WELCOME TO ST PHILIP’S WEDDING GUIDE
We are glad you have chosen to begin by asking God’s blessing
on your life together, and we wish you great happiness.
These notes are designed to tell you about practical matters that
you will need to know.
Date and Time
You will need to complete a Marriage Application Form to agree the
provisional booking and we shall need you to bring you Birth Certificates (or photocopies)
before the booking can be confirmed. For all enquiries about marriage you can telephone
02392 326179. A deposit will be required before we can formally confirm a booking. This
will be returned if written notice of cancellation is received at least 4 months before
the wedding.
Qualification
The Bride and Groom must be over 16, and if under 18 you must have
written consent of your parents. One or both of you must be resident in the Parish of St.
Philip’s, or have been a regular worshipper here for six months and on our Electoral
Roll. (Residence means the place where you normally live as your ‘home’) If one
or both of you have been divorced, you will be asked to meet with the Priest to discuss
your personal position and you will be given a copy of our current policy. The
Governing Body of the Church of England has issued guidance through the House of Bishops
that indicate that there are circumstances under which Priests would not be encouraged to
allow a further marriage in church.
Banns or Licence
You will need either to have Banns published or to have a Licence
(not both). Usually Banns are simpler and need to be called on 3 consecutive Sundays:
(a) in St Philip's Church, and
(b) in the Church of the parish in which the other partner lives,
if not in this parish.
This must be within three months prior to your wedding. You will
need to get the priest of the other parish to give a certificate saying they have been
published – this is important and we cannot marry
you without it. Please pass this certificate to the Priest.
At St. Philip’s Banns are called on three consecutive
Sundays within the three months preceding your wedding. We will notify you when so you can
come to the service, get a ‘feel’ for the church and what’s going on.
A Licence needs either the Bride or Groom
to swear on oath that there is no impediment to their marriage and that residential
qualifications exist. To obtain this, please contact: -
The Diocesan Clerk,
West End House, 288 West Street,Fareham, PO16 0AJ.
Tel: 01329 236171
Form of Service
We would like to offer you the opportunity to share in the
preparation for your wedding. Please be familiar with the Marriage Service you will
receive with your wedding pack. When you meet with the priest for your preparation this
will be discussed.
Preparation
About two months before the wedding the Priest conducting your
wedding will contact you to make an appointment to discuss the Service etc. this will give
you an opportunity to discuss the Service, the hymns and music you would like and cover
any questions you may have. A rehearsal will also be held one evening before the Service
– this will be set up at the preparation. Bridesmaids, Best Man and whoever
"gives the Bride away" needs to attend. It is important that the couple bring
the completed Wedding Details Form with them and the Marriage Service so the Priest can
look these at.
Printed Orders of Service
These are not necessary as hymnbooks can be used, but if you
decide to have these printed, use the examples you will find in the wedding pack. Any
alteration will need to be cleared by the Priest. At the wedding a copy of the Wedding
Service will be given to the congregation so they can follow the Service.
Fees
Fees vary form year to year and also depend on things like whether
you have the service recorded by a Video Photographer (this is possible but attracts an
extra fee). A small charge is also made for flowers as is a fee for organist and
choir. A table of fees is included in the wedding pack.
