Christ Church Wedding arrangements Print this information
Here is some information which we hope will help you as you make your plans for as memorable and happy an occasion as possible. Please discuss with the Parish Clerk or the Clergy, any particular query you may have.
BANNS: The law requires that Banns are called in the Church of the Parish where each of you is living, for three consecutive weeks. For the one who is living in Christ Church Parish, the Banns will be read at the 9.30am morning service, on the first three Sundays, two months before your Wedding date. Please would you make sure that one of you, or a representative, is in Church to hear them called and if they are not called correctly, please say something to one of the Church Wardens. The other partner must make sure that his or her Banns are called in the Church of the Parish where he or she is living. Banns may be called any time during the 3 months before the actual wedding. Banns called in Parishes, other than Christ Church, have to be certified by a certificate and this certificate must be brought to the Parish Clerk as soon as possible and well before the date of your wedding, because without this certificate you cannot be married.
COMMON LICENCE/SPECIAL LICENCE: It may be however, that because of special circumstances you have to be married by Licence and in exceptional cases, by Archbishop’s Licence, but this will be discussed with you when you meet the Parish Clerk.
SUPERINTENDENT REGISTRAR’S CERTIFICATE: In law there is a further method of authorisation of a marriage according to the rites and ceremonies of the Church of England, which is by a Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate obtained from the local Register Office. If granted this replaces the requirement for the calling of Banns. This will be explained to you by the Parish Clerk or Clergy.
CONSENT: Anyone under the age of eighteen on the date of their marriage needs a letter from one or both parents, stating that they have no objection to the marriage or their son or daughter to the other party and this must be signed by them, or a guardian. This letter can be brought to the interview or be handed to the Parish Clerk.
INTERVIEW: Please would you contact one of the Clergy at the beginning of the year in which your wedding is taking place, or soon after you have booked your wedding if your marriage is to take place the same year, and ask for a date for the first discussion.
SERVICE: We use the Church of England Common Worship Marriage Service and there are enough copies for each of your guests to be able to follow the service. If you are confirmed members of the Church of England, or wish to prepare for Confirmation, it is possible for the marriage service to include a shortened Communion and we will discuss this with you during the interview.
TIMING: The Bridegroom will be expected to be at the Church 30 minutes before the time of the service, the Bridesmaids 10 minutes before and the Bride 5 minutes before the service, so that there is plenty of time for photographs. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR WEDDING STARTS ON TIME, otherwise it causes difficulties for us, for your guests, and those of the wedding following.
CONFETTI: Please ask your guests not to throw confetti outside the Church, instead use dried flower petals only, as anything else leaves a mess and gets walked back into the Church.
COLLECTION: There will be an opportunity for guests, if they wish, to make an offering as they leave the Church, it will go towards the work of the Church locally and Mission work further afield.
MUSIC: The choice of hymns and music ought to be made in consultation with the Clergy person who is officiating at your wedding. We will try to meet your wishes as far as possible. The important thing is to have hymns in which everyone can join, and if there is any special music, please talk about this as early as possible as it takes time to obtain organ music.
PHOTOGRAPHS: There can be no photographs during the actual wedding as this is very distracting for everybody, but we do allow photographs up until the announcement of the first hymn, then immediately following the final blessing. There will be an opportunity for you to have a picture with the registers. Photographs before and after the service take place entirely as you wish, as long as the SERVICE STARTS ON TIME. It is important that the Photographer does not take photographs around the front of the Church if there is another wedding immediately following yours.
USHERS: It is a help if you ask at least four of your friends to act as Ushers, so that they can help to give out books, arrange seating and clear through the Church after the service.
CARS: please ask the driver of the Bridal car not to wait at the Church gate at any time, but to wait up the slipway of the car park itself so as not to block the gateway.
TAPE & VIDEO RECORDING: Video and tape recordings may be made of the service, but please make arrangements for this well before the service itself and discuss it with the Clergy during the interview. Requests for these after the rehearsal will NOT be entertained. Please would you ask the person taking a video recording, who may well be towards the front of the Church, to be smartly dressed, e.g. suit and tie for men, and dress for ladies.
FLOWERS: Our Church is usually well decorated and we would always be grateful for any donation you wish to make. If you wish to have additional flowers at the Chancel steps you may arrange this yourself or give a sum of money to the Parish Clerk who will see that these are provided. Please DO NOT place flower arrangements on the Nave Altar.
FEES: The fees quoted below are those operating from 1st JANUARY 2009. However, they may be subject to alteration and the fees we have to charge are those current at the date of your wedding, therefore please check the actual total with the Parish Clerk. THE FEES FOR MARRIAGE, after BANNS are as follows:
|
FEES |
|
|
OPTIONAL |
|
|
|
|
Standard wedding package – to include banns, service, issue of certificate on the day and all church fees |
£ 630.00 |
|
Organist |
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Choir |
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bells. |
100.00 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
£300.00 |
|
£930.00 |
Please note: You may have a visiting Choir/and or Organist but we will charge as though you have requested our Choir and our Organist.
EXTRAS
1) FLOWERS: 1 Pedestal - £37.00: 2 Pedestals - £50.00;
2 small arrangements at back of church - £20.00
(Exotic flowers extra)
2) On Weekdays or Bank Holidays there is a higher charge for the Organ, Choir and Bells - please see the Parish Clerk
BOOKING FEE: non-refundable, payable at the time of booking but will be deducted from the final cost of your wedding - £30.00
The balance of your wedding fees should be paid to the PARISH CLERK, AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING DAY. Payment may be made by cash, or cheque made payable to CHRIST CHURCH PCC.
ALTERATIONS: Should it be necessary to alter the date/and or time, of your wedding, please let the Parish Clerk know IMMEDIATELY, in writing, or in person.
CANCELLATION: Unfortunately, we cannot accept cancellation by telephone, this MUST BE IN WRITING, or IN PERSON, to the Parish Clerk.
PARISH CLERK: The Parish Clerk is on duty THURSDAYS from 5.15pm to 7.15pm and SATURDAYS from 10am to 12 noon at the Parish Office, 36 Cricklade Street, Swindon. Telephone: 01793 522832. Email: parishoffice@christchurchswindon.co.uk
January 2009