Your Wedding
03 05 07 - 09:14Christians believe that marriage is a gift from God. In the marriage ceremony, a couple make a public declaration of lifelong commitment to love each other, come what may.
Everyone who lives in the parish or belongs to the parish church can get married in Church, you don't need to be a regular attender or baptised. Since 2008 it is also possible to get married in the parish church if you have a 'qualifying connection' eg if your parents live here, if you or your parents previously lived in the parish or if parents or grandparents were married in the parish church. More information on this can be found here or ask the Vicar if you are not sure. If you are divorced it is still possible to be married in Church, but you will need to be willing to speak to the Vicar about the circumstances of the previous relationship.
The person responsible for organising the wedding is the vicar:The Revd. Tim Alban Jones
The Vicarage
Cross Green
Soham
01353 720 423
vicar@soham.org.uk
Please contact him to make arrangements for preparation for your wedding no later than three months before the date of your wedding. But please do not hesitate to contact him earlier if you have any questions or if any problems should arise. We hope that we can make your wedding day a memorable and very happy occasion which you can enjoy.
Banns
Your Banns will be called at St Andrew's on the first three Sundays of the month before your wedding. (For example, if you are getting married in July, they will be called on the first three Sundays in June).
If one of you lives in another parish you must see the parish priest there within three months of your wedding to arrange for the Banns to be read there as well. This is most important. You will need to collect a certificate from that parish to show that the Banns have been called. This certificate is a legal requirement and you cannot be married without it. (If you both live in this parish this does not apply).
Planning your Wedding
Fees (2010 rates)
Calling of Banns £22
Wedding Service and Marriage Certificate £313
Organist £75
Verger £25
Bells £80
total: £515
(NB Calling banns at another church will cost £34)
Photographs and Video-recordings
These are permitted, but please consult the vicar. There is an additional fee of £50 for the use of a video in the church and you will need to fill in an additional form. Please note,if you decided to video the service, the fee for the organist is doubled to £150.
Flowers
Usually there would be a single pedestal of flowers in the church but many brides like to decorate the church in a particular colour scheme. This can only be done by arrangement with the vicar and the regular flower arrangers. For all enquiries about flowers please contact Mrs Judith Scott (720 201)
NB The use of drawing pins in church furniture is strictly forbidden.
Printed Orders of Service
You do not need to have printed orders of service as hymn books can be provided for your guests, but many people do like to have their own service sheets for their wedding service. Please consult the vicar before going to the printers with an order of service.
Hymns and music
Three (or two) hymns are required, a list of suggestions is printed below. Your choice can be discussed with the vicar when you meet. If you have any special requests for music please contact the organist, Mr P. D. Scott, (01353 720 201).
Suggested Hymns for a Wedding
You may like to choose your hymns from this list, but many others are also suitable. (The numbers refer to the Mission Praise Hymn Book used at St Andrew's)
23 All things bright and beautiful
31 Amazing grace
89 Come down, O love divine
132 Father hear the prayer we offer
882 Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
449 Love divine, all loves excelling
467 Morning has broken
486 Now thank we all our God
529 O worship the King, all-glorious above
560 Praise my soul, the King of Heaven
564 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation
649 The King of Love my shepherd is
660 The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want (Crimond)
More information
If you have access to the Internet, there are many sites which you may find useful in planning your wedding, amongst them are http://www.weddingguide.com and http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/default.aspx
Trackback link:Please enable javascript to generate a trackback url