Weddings

Last Updated (Wednesday, 30 December 2009 18:04)

If you’re reading this because you are wondering whether you might be able to be married at St Nicolas, fantastic news. It has been our privilege at St Nicolas to take many weddings over recent years. Although there is now an ever increasing choice when it comes to choosing your wedding venue, couples are still drawn to having a church wedding because of an inner sense that this is the appropriate place to begin married life combined with a recognition that their ceremony will be in an experienced and safe pair of hands. A church wedding (when compared with so many other attractive venues) also still represents excellent value for money.  

Qualifying Connections

You’re entitled to be married at St Nicolas because either one or both of you lives in this parish, or because either one or both of you is on the electoral roll of the church, or because either one or both of you can demonstrate one of the following ‘qualifying connections’.

 

That:

  • One of you was baptised in the parish of St Nicolas (If you were baptised and confirmed at the same time, the provisions on confirmation rather than baptism apply)
  • One of you has been confirmed, and was prepared for confirmation in the parish
  • One of you has at any time lived in the parish for at least 6 months
  • One of you has at any time regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months
Or:
  • One of your or your fiancé/e's parents has lived in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you were born (or, in the case of your fiancé/e's parents, at any time after your fiance/e was born)
  • One of your or your fiancé/e's parents has regularly attended public worship in the parish for at least 6 months at any time after you (or your fiancé/e) were born.
  • A parent or grandparent of you or your fiancé/e was married in the parish.

Legal Preliminaries

The legal preliminaries for your wedding will usually be by the publication of banns. This is a notice given out for three Sundays which states you intend to marry, and therefore gives an opportunity for anyone who thinks there is a reason why you cannot (legally) be married to state their objection. Your banns will be read at our 10 o’clock service on the first three Sundays of a month soon before your wedding is due to take place. Please remember that if one of you lives in a parish other than St Nicolas, then you must have banns called in that parish also. They will charge you £34 (2010 fee) for the calling of banns and the issuing of a certificate.  

Marriage Exploration

Each year we provide an opportunity for couples who are about to be married to come together to explore some of the issues to do with being married (as opposed to the wedding itself). We aim to make the session useful, fun and interactive. There will be no pressure on you to reveal stuff about yourselves to others (apart from your name and one or two basic details) … unless you really want to! Our Marriage Exploration in 2010 takes place on Saturday 6 March. We start at 9.30am and finish at 3.00pm after a snack lunch.  

Music

Our organist is Mr Peter Lutton. Peter is very willing to discuss your musical choices with you and give you any help you need. Most of the time, we are also able to offer the option of a choir (although this can be quite difficult to provide during August).  

Flowers

The church has people who are willing to arrange flowers for weddings. We ask for a donation of approximately £90 towards the cost of flowers, although this may vary depending on the flowers.  

Videos/Photography

We allow videoing by prior arrangement (although please note the increase in fees below). If you use a professional, please check that they have a licence to cover the recording of hymns and music. If a friend or member of the family is doing the filming, they can be covered by our licence. 

Interval between weddings

Your wedding may well be the only one taking place at St Nicolas on the day you’ve booked. If there is more than one we allow a two hour interval between the start time of each wedding. Ordinarily this is sufficient time to allow for a wedding of typical length, half an hour for photos outside the church after the service, and for the churchyard to be clear of guests in time for the wedding following yours.  

Fees 2010 

Publication of banns                      £22
Marriage service                              £260
Marriage certificate                        £3.50
Maintenance                                     £45
Optional additional 
Organist                                               £110*
Choir                                                     £90
Video                                                    £35        
Flowers                                                £90 (approximate, depends on flowers chosen.)               

*Please note that if you have the wedding videoed, the organist’s fee increases to £190. 

What next? Please make an initial enquiry to the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Alan Jenkins (01372 452405). If it looks likely that you might be married at St Nicolas, he or the curate, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , will arrange to meet with you.