Want to know more about getting married?

Visit the new Church of England web site for couples who are thinking about getting married in church. You'll find it at:   www.yourchurchwedding.org

How do I go about getting married in Christ Church?

If you fulfil the criteria outlined above, then it's fairly straightforward. The most natural way is to begin by ringing the vicar. You will find his details in the list of staff.

He will ask you the questions above and want to know exactly when you want to get married. The best thing is to contact him as soon as you decide on a day and time; we are already taking bookings for 18 months ahead. He will tell you if it is possible to get married when you want to, and take your details. As far as you are concerned the wedding is booked and you can go ahead and sort out the reception, flowers, photographer and a 101 other things.

The vicar will pass your details on to someone in church who co-ordinates the wedding details and they will contact you. You will need to meet with the clergy much nearer the wedding (around three months before) in order to fill in the official forms etc and you will be contacted about the Marriage Preparation Course which takes place in the spring of each year. We cannot force you to go on this course, but we strongly recommend that you avail yourselves of it, because we all want the best for our lives and this is a good way of starting the way we mean to go on.

The meeting with the clergy will last around an hour or so and they will go through the official forms, the service,  and answer any questions you might have. There will be a rehearsal for all principal members of the wedding service (bride, groom, best man, chief bridemaid, brides father, any other bridesmaids, any children involved) a few days before the service in order to work out exactly what will be happening on the day, where people stand and what is said. It is at this rehearsal that we ask you to pay the required fees (see below) and bring any order of service you have produced.