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Churches are often
booked many months
in advance for
weddings, so it is
important to contact
the minister as soon
as possible. If the
minister is able to
conduct your wedding
ceremony, you will
need to consult him
or her on your plans
for hymns, music,
flowers,
photographs, videos
and tape recordings.
Roman Catholic
The catholic Church
often request that
couples wishing to
get married attend
talks with their
priest in
preparation for
marriage.
Arrangements for a
wedding in a
Catholic Church are
always made through
the priest in the
parish in which you
are living.
At least Three
months notice must
be given to the
priest.
If you are both
Catholics you should
approach the priest
of the bride's
parish to arrange a
date. If you are
both from the same
parish, the priest
in that parish does
the preparations for
you both, including
the pre-nuptial
enquiries, which are
compulsory
If you are Catholic
and marrying someone
who is not a
Catholic,
arrangements are
made by the priest
in your parish. He
will apply to the
bishop for
permission (if your
partner is
baptised), or for a
dispensation (if
your partner is not
baptised).
If your partner is
not a Catholic they
should present a
baptism certificate
(if baptised), and
proof of freedom to
marry should be
presented. This can
be in the form of a
letter from, for
example, parents or
a minister, or an
affidavit from a
solicitor.
In all cases, the
priest acts as a
civil registrar and
he registers the
marriage with the
registrar of
marriages
You must each have
certain documents:-
-
baptism
certificate of
recent date,
that is, within
the last six
months before
the wedding
-
confirmation
certificate
-
letter of
freedom, that
is, a
certificate that
you have not
married before
and are free to
marry
The Church of
England & the Church
in Wales
are allowed to
register a marriage
at the same time as
performing the
religious ceremony.
Ministers and
priests of all other
religions can be
authorised to
register marriages
and must have a
certificate or
licence to do so
from the local
Superintendent
Registrar. For
Jewish and Quaker
marriages, the
authorisation is
automatic. For all
other religions, if
the official
performing the
ceremony is not
authorised, either a
Registrar must
attend the religious
ceremony or the
partners will need
to have seperate
religious and civic
ceremonies.
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