archaic ways of putting things which can jar on modern ears. A third option is the 1966 revision of the traditional language service which removes the features which people sometimes find off-putting. This is virtually identical with a revision of the Prayer Book proposed in 1928. Click here to see the text of this service.

Giving Away

The traditional role of the father or another family member in formally 'giving away' the bride is observed by many couples today but is an optional part of the modern service.

Rings

Although it used to be the case that only the bride received a wedding ring, it's much more common these days for both the bride and the groom to give and receive a ring.
 
Readings

You will need to include at least one reading from the Bible in the service. You will find some suggestions here. People sometimes like to have a reading from another source as well. Provided the minister agrees, this is fine. You might like to think about inviting someone close to you to read one or both of the readings. Make sure you pick people who won't be put off on the big day!

Music

Many churches have bells that can be rung before or after the service.

In addition you will need to think about:

• music before the service (usually left to the organist to decide but you may have your own ideas)
• music for the entrance of the bride
• two or three hymns and/or songs
• music during the signing of the registers
• music for you to process out of church together at the end of the service

Orders of Service

You may like to have a special order of service printed for the occasion. Here are some guidelines about what is usually included:

• At the Entrance of the Bride: print the title of the music and the composer.
• Hymn: print the words, or you can use our hymn books and print the number.
• The Marriage
• Reading: print the Bible book, chapter and verses.
• Address
• Hymn: as above
• The Prayers, including the Lord's Prayer (printed out in either its traditional or modern form)
• Hymn: as above
• The Blessing
• The Signing of the Registers (If you decide to have an anthem or other music during the signing you can print the title and the composer.)
• Recessional: print the title of the music and the composer.

Please note that some ministers may suggest moving the Signing of the Registers to the point before the Prayers. In any event we strongly recommend that you ask the minister taking the service to check the proofs before you proceed with printing.