Weddings

Can we get married at St Michaels?

Yes! Provided either of you lives in the Parish of Wilmington, or has a past family connection with St Michael's, then there is no problem. 

If you live outside the parish and have no previous connection with the church, then it is not necessarily a problem, but you will need to be on the Electoral Roll (which you can apply to join once you've been coming for six months).  Since there are legal requirements constraining us, we regret we can't start making formal commitments until these are met.  

Similarly, if either of you has been previously married, the vicar can explain the grounds under which a remarriage might be possible.   

Assuming all is well, before doing anything else the date and time of your wedding must be arranged. 

First steps

You will need to complete this form:  tinyurl.com/stmichaels-weddings and return it to the Church Office (email and address at the bottom of the document)

Please note that sadly in this day and age it is usually harder to book the reception than it is the church for your wedding!

A non-returnable deposit of £25 is required on booking the wedding. We can accept payments by cheque, debit/credit card or bank transfer.

The Banns...

Your Banns of Marriage must be read in any Church of England Parish Church involved (even if you have a Roman Catholic or Free Church background). Banns cannot be read until three months before your wedding and must be read in each Parish Church where the parties live.

This may mean going to the other Vicar(s) involved and hearing the banns read on at least one of three successive Sundays. They do not have to be read out on the same day in each church.
Your wedding cannot take place unless the Vicar who is marrying you has your Banns certificate beforehand. There is a charge for the certificate.

The Interview...

Nearer the date of the wedding, at least three months before, we will need to meet to arrange various details for the wedding.

Marriage Preparation...

Marriage is a lifelong commitment before God. In the marriage service these words are said:

"No one should enter into [marriage] lightly or selfishly but reverently and responsibly in the sight of almighty God"

As part of our way of supporting marriages we have a Marriage Preparation course which comprises four sessions of approximately one hour each. These are led by the vicar and best happen as soon as you begin to consider getting married in St Michael's.

The course is beneficial and applicable to all considering marriage, including those already cohabiting, with or without children.

Rehearsal...

There will be a rehearsal (lasting thirty minutes) in the church to get the footwork right, in the week leading up to your wedding, on a mutually convenient evening. The bride and the groom are essential for this, but the best man, bridesmaids, parents and video operators are also welcome.

Banns certificates from other churches and fees will be received at the end of the rehearsal.

What will it cost?

The cost of the wedding will vary depending on whether you include an organist, the choir, bell ringing, video recording etc. but this will be discussed with the vicar when you book your wedding. (click here to see the current Wedding Fees)

Payment can be made by cheque, credit/debit card or bank transfer.

Photographs and Videos...

Photographs may be taken coming in and going out of church and during the signing of the register.

Official photographs only are permitted during the service, and no flash photography, and you are asked to make this clear to enthusiastic relatives!  Video recording is permitted, provided operators strictly obey the guidelines about where to stand.

What about the service?

Start by exploring the meaning of Christian marriage using the service book, before you think about hymns etc.

The assumptions about the meaning of marriage in the service, and in the Bible, may be quite different from the views expressed in popular music, magazines or TV 'soaps'.
With the pressure of today's world, if your marriage is to be a strong one, then you must let God into your plans, your hopes, and your fears too.

Only Jesus Christ, by His Spirit living in us, can give us the strength to love and go on loving.

Hymns...

It is usual to have two or three hymns at weddings. Choose hymns that your families and friends will know, and a list of suggestions is available. Familiar, cheerful hymns will set the tone of the whole wedding day.

We have two hymn books that you may borrow covering most styles of music.

Organ Music...

An organist can play suitable voluntaries before and after the service, and during the signing of the register.

If you want something out of the ordinary, you may need to provide your own sheet music if we do not have it, or as an alternative we are able to play CD's.

Printed Order of Service...

Not essential, but you may wish to consider a printed order of service. We will happily supply examples from other weddings held at St Michael's.

It is probably a good idea to run these past the vicar before they are printed as mistakes are often made.

You need to ensure sufficient copies are available for your guests plus an additional 10-12 for the minister, organist, choir, etc.

Make sure that they are available in the church at least half an hour before the service begins.

But most importantly...

We offer our best wishes for your wedding and your future happiness.