Wedding Planning – Information

If you are starting to plan your wedding, Congratulations! We would love to welcome you in one of our churches.

To begin planning and arrange a date, please contact us on 07508274626 0r 01472 281424 and leave a message.

Our priests will be available to answer your questions and help you in preparations for your special day

The information below tells you all you need to know about church weddings, and includes links to the latest fees table.

Qualifying Connections

In order to get married in church, you need to have a ‘qualifying connection’ to the church. Qualifying connections include (1) living in the parish, (2) having been baptised here, (3) family connections (if your parents live in the parish, or if either your parents or godparents were baptised or married here), (4) having had a connection with the church in the past (for example, here at a different point in your life), or (5) worshipping here now.  If you would like to get married in church but aren’t sure if you have a ‘qualifying connection’ do speak with the ministry team on a Monday (see above) . You can always begin to form a worshipping connection now, in time for your wedding.

Logistics

At some point in the planning process (usually at first meeting or after church one day), the clergy will need to confirm your ID. A passport is the best form of ID. If you do not have a passport, there is a longer list of documents we will need to check.

If either you or your partner has been married before, there’s an extra step to the process, and we will arrange a meeting when you first ring to book, to talk it through. We will need to see your decree absolute, as well as ID, during this meeting.

Similarly, if either of you is not a British citizen, the process is different. Just tell us when you book, and we’ll give you the information you need.

Banns

Banns are part of the legal process of getting married. Banns need to be read three times, at the main act of worship, in the parish where you are getting married, as well as in the parish where you live (if that is different). If you are getting married in one of the Waltham Group Churches, and live here too, it will all happen automatically. If you live elsewhere, you will have to contact your local church to make sure they read banns for you. If you are getting married elsewhere, but live in the Waltham Group, we will need to read banns for you here.

We normally read banns the first three Sundays of each month, in the month preceding the wedding date so, for example, if your wedding is in July, we will read your banns in June.

Bex & Sam Smith were married at All Saints, Waltham

Photo credit: Al Wilkinson

Wedding resources

If you are preparing a wedding you can find help on the Church of England website here

How much does it cost? Find out here

The wedding service has set legal and liturgical words, which you can find examples of here. You can also personalise it with your choice of resources such as readings and texts. Find out more about planning your ceremony here.