You’re engaged!
Congratulations on your engagement! An exciting and happy time lies ahead and there will be so much to think about. We would love to talk to you about the possibility of getting married in a church because there are some things about a church wedding that you just can’t get anywhere else.
The Church of England website (Your Church Wedding) has a wealth of information that we would encourage you to take a look at together. It might look a little intimidating at first, so take your time. If you have any questions, please get in touch! We look forward to talking to you further.
You can download a copy of our Wedding Leaflet HERE, which contains much of the following information as well as some really helpful FAQs.
Why get married in a church?
A church is so much more than simply a venue for your wedding. Unique and special things become part of your marriage, on the day itself and beyond:
* A church wedding will add a spiritual dimension to your marriage.
* God and your church are there for you to help you keep your vows.
* Because of the relationship with the Vicar, your wedding can be made personal, memorable, meaningful and beautiful.
* Church buildings offer outstanding beauty and centuries of history.
* And after your wedding, you’ll realise that a church is more than simply a wedding venue. We’ll always be here for you with friendship and prayer.
We have three churches to choose from in The 3 Churches Benefice:
St John the Baptist, Great Amwell
St Mary the Virgin, St Margarets
St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots
All three churches offer beautiful and historic places to make your vows. If you aren’t familiar with our churches, please do come and join us one Sunday to get a look around and a feel for the place!
Can I get married in a church?
You can marry in a Church of England church if you can show that one of you:
* has at any time lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or
* was baptised (christened) in the parish concerned, or
* is confirmed and your confirmation was entered in the register of confirmations for a church or chapel in the parish (this will usually be the case if you were prepared for confirmation in the parish), or
* has at any time regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
or
That one of your parents, at any time after you were born:
* has lived in the parish for a period of at least 6 months, or
* has regularly gone to normal church services in the parish church for a period of at least 6 months
or
That one of your parents or grandparents was married in the parish.
Legal requirements
There are certain things that must happen in a church wedding to ensure the marriage complies with both UK civil and church law. Put simply, there are two main routes to get married: Banns or Licenses. Don’t worry, we can advise and guide you through these legal requirements.
How much does it cost?
It costs roughly £600 to get married in one of our churches, but you can find the full breakdown HERE. A wedding doesn’t have to be expensive and there are lots of ways to make your wedding special and personal without breaking the bank. Talk to us if you are planning a wedding on a budget!
Marrying Mum and Dad
We appreciate that these days more people, for lots of reasons, are having children before getting married. We believe that God loves families and we would love to celebrate your family and your commitment to each other. We will ensure that your children enjoy the day and can be part of it!
Marrying again?
At The 3 Churches Benefice, we believe in a God of second chances, so if you have been married before, do get in touch to ask any questions you may have about getting married in one or our churches. We would be very happy to help make that happen!
We can also offer a blessing service after your civil service, if you feel this works best for you both.
Countdown to your wedding
A lot goes into planning a wedding, so here is a rough guide on timings:
* 1 to 2 years before – Give us a call so that we can find a date that works (there are certain times of year that aren’t possible, such as Easter). We will set up a meeting to guide you through legal requirements and find the best route for you. We would recommend downloading and using the Your Church Wedding Planning Guide as a good way to start planning.
* 1 year to 6 months before – If you don’t have a qualifying connection to the church you want to marry in, now is the time to start coming along to services! We will also confirm the date and take your deposit.
* 3 months before – Now is the time to plan about your service. We will meet to talk you through everything and make sure we have everything in place. Banns will be read.
* 1 to 2 weeks before – It’s rehearsal time! We encourage as many of the wedding party and close family as can manage to come along.
Myself and Marie had the day to remember. Rev’d Sarah was absolutely amazing. We can’t thank you enough for everything you did helping us arrange everything and for making our day so special.
Bear and Marie
Contact us
If you have any questions, or would like to take the next step towards your church wedding, then please do get in touch!
St John the Baptist, Great Amwell: Mrs Alex Richardson (01920 871391)
St Mary the Virgin, St Margarets: Rev’d Dr Sarah Forrest (01920 870115)
St Andrew, Stanstead Abbots: Mrs Lynne Griffiths (01920 460668)
Or contact us by email at admin@3churches.net.