Welcome
Getting married is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in your lives. As a church, we are delighted you want to get married here at St Mary’s Eaton Socon, and we want to help you make the most of your special day. We hope your service ‘sets the tone’ for the whole of your special day!
How do we get married at St Mary’s?
The first thing to do is to contact us using the Contact Us form. Do include the proposed date and time of your wedding if this is known.
Alternatively, you can ring the church office on 01480 352154 and leave a message. The church office is usually staffed on Tuesdays-Thursdays from 9am-11.45ish.
Once your wedding date and time has been confirmed by a member of our team, they will guide you through the booking process. This consists of four things:
- Completing the application form (available here)
- Paying a deposit of £100 (this is either fully or partially refunded within a month after the wedding, subject to any deductions for late requests or ‘on the day additions’ that weren’t invoiced before your wedding)
- Completing the ID checks
– Proof of identity, please supply a Passport/Driver’s Licence for each of you
– Proof of address, please supply a Utility Bill, Bank Statement, Council Tax Bill etc for each of you
– If you have been married before and your former spouse has died or is still living, we will also need to see the death certificate or decree absolute / final order. - Booking your places on the next Pre-Marriage Course
After this has been completed, you can go ahead and organise the rest of your wedding!
We encourage couples to come along to either the 9am or 10.30am Sunday Services at St Mary’s – this gives you the opportunity to get to know the leadership and how the church space can be used for your special day.
When are weddings held at St Mary’s?
Weddings can be held on any day of the week, subject to church and clergy availability.
Will there be other weddings on our day?
Yes – there may be other weddings on your day, but our practice is to limit any day to two weddings. This helps to ensure that your special day is unrushed and as unique as possible.
Does it matter where we live?
To get married in church, you need to be able to meet just one of a number of qualifying connections. Such connections include: your parents live in the Parish; you have lived in the Parish for more than 6 months at some stage in your life.
If you’re unsure if you meet any of the qualifying connections, please do contact us as we would be delighted to explore what options might be possible.
Banns of Marriage
You will need your Banns read in the Parish(es) you live in and in the church where your wedding will take place (if different). This is a legal requirement for which there is a statutory charge.
How much does it cost?
This depends on what you want. This will be discussed when you meet the minister taking your wedding. A fees outline is usually included in the Wedding Services pack.
If I’m divorced, can I still get married in the church?
In a number of circumstances, yes! Please mention this at the time of your enquiry – a member of the clergy will then be in touch to arrange a meeting to discuss the circumstances that led to the divorce. To help us make our decision, please complete this form and drop it into the church office before your meeting.
Getting the best out of your marriage
We are also here to help you prepare for your married life together. By getting married in church, you are asking for God’s blessing on your life together – and this is the best start you can have. As such, couples getting married at St Mary’s are invited to attend the Pre-Marriage Course.
Click here for more details.
Planning the Service
At the end of the Pre-Marriage course, you will receive a Wedding Service Pack that will help you plan your service.
Approximately 3-4 months before your wedding, you will meet with the minister conducting your wedding.
At this meeting, we will confirm your choice of music (e.g. Music, Bells etc), the various options available and the order of service with you. Some couples have even used ‘Barn Owls’ to deliver the rings (not supplied by us)!
If you are planning to produce a printed order of service, we will help to check it for you to make sure everything is right, and copyrights are noted.
Wedding Rehearsal
This is usually held on a weekday in the week leading up to your wedding.
Any questions…
If you have any questions, please contact us using the Contact Us form.