Congratulations on your engagement!
Whether you're an opposite-sex couple or a same-sex couple, we would love to be able to conduct your wedding at St. Peter's Methodist Church, and we hope to be able to provide you with a wonderful marriage ceremony.
A wedding in a church allows you to make your commitment to each other that little bit more special, by making your commitment to each other and promises before God.
Weddings at a Methodist Church are conducted by certificates. It is the responsibility of the wedding couple to visit the Registry Office and apply for certificates. Both of you must attend for a legal interview, by appointment, at the Registrar’s where you will be interviewed separately. You will need to bring certain documents and pay for this service which, if successful, will result in their NOTICE OF MARRIAGE being displayed at the Registrar’s for three weeks (in case there is a legal objection).
More information about these legal requirements, and the cost, can be found on the Government's Website.
After three weeks you will be issued with ‘Blue Forms’ (wedding authorities). It is the couple’s responsibility to make the legal interview appointment and to inform the Minister when they have received the ‘Blue Forms’—until then your Church Booking is merely provisional.
Once the certificates have been received (Blue Forms), the wedding couple should check that the information on them is correct, and then contact the Minister. The certificates will then be held in the church safe until the day of the wedding. If these Blue Forms are lost or destroyed you have to begin the whole process again! (The certificates are returned to the General Registry Office with a copy of the Marriage Returns, after the full Marriage Certificate has been completed and signed. (The Signing of the Registers).
Arrangement of a wedding normally involves 4 meetings with the Minister, with the final one being the wedding rehearsal.
There is a cost for weddings at the church, the fees will be dependent on your requirements.
Please contact the ministers for more information.
The Minister will discuss with you the content of the service, and there are various choices of set words to say. (There are certain legal words that have to be said).
Music
Music is a very personal choice, but the minister and organist will help you make that choice. The church has the facility to play pre-recorded music, or videos. Sound amplification for soloists can also be provided.
We do not insist on you attending the church either before or after your wedding, but of course you will be most welcome. You may choose to visit the church for one of our services before your wedding so you can see what it is like, and hear the acoustics of the music and the ambience of worship.
Hymns
There are a wide range of hymns and Christian songs that are available for weddings. We have a range of books to choose from, and can either print out words on a song sheet, or project the words on our screens.
The minister will be happy to discuss the options with you.
Processional and Recessional Music
Our organist will be pleased to offer advice on the wide variety of wedding music available, from the traditional Bridal March to something different as make your entrance, and for your triumphant exit as married couple. Alternatively suitable music can be played via CD or iPod.
Co-creating a Service
Your Minister will be happy to work with you to co-create a service for your special day. We want everyone to get the most out of the service, as it is one of the most important days of your life.
Have a think about what you may want to include in the service. Apart from hymns/songs, bible readings and prayers, we can also include music, poems, solos.
Live-streaming
We can also offer a live-stream of your service for those who are unable to attend on the day, please ask the minister for more details.
If you have been previously married in a registry office and would like a blessing of your marriage in church, or wish to celebrate an anniversary with a blessing of your relationship, we would be glad to welcome you at St. Peter's for a 'Blessing of a Marriage previously solemnised'.
This service would be especially applicable to same-sex couples who have been unable to celebrate their marriages in Christian Churches until now.
However, opposite-sex couples are more than welcome to book a service with our minister too.
There is a cost for blessings in the church, the fees will be dependent on your requirements, but there are no legal requirements to be fulfilled with the registry office as there are with a full legal wedding.
Please contact the ministers for more information.