Everyone at our four churches, would like to congratulate you on your engagement. We are certain that you and your families all want your big day to be both momentous and personal so that your married life gets off to the best possible start.
No doubt you will already be struggling to make a myriad of decisions – reception venue, bridesmaids, best man, ushers, dresses, flowers, cars, rings, the list goes on and on.
However, please don’t forget that the most important part of the day should be the marriage ceremony itself. Here, you have a choice – you may wish to have a civil ceremony – possibly at the same venue as the reception.
You may also be wondering about the possibility of being married in church. There are some things about a church wedding that you just can’t get anywhere else.
There will be a Spiritual dimension to the service. The service includes elements which look to God for help and guidance and His blessing on you both will form an important part of the proceedings.
Central to the service are the amazing vows that you will be making. The fact that you will be making them in the sight of God as well as all your family and friends will give them much greater impact and should form a really firm foundation for your future life together.
Church buildings are often places of great history, beauty and character. Some may be grand; others such as St Peter & St Paul – East Sutton are more intimate.
The atmosphere of peace and serenity that is usually found within a church can rarely be replicated anywhere else.
The vicar or minister conducting your wedding will take the time to get to know you well in order to ensure that the service is as personal and meaningful as possible.
Although the central part of any wedding is fixed by law, it is possible to ensure that the service as a whole is distinctive and personal to you by careful choice of music, hymns and readings.
Many people will automatically choose their local parish church as they will already have a strong connection there. Although this is the ideal we know that it is not always practical.
However, it may be possible for you to be married in a church elsewhere providing you can meet any one of the following six connections with it:
- if one of you was baptized or prepared for confirmation in the parish;
- one of you has ever lived in the parish for six months or more;
- one of you has regularly attended public worship in the parish for six months or more;
- one of your parents has lived in the parish for six months or more during your lifetime;
- one of your parents has regularly attended public worship here for six months or more in your lifetime;
- your parents or grandparents were married in the parish.
Even if you cannot demonstrate any of these above connections, we want to help you explore whether it may still be possible for you to marry in church.
Here is some information that might help you prepare for your day:
Suggested Bible Readings for Weddings (click this link)
Suggested Secular Readings for Weddings (click this link)
Church of England Weddings Website
Please feel free to contact our vicar the Rev’d Fiona Haskett: Telephone: 01622 891804. or Email: fiona.haskett@btopenworld.com to discuss a church wedding.
2015 Weddings
WEALD DEANERY: www.deaneryintheweald.org.uk
CANTERBURY DIOCESE: www.canterburydiocese.org