Weddings

If either of you live in the parish of Wimbledon, live outside the parish but are on the church's electoral roll and if both are over 18 and not married to anyone else then you are legally entitled to marry at one of our churches. Since 1st October 2008, you are also able to get married here if:

• this parish is where you were baptised and/or confirmed

• you have lived in the parish for 6 months or more, at any time during your lives

• this is a parish where you have attended worship in for at least 6 months

• this is the parish where your parents lived or worshipped (during your lifetime)

• your parents or grandparents were married in this parish.

You may still be in the Parish of Wimbledon. We would check the address and if it falls in the parish you can marry or have your banns (see later) called at any one of the 4 churches.

You should arrange a time for a discussion with the clergy of the church you wish to be married in.

In very exceptional circumstances an Archbishop's License can be sought. Please discuss this with the clergy.

A previous marriage, provided it is legally dissolved and at least 2 years have elapsed since the decree absolute, is not necessarily a bar to marriage here. You would need to discuss it with the clergy (see above).

There would be no problem from a Parish of Wimbledon point of view. The RC partner may want to discuss it with their own priest.

This is possible. You should discuss it with the clergy

By choosing to marry in church we would assume that at least one of you has at least some commitment to the Christian faith. The priests will be willing to explore this with you.

No

Whilst the office could tell you whether in principle the church is free on the day you inquire about, you will be unable to book anything until you have spoken to one of the priests and obtained their agreement as even if the church is free there may not be a priest available.

This may be the case, please speak to the clergy of your specific church.

You will be asked to email the Parish Office who will take your details and arrange to send you a deposit invoice.

You may need a special type of licence. The priest or Parish Administrator can advise you.

The cost will depend on what you require so please ask the Parish Office for the correct fees. The basic fee includes the preparation, the church service, legal fees, reading of banns, marriage certificate and organist. Extras could include bells, choir, field hire and winter heating.

This will be at the discretion of the officiating priest but you will need to make the arrangements yourselves and we do have to charge an additional fee for the organist and for use of Church of England copyrighted material.

Provided the hall is free on the day it would be possible. Please visit the Facilities Hire section of this website.

Banns must be read (see below), marriage preparation undertaken (see below) and there are forms to be completed including questions relating to the options you require such as flowers, music, choir, bells etc. You will find details about all these in the wedding pack which will be sent to you once you have given your details to the Parish Office.

Unless you can produce a banns certificate (weddings by special licence require different formalities) you cannot marry. Banns are when the members of the congregation of your own parish churches and that of St Mary's or one of the other churches in the Parish of Wimbledon are asked to declare if anyone knows of any lawful reason why you should not marry each other. They are read at services on 3 consecutive Sundays. These Sundays must fall within the 12 week period leading up to the wedding and it is hoped you will attend on those days. Banns need to be called in St Mary's or one of the other churches in the parish but also in the parish church of the area in which you reside. You will therefore need to contact your local parish church, making sure it is definitely the right one, and ask for your banns to be read there. You will need to obtain the certificate from the Vicar and make sure it is with the Parish Office at St Mary's 2 weeks before your wedding. It is stressed that unless the officiating priest is in possession of the certificate he/she will not be able to marry you and it is your responsibility to see that they have it. For residents of the parish who plan to marry elsewhere they will still have to have banns read in one of the 4 churches of our parish team.

At our churches we take preparation for your married lives, not just for the wedding, seriously. St Mary’s for example will run a marriage preparation day once a year. You will also meet with the priest who will be conducting your service.