Weddings

A. There is noreason why you shouldn’t do this. There is a service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony and this can be adapted. There are no legal requirements or set fees.

Q. I’m divorced. Can I still get married in church?

A. The Church ofEngland believes that marriage is for life. But it recognises that sadly, some marriages do fail. In exceptional circumstances, the Church accepts that a divorced person may marry again. Contact the vicar, and he will talk through the possibilities, and whether a marriage in church can be arranged. Even if it is not possible to do your wedding, you may have a service of prayer and dedication after a civil ceremony.

Q. I’m Church of England and he’s a Catholic. Does that matter?

A. 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.

Q. Why do we need marriage preparation?

A. You have probably invested a lot of time planning your wedding. The day is important but your marriage should last for the rest of your life. However much you think you know each other, you are still two separate individuals with different backgrounds, personalities, experiences, hopes and fears. St Andrew’s offers an opportunity to talk through these issues, as a group with other couples.

Q. What are the legal requirements?

A. The normal preliminary to getting married in the Church of England is by banns. If you are under the age of eighteen, you must have your parents’ consent to marry. There are circumstances where some form of licence, such as a common licence or special licence, is more appropriate. The vicar will discuss with you what you need to do.

There are special guidelines on church marriage if you have been divorced (See question above).