Wedding Information 1

Your wedding is a deeply significant occasion in your life, and an important sacrament for the church. We trust that the information in this pack will help your preparations and enable the day to go as smoothly as possible.

We hope also that you will consider ways in which to make the service personal to you, within the constraints of the Wedding Service. Carole Robinson is always happy to talk through suggestions and proposals.

If you have questions, or suggestions you would like to discuss, or if there are things not covered in this information, please contact Carole Robinson by telephone on Retford 704201 or by email at ordsallparish@googlemail.com.

2) Booking your wedding

This information assumes you have already booked your wedding at All Hallows Church. (To find out about booking a wedding, click here.)

If for any reason you need to change the wedding please let Carole Robinson know as soon as possible.

The banns are the public announcement of your forthcoming wedding. They are required by law, in part to allow anyone who knows a legal reason why you should not marry to say so.

The banns will normally be read at All Hallows Church on the first three Sundays on the month before the month of your wedding. (For example, if you are getting married in August, we will read the banns on the first three Sundays of July).

You do not have to be present for the banns to be valid, but you would be very welcome.

¨ We invite you to come to hear your banns read at 10.15am at All Hallows Church and to join with us in our worship.

This is usually a services of Holy Communion. At some times of the year, notably in April because of Easter, services may change. Details are published in the magazine and on the website.

If one of you lives in a different parish, or if you are on the electoral roll of another parish, the banns must be read in that parish as well as in Ordsall.

If you are not sure which other parish you live in, please ask Carole Robinson. iI you both live in Ordsall Parish then the banns are only read in Ordsall

You will need to obtain a certificate that the banns have been read in the other parish, and bring it to the rehearsal. The certificate should cost £34 but will be revised in 2009.

Note: Banns of marriage are essential.

You must ensure that your banns are read or there is a possibility that your wedding may not be able to go ahead.

‡Organist: this fee is payable even if you ask someone else to play, (see here).

Payment may be made by cheque (made out to ‘Ordsall PCC - churchwardens A/C’) at least 2 weeks prior to the date of your wedding.

The full fee for the Service must be paid in cash when you come to the rehearsal in the week or so before your wedding.

Please note: The Parochial Church Council reserves the right to alter those fees that are in its discretion at any time. Fees will usually be set in November for the following calendar year. There may also be further charges for any unusual requirements.

Couples who come from different faiths, or from differing religious or cultural backgrounds, can normally marry in the Church of England without any special arrangements. However, it may also be important and valuable to acknowledge and celebrate those differences in the course of the Marriage Service. In this case, please speak to Carole Robinson as early as possible.

Citizens of other countries may normally marry in the Church of England without any difficulty. However those without residence qualification should be married by Common Licence, rather than after banns (there is an additional fee for a Licence). In some cases also special arrangements will need to be made to ensure that the marriage is recognized in those other countries. If this is possibly the case for you please speak to Carole Robinson as soon as possible so that enquiries may be made of the relevant authorities in plenty of time. (These considerations should not apply to citizens of countries in the European Union the Old Commonwealth and the United States.)

www.interfaithmarriage.org.uk brings together information about resources and an opportunity to discuss and exchange experience for couples themselves and their families, as well as for those concerned with their care. The website is moderated by a group of Christians themselves in inter faith marriages, and is sponsored by ‘Churches Together’.

3) Preparing for marriage in Church [Top]

In the middle of all the busy preparations it is important to have time to sit back and reflect that this day is only the beginning of your married life together.

Some people coming to get married have known each other for a long time, some have lived together for many years. Other couples have known each other for a much shorter time. Yet for everyone marriage is a new beginning and a deepening and strengthening of commitment to one another.

We will be inviting you to an open day at Grove Street Methodist Church on either Saturday March 14th 2009 or Saturday June 6th 2009 at 9.30am for 10.00am.

The day is to enable you to meet Rev. Mark Cantrell; to look at the order of service for your wedding; to talk through your hopes and expectations. You will also meet other couples who are marrying in Retford deanery this year. This will also be a time to sort out any outstanding practical details about your wedding, for example, signing passport application forms or the practicalities of printed orders of service.

If you would like to discuss your wedding arrangements before these dates please contact Carole Robinson.

Rehearsal

There will be a rehearsal in the week before your wedding. It will normally take place at a time convenient to all the participants.

During the rehearsal we will run through the service, practice the vows, and address any last minute questions.

1) Introduction

2) Booking your wedding

Banns

Reading the banns in other parishes. [Top]

Money

Marriage between people of different faiths or traditions

3) Preparing for marriage in Church [Top]

Rehearsal